How Does Floyd Respond To The Clutter Case

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While some might label Floyd as an accomplice to the murder of the Clutter case, such accusation would be false. There is one thing both sides can agree on, Floyd admitted to discussing the Clutter family with Dick, “I don’t exactly recall how Mr. Clutter first got mentioned. … Anyway, I informed him how I worked a year… for Mr. Clutter.” (Capote, 99). The mere fact that Floyd discussed this with officials indicates that he believed he was not connected to the crime other than by unhappy chance. In addition, Floyd goes on to say that he waited a while to come to the authorities for fear of other prisoners and of being related as an accessory, but ultimately decided to speak when the investigators found nothing. When he finally told his

The McNaughton rule was used, and it is “the ancient British importation which contends that if the accused knew the nature of his act, and knew it was wrong, then he is mentally competent and responsible for his actions” (Capote, 169-170). The opposition, those on the state’s side, supported its use as they believed it would prevent a “temporary insanity” (Capote, 169) ruling. It was upheld, largely as it was the custom in Kansas at that time. However, the doctor who came to evaluate Dick and Perry believes that Dick is most likely healthy, but that Perry was most likely mentally ill, “his present personality structure is very nearly that of a paranoid schizophrenic reaction,” (Capote, 189). Dr. Jones had a colleague of his evaluate Perry, and they both agree that Perry seems to be of a sort of murderer that is capable of logical thought, but is not always capable of logical action. If the Durham rule had been used, Dr. Jones would have been able to explain this, and that would have almost certainly influenced the opinion of enough on the jury to avoid the death penalty. While Dick was most likely headed for Death Row regardless, had Dr. Jones been allowed to testify as to Perry’s mental abnormality, he might have