A band was playing outside the Seaman's boarding house and 21 year old Filippo stopped listen to the music. A complete stranger rushed out of the boarding house and stabbed him to death. Giuseppe Ferragie, his attacker was charged with wilful murder. Ferragie did not speak a single word until his trial at Swansea Assizes.
He was a Maltese sailor, previously serving in the Navy and was present at the bombardment of Alexandria. He was so affected by the experience that he was discharged from the Navy as mad and detained in a lunatic asylum.
The Judge told the jury they must decide whether Ferragie was mute by malice or by visitation of God. Ferragie was found unfit to plead and ordered to be confined.