Hallucinations.

  • Alexandre Jacques François Brière de Boismont
Date:
1853
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Hallucinations. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Leeds Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Leeds Library.

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    magistrate. We think it right to give his different replies to the interrogatories :— D. Why did you ill-treat the master of the inn at Bully? R. Whilst I was at supper, the innkeeper took a large knife and passed into an alcove belonging to the tavern. Qn coming out, he said: 'There is one disposed of!' Another man entered a second alcove at the foot of the staircase, whom he followed, and also killed, saying the same words. He then offered me a glass of red wine, which I accepted. There were women present whom he induced to drink white wine. I then went to bed. From my room, which was over the tavern, I heard a plot made to assassinate me. I then resolved to sell my life dearly. I placed myself near to the door, with my scissors in my hand, and when he entered my room I defended myself. D. In what manner and by what words did you comprehend that you were to be assassinated? R. They knew that I had seen them murder the two other travellers, and I heard them consult together; the one said: 'He saw us kill them.' The other replied : ' He saw nothing ; let us leave him alone.' The first continued: 'I tell you that he did see it, and we must assassinate him; we shall be safer.' The first then said: 'Go up.' The other replied: 'No; go you up.' On the day following, two physicians, Messrs. Chapeau and Tavernier, were commissioned by the magistrate to report as to the mental condition of the criminal. In all the interrogatories to which he was subjected, this man evinced good sense and judgment. He again narrated all he had seen, heard, and felt in the inn at Bully. His recital was that of a man fully convinced and free from passion, and who congratulated himself on having escaped a great danger. The experienced physicians to whom the examination of Alphonso Terry was confided, gave in their report, which was forwarded to the authorities. Whatever may have been the result and issue of the trial, we cannot but shudder at the frightful position of the accused, and of the impossibility of legally justifying him, had he by chance had any cause of dis- like to the inkeeper, any dispute with him relative to the price of hi.s repast, or, finally, had it been possible to believe in any intention of his to commit robbery.
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