The Plea of Insanity. 



295 



ible impulse, although in each case he knew that the act was for- 

 bidden by the laws of the land. 



These propositions may be stated with a little more fulness and 

 accuracy, thus: "First, when the defendant was acting under an insane 

 delusion as to circumstances, which, if true, would relieve the act of 

 responsibility, or where his reasoning power is so depraved as to make 

 the commission of the particular act the natural consequence of the 

 delusion." Secondly, where the defendant, being insane, is forced 

 by a morbid and irresistible impulse to do the particular act." 



Under the present English practice, " the delusions which indicate a 

 defect of sanity such as will relieve a person from criminal responsi- 

 bility are delusions of the senses, or such as relate to facts or ob- 

 jects, — not mere wrong notions or impressions, or those of a moral 

 nature; and the aberration must be mental not moralJ^ It is not 

 enough that the delusions show a diseased or depraved state of mind, 

 or an abnormal condition of the moral feelings, if the sense of right 

 and wrong, although perverted, be not destroyed. 



There is some contrariety of opinion upon this question among the 

 jurists of this country, but the trend is in favor of the insane delusion 

 defense, under proper limitations. 



It is important to notice that the delusion constitutina: a defense 

 must be that of an insane person. 



If he has sufficient reason to dispel or correct the delusion, and re- 

 fuses or fails to do so, he is responsible before the law. One author, 

 in illustration of this point, says: — "Thus the Mormon prophets claim, 

 it is said, a direct revelation permitting them to practice polygamy. 

 Would they be permitted to plead their delusion in this respect as a 

 bar to an indictment? Certainly not. And the reason is, that they 

 are shrewd, sane men, and must therefore be held responsible for their 

 delusions." 



There are many recorded instances of men subject to delusions, who 

 were sane beyond question, and had full control of themselves. For 

 example, Lord Castlereagh, who had a vision of the "Radiant Child ;" 

 President Lincoln, who, at the same view, saw two images of himself 

 in the mirror; and who, according to his biographer Lamon, " was 

 readily impressed with the most absurd superstitions;" and Lord Ken- 

 yon, who had a morbid apprehension of impending poverty. 



There is a marked contrast between these instances and cases in 

 which the delusion has so extended as to implicate the whole mind, 

 producing incoherence of thought and speech. Dr. Rush reports the 

 conversation of a patient belonging to the latter class, as follows: — 



