The Trial of Sir Archibald Gordon Kinloch, Of Gilmerton, Bart...

1795. Edinburgh: Printed by C. Denovan, 1795. Edinburgh: Printed by C. Denovan, 1795. A Landmark Case with the First Use of an Insanity Defense in Scotland [Trial]. Kinloch, Sir Archibald Gordon [c.1749-1800], Defendant. The Trial of Sir Archibald Gordon Kinloch, Of Gilmerton, Bart. For the Murder of Sir Francis Kinloch, Bart. His Brother-German. Before the High Court of Justiciary on Monday June 29, 1795. Taken in Short Hand,--And Carefully Revised by the Counsel. Edinburgh: Printed by C. Denovan, 1795. vi, 161 pp. With a half-title. Octavo (8-1/4" x 5"; 21 x 12.7 cm). Disbound stab-stitched pamphlet. Light soiling to exterior, corner folds to lower outside corners of first few leaves. Moderate toning, light foxing to a few leaves. $150. * Only edition. Sir Francis was murdered in his home by his brother, Sir Archibald. Although Archibald was convicted, he was released into the care of his family rather than sentenced to death because he was judged to be insane. This was the first time an insanity defense was presented in a Scottish court and one of the very first trials in Great Britain to consider the criminal liability of the insane. Catalogue of the Library of the Harvard Law School (1909) II:1121.