Page:Federal Reporter, 1st Series, Volume 10.djvu/194

 182 FEDBBAIi BBPOBTER. �sliows a present knowledge of the wrongfulness of the act in itself ; but this declaration is of value on this question of knowledge, only in case you should believe that he had the same appreciation of the act at the time of its commission and disbelieve bis story about the in- spiration. �I have said nearly all that I need say on the subject of insane delusion. �The answer of the English judges, that I have referred to, bas not been deemed entirely satisfactory, and the courts have settled down upon the question of knowledge of right and wrong as to the particu- lar act, or rather the capacity to know it, as the test of responsibility ; and the question of insane delusion is only important as it tbrows light upon the question of knowledge of, or capacity to know, the right and wrong. �If a man is under an insane delusion that another is attempting bis life, and kills him in self-defence, he does not know that he is committing an unnecessary homicide. If a man insanely believes that he has a command from the Almighty to kill, it is difficult to understand how sueh a man can know that it is wrong for him to do it. A man may have some other insane delusion whieh would be quite consistent with a knowledge that such an act is wrong, — such as, that he had received an injury, — and he might kill in revenge for it knowing that it would be wrong. �And I have dwelt upon the question of insane delusion, simply beca use evidence relating to that is evidence touching the defendant's power, or want of power, from mental disease, to distinguish between right and wrong, as to the act doue by him, which is the broad ques- tion for you to determine, and beeause that is the kind of evidence on this question which is relied on by the defence. �It has been argued with great force, on the part of the defendant, that there are a great many things in bis conduct which could never be expected of a sane man, and which are only explainable on the theory of insanity. The very extravagance of bis expectations in connection with this deed — that he would be protected by the men he was to benefit, would be applauded by the whole country when his motives were made known — has been dwelt upon as the strongest evi- dence of unsoundness. �Whether this and other strange things in his career are really indic- ative of partial insanity, or can be accounted for by ignorance of men, exaggerated egotism, or perverted moral sense, might be a question ��� �