State v. Speyer
Supreme Court of Missouri
Appeal from Jackson Circuit Court. — No». Jno. W. Wofford, Judge. (1) Can a more horrible insane condition of mind be imagined than that of a person so affected by fright as to be unconscious of his own acts or state? So affected as to be incapable of' deliberation? Each and every author on psychology, on mental diseases, and on medical jurisprudence recognizes and affirms, and the many horrible catastrophes attest, that “fright” is a most efficient cause of an insane…
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Appeal from Jackson Circuit Court. — No». Jno. W. Wofford, Judge. (1) Can a more horrible insane condition of mind be imagined than that of a person so affected by fright as to be unconscious of his own acts or state? So affected as to be incapable of' deliberation? Each and every author on psychology, on mental diseases, and on medical jurisprudence recognizes and affirms, and the many horrible catastrophes attest, that “fright” is a most efficient cause of an insane condition of mind. If the court may eliminate insanity caused and produced by fright, then what avails insanity caused and…
1Opinion of the CourtGantt, P. J.
From a conviction of murder in the second degree in the criminal court of Jackson county, the defendant appeals.
The account of the killing of his little son, only five-years old, by the defendant is in the highest degree tragical.
There is practically little or no controversy as to the facts of the case. The defendant at the time of the-homicide was a married man. His family consisted of his wife and two children. Defendant was about thirty-three years old. At and prior to the time of the homicide, upon which this prosecution is based, the defendant was engaged in giving equestrian exhibitions…
2Cited by5 opinions
- In Re TalleyCourt of Criminal Appeals of Oklahoma · 1910
- State v. JohnsonSupreme Court of Missouri · 1943
- State v. PaulsgroveSupreme Court of Missouri · 1907
- State v. SpeyerSupreme Court of Missouri · 1907
- State v. LeeMissouri Court of Appeals · 1905