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John Amery (Treason)

Discussion in 'The Secret War: Resistance and Espionage During WW' started by Jim, Mar 26, 2007.

  1. Jim

    Jim Active Member

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    Introduction
    The following information has been extracted from the various PRO files concerning the trial and execution of John Amery for High Treason. John Amery pleaded guilty at his trial, which meant his court appearance lasted for just eight minutes.

    HO 45/25773
    This piece contains numerous press cutting’s, mainly complaining about the delay in bringing John Amery to trial for High Treason. The Daily Worker (the British Communist Party newspaper), in its 21 June 1945 edition, mentioned that Leo Amery was standing for the Conservatives in Birmingham Sparkbrook, and Captain Julian Amery was standing in Preston. According to the article, Conservative Central Office refused to confirm if they would proceed with John Amery’s trial, at the Central Criminal Court, if they won the forthcoming General Election. In the Daily Worker of 29 June 1945, an article asks if the delay is due to the impending General Election, or a lack of evidence. They reprinted a propaganda leaflet featuring John Amery appealing for British POWs to join the Legion of St. George. (Posted Below)

    John Amery was captured by Italian Partisans at the end of April 1945. He had been held in British Military Custody since May 1945. He arrived back in this country on 7 July 1945. He was committed at Bow Street Magistrates Court on 9 July 1945 charged with eight counts of High Treason. He was remanded to Brixton Prison to await his trial at the Old Bailey. When Amery's trial opened on 28 November 1945, before Mr. Justice Humphreys, Amery pleaded guilty to eight counts of high treason. Once the judge had satisfied himself that Amery knew the consequences of his actions, he sentenced Amery to death by hanging.

    "The Times" report of John Amery's brief trial. is Posted Below.

    John Amery was born on 14 March 1912, the son of Rt. Hon. Leo Amery, MP and Florence Amery. His younger brother was Julian Amery.

    This Home Office piece also contains the M.I.5 report on John Amery’s wartime career, and the sworn statements of potential witnesses at his forthcoming trial.

    HO 144/22823
    This piece contains numerous reports concerning John Amery’s mental condition.

    The main medical report, asked for by Amery's Father, is also Posted Below.

    According to the report, it appears that John Amery was pathologically insane. He was rebellious at Harrow, and a bankrupt by the age of 25. According to his Father Leo Amery, he pleaded guilty at his trial to spare his family any more anguish.

    There was also a petition signed by 27 people in Birmingham requested that John Amery be reprieved. The Home Office file also contains various letters from Florence, sent during 1948, requesting permission to visit John Amery’s grave and lay some flowers. She also requested to speak to the Prison Chaplain, who attending to John Amery while he was awaiting execution in Wandsworth Prison.

    John Amery is arrested in France, from a book cover.

    [​IMG]


    Various people have also stated in various reports, John Amery’s disregard for any authority. John Amery under went a Electro-Encephalogram at The National Hospital, Queen Square, on 14 December 1945. It found no abnormalities.

    The Sunday Dispatch of 2 December 1945 reported that John Amery was already dying with Tuberculosis. However, no sign of lung disease was found at the Post Mortem conducted after his execution.

    This P.R.O piece continues on from HO 144/22822, which is contained on microfilm.

    Before Amery's execution Field Marshal Smuts sent the following letter to Prime Minister Clement Attlee:

    PRIME MINISTER 14 December 1945.

    Mr. Heaton Nicholls telephoned to say that he had received the following cable from Field Marshal Smuts.

    "Please convey to Mr Attlee a private and personal message from me as soon as possible in connection with the possible execution of Amery’s son. We have had similar cases in South Africa, in none of which execution has been inflicted, as the acts were more of an ideological than of a criminal character. I am deeply moved by consideration for Amery and his wife, both of whom have deserved well of their country."

    Mr. Heaton Nicholls said that, as he understood the Home Secretary was making a decision in this case this evening, he had telephoned this message through already to the Home Secretary for his information.

    I have checked with the Home Office that no final decision has yet been reached by the Home Secretary.

    The Prime Minister, Clement Attlee, replied on 15 December 1945, that he had no locus standi. The decision was a matter solely for the Home Secretary, Chuter Ede. The Prime Minister said that he appreciated Smuts’ feeling in the matter, and conveyed his message to the Home Secretary.


    PCOM 9/1117
    John Amery requested that four photographs in his possession should be passed to his brother, Captain Julian Amery, after his execution. The prison hospital report on John Amery stated that he was a heavy smoker, usually smoking his daily allowance of 15 small cigarettes.

    At his execution, which occurred at 9 am. on 19 December 1945 at Wandsworth Prison, Amery was given a drop of 7 feet 8 inches. His height and weight were recorded as 5 feet 7 inches and 140 lbs. John Amery was described as 33 years old, a spare but a man of muscular build.

    The Post Mortem was carried out by Dr. Keith Simpson later that day. John Amery had a fracture dislocation between the 2ND and 3RD cervical vertebrae. There was a 2-inch gap, with complete separation of the spinal cord at that level. He also had multiple fractures of the Hyoid and Thyoid cartilage. John Amery was buried in the prison graveyard later the same day.

    The Executioner was Albert Pierrepoint, and his assistant was Mr. H.E. Critchell. In his autobiography, Pierrepoint described Amery as the bravest man that he had to execute.

    On 22 April 1948, J.M. Wilmot Brooke wrote a letter requesting permission for Mrs. F. Amery to visit the grave of her son. The Home Office refused permission for the visit.

    Source: Stephen Stratford
     
  2. Jim

    Jim Active Member

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    Propaganda Leaflet

    Introduction
    John Amery's Proclamation of the Legion of St. George is shown below. The use of capital letters is taken from the original leaflet.

    The Statement
    BRITISH NATIONAL REPRESENTATION

    PROCLAMATION TO ALL BRITISH SUBJECTS INTERNED

    FELLOW COUNTRYMEN:

    150,000 of our fellow countrymen are in prison in the home country, because they have declared themselves against this fratricidal war. In violation of the Habeas Corpus Act and the fundamental laws of our constitution these men have never been brought to trail or even allowed to see a lawyer.

    American troops have not only occupied Ulster but are arriving in increasing numbers in England.

    Naval bases and Colonies have been handed over to Mr. Roosevelt's administration.

    BEYOND ALL THIS

    This war has ceased to be a war of nations but has become a war of

    CONCEPTION

    Europe and out country, your wives and children at home are menaced by the invasion of the HORDES OF BOLSHEVIK BARBARITY.

    For this reason I have approached the German Government with the proposal to form

    A BRITISH LEGION AGAINST BOLSHEVISM, to be known as the LEGION OF ST. GEORGE.

    I appeal to all Britishers to answer this call to arms for the defence of all the principles that we Englishmen have been the first to proclaim in the world.

    THE DEFENCE OF OUR HOMES, OF OUR CHILDREN AND OF ALL CIVILISATION AGAINST THE DRAGON OF ASIATIC AND JEWISH BESTIALITY.

    The St. George Legion will fight only against the Communists and on NO OTHER FRONT!

    All men will commence in their present rank and promotion will be open to all men alike, without any distinctions or qualifications, political or otherwise.

    Within the limits of the military possibilities the Legion of St. George will fight at the junction of the German-Finish front, beside the troops of the undaunted liberty loving Finish people.

    The British Representation in Berlin formally guarantee to all ranks: A PERMANENT WELL PLACED JOB IN THE BRITISH ADMINISTRATION OR A PRIORITY IN ANY OTHER EMPLOYMENT THEY SHOULD DESIRE ONCE PEACE IS SIGNED, OR THE POSSIBILITY TO FORM THE ELITE IN THE NEW BRITISH ARMY.

    Hundreds of soldiers have volunteered to join this Legion.

    Men who have escaped to England have come to join us.

    Three Royal Air Force aeroplanes have come over to us so far with their arms and equipment.

    It is up to you civilians to give a hand to show that we intend to take our responsibilities to maintain THE INTEGRITY OF OUR EMPIRE, by giving the world proof that we have not all sold out to the JEW or PLUTOCRAT.

    I ASK YOU TO OPT NATIONAL

    The British Representative which is a 100% British organisation will take no steps whatever of intimidation against the persons who do not opt, BUT fellow countrymen the world is watching us, EUROPE EXPECTS THAT EVERY CIVILISED MAN WILL DO HIS DUTY, National England desires that you will show yourselves worthy of Nelson's immortal signal:

    "ENGLAND EXPECTS THIS DAY EVERY MAN WILL DO HIS DUTY"

    Your place is with us Nationalists ... Your duty is to opt NATIONAL under the glorious banner of St. George we are going to write a new page in the History of the British Empire: more, WE SHALL SAVE THE BRITISH EMPIRE FROM COMMUNISM AND AMERICAN RAPACITY.

    We shall show the world that free Englishmen:

    NEVER, NEVER WILL BE THE SLAVES OF A JEWISH PLUTOCRATIC TYRANNY, THAT WE ARE WORTHY DESCENDANTS OF THE YEOMAN THAT DICTATED THE MAGNA CHARTA.

    Pay no attention to waverings or opposition: the first to opt will be the examples of bravery and courage to those that now waver or are against us but who will have to join us one day when they realise all the truth.

    In these fatal days when we are before the bar of civilisation: I beg, I demand, that you put aside all hesitations, all the prejudice, all the lies that have led you where you are ... that you take this IMMENSE OPPORTUNITY THAT I HAVE OBTAINED AND WITH ME, WITH ALL THOSE THAT HAVE ALREADY JOINED.

    YOU WILL OPT NATIONAL ... FOR ENGLAND AND ST. GEORGE!

    PARIS 20 APRIL 1943.

    John AMERY.
     
  3. Jim

    Jim Active Member

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    The Times report of John Amery's brief trial

    Introduction
    The following account of John Amery's High Treason trail appear in "The Times" dated Thursday 29 November 1945.

    The Report
    AMERY SENTENCED
    TO DEATH
    "A SELF-CONFESSED TRAITOR"
    EIGHT-MINUTE HEARING​


    John Amery, who pleaded "Guilty" at the Central criminal Court yesterday to indictments alleging high treason and treachery, was sentenced to death within eight minutes of entering the dock.

    Amery, who is 33, was described as a politician. He took the sentence with complete composure. He bowed to Mr. Justice Humphreys when he was brought into Court, and also after sentence had been passed.

    While the proceedings lasted he appeared most of the time to have half a smile on his face. After sentence had been passed he walked away with bowed head to the cells below the dock. The sudden end of the case was dramatic.

    The hearing began nearly an hour late. At one minute to 11 o’clock the counsel and solicitor for the defence, led by Mr. G. 0. Slade, KC., went down the clock steps in procession to confer with the accused. While they were out of Court Sir Hartley Shaweross, KC., the Attorney-General, who led for the prosecution, also went out. It was apparent to all present in the crowded Court that something unexpected was happening.

    When defending counsel returned to Court shortly before 11.30, Mr. Slade first spoke to the Attorney-General and then to the Clerk of the Court, who immediately sent an usher to the Judge. Mr. Justice Humphreys took his seat, and Amery was brought in. His long black hair, curling up at the back, was carefully brushed. He wore a brown overcoat and a black and yellow scarf, which was knotted at his neck.

    EIGHT COUNTS
    The clerk read the long indictment, which contained eight counts charging him with broadcasting, inducing British subjects in captivity (who were named) to light for Germany against Britain and Russia, and with making public speeches on behalf of the enemy in Antwerp, Lyons, and Paris while France and Belgium were under enemy occupation.

    Amery stood in the front of the dock and leaned forward, listening intently. His brow puckered, the nervous smile left his face, and he stroked his chin with his forefinger.

    He was asked to plead, and after a tense silence he said in a firm voice, which was audible in all parts of The Court, "I plead guilty to all counts.’’

    The Judge said he never accepted a plea of "Guilty" on the capital charge without assuring himself that the accused person thoroughly understood what he was doing and what the immediate result must be, and that he was in accord with his legal advisers in the course he was taking.

    In reply to the Judge, Mr. Slade said he had explained the position fully to his client and was satisfied that he understood.

    The Judge ordered that the plea should he recorded.

    The Clerk of the Court then told the prisoner that he stood convicted of high treason. Amery made no reply when he was asked if he had anything to say why judgment of death should not be passed upon him according to law.

    The nervous smile returned to his face as the black cap was adjusted. When asked by the Judge if he had anything to say he replied, "No, Sir".

    JUDGE’S COMMENTS
    The Judge then said to him: "John Amery, I have read the depositions and the exhibits in this case, and I am satisfied that you knew what you did and that you did it intentionally and deliberately after you had received warning from more than one of your fellow countrymen that the course you were pursuing amounted to high treason. They called you a traitor and you heard them; but in spite of that you continued in that course. You now stand a self-confessed traitor to your King and country, and you have forfeited your right to live".

    The Judge then passed the only sentence allowed; that of death by hanging.

    Amery had kept his eyes on the Judge throughout his remarks and while he passed sentence. Showing no sign of emotion, he bowed with dignity to the Judge and turned to walk down the steps to the cells.

    No jury was sworn and the Attorney-General did not speak throughout the brief hearing.
     
  4. Jim

    Jim Active Member

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    The main medical report, asked for by Amery's Father

    Introduction
    John Amery's Father, Leo Amery, asked for a psychiatric report to be performed on his son. The report is reproduced on this page. The original document is held at the Public Record Office and has the document reference HO 144/22823.

    Any text effects used below are taken from the original document.

    The Document
    PSYCHIATRIC REPORT BY

    DR. EDWARD GLOVER, 18 WIMPOLE STREET, W1.

    on the case of JOHN AMERY.​


    I am a Doctor of Medicine of Glasgow University, and for the past 25 years have worked as a specialist in psychiatry, psycho-analysis and general medical psychology. I am the author of various text books and research monographs on these subjects. Amongst the psychiatric posts I have held is that of Chairman of the Scientific Committee and Director of the Psychopathic Clinic for the diagnosis and treatment of delinquent and psychopathic cases both juvenile and adult. I have acted as consultant to various Public Schools in cases of psychopathic children and adolescents suffering from disorders of behaviour and/or delinquent conduct. I founded the Psychopathic Clinic in 1932.

    I have not been afforded the opportunity of a direct psychiatric examination of John Amery but the investigations I have made so far point conclusively to the following facts:

    THAT WHATEVER MAY BE HIS EXISTING MENTAL STATE, AS REGARDS SANITY, HE IS CERTAINLY A SEVERE AND LONG-STANDING CASE OF PSYCHOPATHIC DISORDER OF THE TYPE AT ONE TIME CALLED 'MORAL INSANITY' OR 'MORAL IMBECILITY'.

    THAT HIS CONDUCT OF LIFE IS DETERMINED BY DISEASED MENTAL PROCESSES.

    THAT EVEN IF HE SHOULD PROVE TO BE AWARE OF THE NATURE OF HIS ACTIONS AND UTTERANCES, HIS BEHAVIOUR IS GOVERNED BY THESE DISEASED MENTAL PROCESSES TO SUCH AN EXTENT THAT HE IS INCAPABLE OF A NORMAL APPRECIATION OF CONSEQUENCES AND IS DEVOID OF THE MORAL SENSE BY WHICH NORMAL PEOPLE CONTROL THEIR ACTIONS AND UTTERANCES.

    I base these conclusions on the following evidence.

    EVIDENCE EXAMINED

    I have had detailed psychiatric interviews with the following persons:

    His Mother, Mrs Florence Amery

    His Father, Mr. L.S. Amery

    His Brother, Captain Amery

    His Wife, Mrs. Una Amery

    the Schoolmistress of his Kindergarten school, Miss Irene Ironside

    his housemaster at Harrow School, W.H. BARRETT

    . his 3rd private tutor after leaving Harrow, G.C. NOCK.

    I have also studied reports obtained from the following:

    the headmaster of his prep. school, K.L.S. TINDALL, West Downs, Winchester

    the former headmaster of Harrow School, SIR CYRIL NORWOOD

    his 1st private tutor when temporarily removed from Harrow, LANDER JAMESON

    the psychiatrist DR. MAURICE WRIGHT to whom he was taken for consultation after being at Harrow

    a specialist in venereal disease who treated him, DR. OSMOND

    Apart from the interviews with members of his family, all these interviews and reports were obtained independently none of the persons concerned having had any contact with the others.

    SUMMARY OF THE CHIEF SYMPTOMS ON WHICH THE DIAGNOSIS OF PSYCHOPATHIC CHARACTER IS BASED:

    an authenticated history of complete absence of moral sense, guilt or remorse dating from early childhood and persisting without alteration down to the present time, ie. for 30 of his 33 years of life.

    an equally persistent and unchanging negativism of thought and action (ie. an automatic refractoriness to all suggestions and to all authority resulting in conduct entirely opposite to that suggested to him). This negativism has been so strong in his case as to suggest the existence of a psychotic (ie. insane) disturbance of character usually found in schizoid characters or in cases of schizophrenia.

    persistent conduct or a bizarre type such as is usually found in psychotic (schizoid) types.

    delinquent conduct in childhood, adolescence and adult life, to wit, pilfering, and latter uttering worthless cheques, obtaining goods on false pretences, persistent motoring offences.

    persistent pathological lying often of a bizarre type.

    abnormal and often perverted sexual behaviour.

    outbursts of excitement and violence together with persistent hyperactivity and restlessness.

    signs of a childhood neurosis: bedwetting, violent phobias of animals, of being alone and of injury of various kinds which apart from bedwetting persisted into adult life down to the present time.

    a persistent tendency to grandiosity of thought and action of a mildly megalomaniac type, together with a marked tendency to exhibitionistic activities, mainly non-sexual but also sexual in type.

    a marked form of suspicion leading to ideas of a persecutory type, common in schizoid characters and resulting in the carrying of firearms.

    a complete absence of social conscience and total insensitivity to the pain or injury caused to his family and friends by his conduct.

    Details of authenticated disordered conduct and symptoms of mental (character) abnormality in chronological order (together with source of information).

    Early childhood. In infancy he suffered from screaming fits at night, had frequent tantrums, and between the age of 3-4 had a prolonged attack (4 to 5 months) of bedwetting. The first authenticated observation of his lack of feeling on destroying or breaking things came from his 'Nanny' an experienced woman who reported to his Mother as follows: "This is a very bad child: I don't know quite how to deal with him". He was then just 2 years of age. By the time he reached the age of 5 both parents were impressed by his unteachability both in physical co-ordination and in mental activity. This is confirmed by his kindergarten headmistress. Her first impression was that he was "an abnormal boy, who always wanted to do the exact opposite of what he was asked to do". This attitude, she states, was persistent and consistent. He clung determinedly to his own ideas. His conduct was at times bizarre, eg. coming to school with an enormous necklace of highly coloured wooden beads stretching almost to his knees. He bullied other children and though quarrelling frequently with them always ran away when in trouble. He was, she said, "really unteachable" and Miss Ironside felt that if he were subjected to ordinary discipline "it would send him crazy". She also noticed a tendency to shut himself in and live inside himself.

    Later childhood (early school age). About this period his parents noted his secretiveness and tendency to live in the present, his abject physical terror fear of injury and of animals (eg. cows). He complained of a feeling of "tightness" when in crowded rooms (eg. at parties) (a claustrophobic reaction). When his brother Julian was a baby John threw a lighted match into his brother's pram in order to set fire to it. At his preparatory school he immediately caused anxiety. "Ideas of right and wrong" says his then Headmaster, Mr Tindell, "seemed to mean nothing to him". He had no sense of feeling or remorse. His had behaviour there was usual in the sense that "it seemed entirely purposeless". "He had no code of morals at all but would follow the whim of the moment without any thought of where it was going to lead or what trouble it was likely to cause himself or others."

    Later School Age. At Harrow he resented discipline and scoffed at the current conventions. He stole from shops and from other boys, absconded at nights to visit a night club and to tout for night club clients. "Of all the boys whom I have known", says Sir Cyril Norwood, his then headmaster "John Amery was the most abnormal". He continues: "Just because John Amery was morally imbecile it was not possible to make anything of him at Harrow". He was impervious to appeals, felt no shame and would not try to learn. Sir Cyril Norwood observes later that he had "A proneness to fear which dominated his mind so entirely that he could neither control nor cut it out". Later he attempted to run away to France to become a garage hand and was subsequently kept for some terms from school and put under a private tutor. Mr Lander Jameson also observed his "moral imbecility". He was moody, introspective, friendliness, dirty, slovenly and unresponsive. "His lack of physical courage" says Mr Jameson "was abnormal". He went into rages on being disciplined and once attacked Mr Jameson with a long knife; on another occasion after being prevented from smoking he went to a policeman to charge Mr Jameson with indecent assault. He was violently abusive if obstructed, used foul language, on occasions would get tipsy in a public house. He stole from a hotel when in Norway but had no sense of guilt treating the incident as a joke. He had no sense of the consequences of his actions. About this time or a little earlier, he was taken to a psychiatrist, Dr Maurice Wright, who found that he had no moral sense of right or wrong and regarded his condition as incurable. He had no sense of remorse or shame. Returning to Harrow he again ran away on being faced with a beating for slackness. His Housemaster at that time Mr. W.H. Barrett reports that he was "an extremely unusual type with obvious psychological difficulties and lack of mental balance", up against authority and that he "didn't appear to be able to help this even when he tried". If reproved he would "fly up in the air" and get into states of excitement. "In all my experience" says Mr Barrett "I never had to deal with anyone just like him." After running away from Harrow he was put with a second tutor and subsequently sent to a Swiss School from which he was shortly afterwards expelled as a bad influence. He was then put to a third tutor, Mr. Nock, who also was struck by his entire lack of any moral feeling. "He had", says Mr. Nock, "no sense of obligation to anyone or anything" and "not even a gangster code". He was accustomed to do queer things such as insisting on climbing the Jungfrau in his bedroom slippers. He used to complain that his Father was a fool not to be dishonest and make money out of his position. "His character" Mr Nock continues "was one complete flaw. He had a superficial charm but no affection.

    Late adolescence and after. This period was punctuated by recurrent crisis mostly of a delinquent type eg. passing worthless cheques, borrowing large sums which he could not pay back, starting wild-cat schemes sometimes of an illicit nature. He had "a complete inability" says his Father "to envisage in inevitable consequences, so long as he could starve off trouble at the moment and equally complete absence of regret when found out". These are well known stigmata of the 'Pathological delinquent'. Incidentally he had 82 convictions for car offences. Having been arrested for securing £850 of jewellery on a worthless cheque, his Father was advised by a French Solicitor to enter a plea of mental deficiency. In 1934 he went bankrupt for £6,000.

    Sexual Abnormalities. Apart from an early phase of masturbation at age of 5, his first sexual peculiarity was shown at the age of 5-6, when he was in the habit of making obscene drawings of women with breasts. To this he was accustomed to add a male organ leaving the drawings to be seen by his French Governess. He had an early puberty and was soon actively engaged in efforts of seduction. He first seduced a Dutch girl at the age of 14 and by 17 had contacted venereal disease. Incidentally the specialist who treated him, Dr Osmond, has put on record that John Amery was "sub-normal". Dr Osmond says "I am quite convinced that he had no sense of right or wrong". Further Mr. Nock testifies to the fact that already by this time he had shown signs of sexual perversion, having had homosexual relations which he openly boasted were done for money. And there is reliable evidence from his wife that from time to time he practised homosexuality until they lived apart. The story of his marriage and the lies he told on getting engaged is recorded elsewhere. His heterosexual life was partly normal, partly perverted and partly governed by the need for peculiar situations. In his later married life his wife found that he practised masochism with some of the many prostitutes and mistresses with whom he consorted during marriage. He was beaten by them and there is some question of his having had perverse 'tying-up' practices. He had a compulsive interest in prostitutes, wanted always to give the impression that his wife was his mistress and that he was kept by women who had made a fortune by blackmailing In short he was a typical case of psychopathia Sexualis a condition almost always present in severe psychopaths.

    Other private peculiarities of conduct. During her marital association his wife had unusual opportunities of observing a number of peculiarities and bizarre forms of conduct. He was dirty and slovenly in habit varying this with loud and unconventional dressing. He would go to sleep for days on end only waking up to eat or perform his functions. He could go to sleep walking from his bedroom to the bathroom. He had an intense fear of being alone and also of being attacked although he could never say by whom. He also had an irresistible fear of personnel contact and a phobia of sitting with his back to a door. For these and other reasons he carried a revolver and occasionally used it eg. to break the wind screen of a car belonging to a motorist who had obstructed him. He would go into white rages when he would knock his wife about, on one occasion because at a cocktail bar she had let slip that she was his wife. He had an intense dread of being without money, and most of his fantasies and plans about money making were of a kind which if put into effect would have constituted criminal conspiracies. He had a compulsion when at a cinema to buy an extra seat for his overcoat and would leave any hotel or restaurant where he was requested to put it in the cloakroom. He carried with him a Teddy Bear mascot which he also put in a chair, proceeding to buy it drinks and comic newspapers. He also had an abnormal interest in dogs.

    Psychiatric Conclusions

    John Amery has exhibited throughout his life all the symptoms of psychopathy of a type which borders on the schizoid (psychotic) character and which under ordinary circumstances ends in compulsive delinquent and anti-social conduct. But for the fact that his family stood in time and again to cover his defalcations and but for the fact that he was drawn into the vortex of political events bigger than himself he would have become a juvenile and adolescent delinquent and have been dealt with at a magistrates court early in his life. Indeed if he had been brought to a London Magistrate's Court within the last 15 years he would have been sent to a Delinquency Clinic for psychological examination and treatment. Not having seen him I can't say whether he is now sane or insane in the sense of forensic psychiatry but he is, according to his history, sufficiently pre-psychotic (ie. insane borderline) to make it probable that if left untreated he would have a psychotic breakdown about the age of 40. The whole picture is completely characteristic of severe psychiapathy negativism, unteachability, fear of attack of a paranoid type, anti-social behaviour, delinquency, lack of moral feeling and conscience, sexual abnormality. And so on. No element is missing. On the matter of his present demeanour: I don't know whether he behaves apparently normally or not, but it is notorious that types of this kind will keep up a facade of normal behaviour in keeping with some diseased or apparently romantic conception of themselves. Simulation is a well known schizoid characteristic. No formal psychiatric examination could conclusively eliminate this element of simulation unless it were supported by a period of three months continuous observation in a psychiatric ward. And if he had been an ordinary delinquent this observation would have been carried out.

    Although, as I have pointed out, I have not been afforded the opportunity of a direct psychiatric examination I maintain that there is no psychiatrist in this or any other country who would not, on hearing this medical history, agree that John Amery is an outstanding case of mental disorder.

    (signed) EDWARD GLOVER, M.D
     

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