INSOMNIA AND CRIME.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3383, 25 November 1911, Page 2

INSOMNIA AND CRIME.

PEOPLE WHO COMMIT MURDER WHEN ONLY HALF AWAKE. AIAD FOR A MINUTE. The inquest on Air. Percy Afaurice Hart, solicitor, who shot himself at his office in New Broad Street, City, was noteworthy for some remarkable statements made by Dr. T. 13. Hyslop, formerly superintendent of Bethlem Hosr pital. Evidence showed that Air. Hart had suffered from insomnia through overwork. He left on his desk a note bearing the words, “Rather than be a burden to my dear ones, I must die,” but there was no ground for the suggestion that he was in financial difficulties. Dr. Hyslop, of Portland Place, whom he had consulted, described his fear of becoming insane. “He suffered fiom insomnia, and feared he would break down,” said Dr Hyslop. “The question lie discussed was whether he should throw up the sponge in order to forget the breakdown, or whether by sheer force of will he ought to continue his work and overcome the nervous condition.” Dr. Hyslop declared that 90 per cent, of cases of insanity were preceded by insomnia. One might have a temporary outbreak of insanity, and it might last for only a few minutes. Such an attack closely resembled epilepsy. All sorts of crimes occurred m the early morning, when the person was in a semi-somnambulistic state and more susceiitible to hallucinations. .Many murders were committed during a state of semi-wakefulness. Dr. Hyslop added that he had heard of a case where a person was only insane during a certain time each day, and there had been cases in which patients had been insane once a month. 'The coroner remarked that temporary insanity was not accepted by the English law. Tho popular idea was that if an individual took his life he must -of necessity he insane, but that did not follow in law. One seldom heard of a Jew committing suicide, and very few cases had come within his knowledge. Suicide was more common among Protestants than among members of any other faith. “Suicide while insane,” was the verdict.