Le Devoir, April 19, 1920, p. 4

THE GAGNON WOMAN’S DEFENCE

PLEA OF INSANITY – DOCTORS IN QUEBEC ARE DIVIDED INTO TWO CAMPS – A REMARK BY JUSTICE PELLETIER

Quebec City, 19.-(D.N.C.)-At the opening of the Court of Assizes, Saturday, the defence attorney for the Gagnon woman announced that he was adding to his plea, denying all culpability, that of non-guilty by reason of insanity. The Crown and defence then requested that medical experts, to be heard from both sides, proceed with an examination of the accused. Doctors Marois and E. Fortier will conduct a physical examination. The psychological examination will be conducted by Doctors Brochu, Marois and Roy, of Quebec City, Devlin and Derome, of Montreal, for the Crown, and by Doctors Tétreault and Prévost, of Montreal, Achille Paquet and E. Fortier, of Quebec City.

Monsieur Francoeur stated that he had had to call on alienists from Montreal, as the Crown had brought in all those in Quebec City.

Justice Pelletier asked if the point had been reached where the province’s medical profession would be mobilised into two camps to make a spectacle of itself in the case. He reiterated his suggestion to the authorities to name an official committee of alienists qualified to pronounce a judgement on such serious cases.

The trial was postponed until Monday, in order to allow doctors to examine the accused.