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The Christopher Power case
20 September 1888
Christopher Power, 32, clerk, was indicted for maliciously wounding Peter Black with intent to murder him.
Mr. C.F, Gill conducted the prosecution; Mr. Druitt appeared for the defence.
The prosecutor and the prisoner had been in the same employment. The prisoner seemed to have been under the impression that the prosecutor had followed him about, and some time previously to the occurrence he had written two letters to Mr. Black. There was no ground for the impression the prisoner had formed, and the prosecutor believed that he was not in his right mind. On the evening of August 10 the prisoner called at the prosecutor's house and wounded Mr. Black with a knife, which he had held in his hand behind him. Assistance was obtained and the prisoner was arrested, and he denied that he had used the knife.
For the defence the prisoner's landlady was called, and gave evidence to the effect that the prisoner had been strange in his manner.
Dr. Gilbert, the surgeon at Holloway gaol, stated that the prisoner suffered from delusions as to being followed about by people who heard and repeated everything he said, and witness was of opinion that the prisoner was insane and did not know the nature and quality of the act.
Mr. Justice Charles summed up.
The jury found that the prisoner committed the act, but was insane at the time.
Mr. Justice Charles directed the prisoner to be detained as a lunatic during Her Majesty's pleasure.
Census:
1891
Broadmoor Asylum
Patient
Christopher Power aged 35 born Ireland
Clerk in an engineer's office
1901:
Broadmoor Asylum, Crowthorne, Berkshire
C P aged 46 born Ireland
Commercial clerk
Death:
1913
Christopher Power aged 57
Easthampstead, Berkshire
If this "Mr. Druitt" was Montague, defending in a serious case at the height of the murders (only 10 days before the "double event") one can only speculate about what effect such proceedings would have had on him if it were a period when his own mental health was delicate.
20 September 1888
Christopher Power, 32, clerk, was indicted for maliciously wounding Peter Black with intent to murder him.
Mr. C.F, Gill conducted the prosecution; Mr. Druitt appeared for the defence.
The prosecutor and the prisoner had been in the same employment. The prisoner seemed to have been under the impression that the prosecutor had followed him about, and some time previously to the occurrence he had written two letters to Mr. Black. There was no ground for the impression the prisoner had formed, and the prosecutor believed that he was not in his right mind. On the evening of August 10 the prisoner called at the prosecutor's house and wounded Mr. Black with a knife, which he had held in his hand behind him. Assistance was obtained and the prisoner was arrested, and he denied that he had used the knife.
For the defence the prisoner's landlady was called, and gave evidence to the effect that the prisoner had been strange in his manner.
Dr. Gilbert, the surgeon at Holloway gaol, stated that the prisoner suffered from delusions as to being followed about by people who heard and repeated everything he said, and witness was of opinion that the prisoner was insane and did not know the nature and quality of the act.
Mr. Justice Charles summed up.
The jury found that the prisoner committed the act, but was insane at the time.
Mr. Justice Charles directed the prisoner to be detained as a lunatic during Her Majesty's pleasure.
Census:
1891
Broadmoor Asylum
Patient
Christopher Power aged 35 born Ireland
Clerk in an engineer's office
1901:
Broadmoor Asylum, Crowthorne, Berkshire
C P aged 46 born Ireland
Commercial clerk
Death:
1913
Christopher Power aged 57
Easthampstead, Berkshire
If this "Mr. Druitt" was Montague, defending in a serious case at the height of the murders (only 10 days before the "double event") one can only speculate about what effect such proceedings would have had on him if it were a period when his own mental health was delicate.
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