§  392.  Insane  Delusion.  —  Delusion  is,  with  many,  a  favorite
test  of  insanity.  It  was  established  as  a  test  in  the  famous  case
of  Hadfield.^  There  are  even  judges  who  will  not  admit  that
there  is  any  other  test.*  It  excuses  on  the  ground  of  a  mistake
of  fact,  already  discussed.^  If,  then,  a  man  under  an  aberration
of  mind  even  in  one  particular  only,  believes  a  thing  to  exist,  —
as,  that  another  in  his  presence  has  designs  upon  his  life,  and  is
about  to  make  tlie  attack,  —  and  he  acts  as  he  would  be  justified
in  doing  if  what  he  believes  were  real,  in  this  instance  kills  the

'LoydB.The  State,  45  Ga.  57.  In  re  Torman,  54  Barb.  274;   Reg.  v.
2  Ante,  §  376,  380.  Townley,  S  Fost.  &  F.  839.     And  see

'  Hadfield's  Case,  27  Howell  St.  Tr.  Keg.  v.  Da  vies,  1  Fost.  &  F.  69;  Reg.  v.
1281.  Law,  2  Fost.  &  F.  836.
*  WUlis  V.  People,  5  Parker  C.  C.  621 ;         5  Ante;  §  301  et  seq.
227


§  394  THE   EVUi  INTENT  EEQUIRED.  [BOOK  IV.
man  to  save  his  own  life,  he  commits  no  crime.^  Evidently  the
doctrine  thus  laid  down  is  safe  in  almost  any  state  of  the  proofs.
