The Press. — London, England, 1858-08-28 00:00:00

834 his conduct. It was noticed by various members of the family, and by the domestics and the neighbours, that he was peculiar and eccentric in his manners in 1855 and 1851 i, when ho gave way to habits of intern pet &nee. He ( Mr. Chambers) should show evidence that in 1855 Mr. Ruck exhibited unmistakeable indi cations of a disordered mind. lie was excessively restless ; would get up at all hours of the night, and wander about ; would call up his servants and order the horses to be put to the carriage, and be driven over the most desolate parts of that country (Wales) in the dead of the night without any apparent object. On one occasion he made the coachman drive him through the river, and on several nights he made his wife get up and go out with him. One erroneous impression under which he laboured was, that his estates abounded with copper and tin mines. Things retrained in this state ttll October, 1857, when the unfortunate gentleman had, on returning from the Manctester Exhibition, so behaved that it was found necessary to call in ft burgeon. He laboured under the delusion the'. everybody wanted to poison him. On one occasion he went to a neighbouring inn, and, with a loaded gun and pistol, intimidated every one who came in his way. He ordered dinner and a bottle of wine, and instead of eating in the usual way, he picked the meat with his ringers and poured the wine into the chamber utensil. A most extraordinary circumtoance occurred about this time. A girl named Mary Jones, a niece of Mts. Ruck, was always sup posed to be a virtuous girl until the change in the mind of Mr. Ituck, when it was found she had had two illegitimate children by him. Without any foundation whatever he swore t h at she had murdered these children. Another, and pt.rhaps the most im• portant, of the delusions was that his wife was untrue to him. In various places he charged her with being a common street-walker and everything else that was bad. He even went so tar as to bay that the very navigators on the railway knew his wile .better than he did. Mr. Chambers proceeded to describe various acts of the alleged lunatic, and said he should bring evidence to prove to the jury that the unfortunate gentleman was cot capable of conducting his own affairs. The evidence adduced was of the kind common in such cases, the witnesses consisting partly of gentle men of Mr. Ruck's acquaintance, and partly of his sarvants. At the adjournment of the court, Mr. JAMES applied . for Mr. Rack to be spared the excitement of being taken backward and turwaid to Uxbridge every day during the inquiry, and said that it would be advisable that he should be allowed to remain at some hotel or other place in L-indon, where he would have an opportunity of conferring with his legal advisers. Mr. CHAMBERS said he was not instructed to offer any opposition to the application, if the court thought fit to accede to it. The CONMISPIONF.R said he thought the application was a very reasonable one. Ds. &mamma. reminded the court that he had no power to allow any person who was consigned to his custody as a lunatic to remain out of the establish ment for twenty-four hours, without obtaining an authority for that purpose from the Commia,ioners of Lunacy. After some conversation it was understood that moms arrangement would be made for Mr. Ruck to remain in Llodon during the inquiry. THE PRESS, AUGUST 28, 1858. elisions, but that was by my own wish, for I did not like him to go alone. I have been out with him in the woods at night walking—sometimes until one o'clock in the morning. The year before last I went to the seaside alone, and when there I was sent for to come home. On reaching home I found him ex cited, restless, and nervous. Candles were lighted in several of the rooms, though only he and Mr. Lloyd, the surgeon, were in the house, besides the servants. From April, 1850, down to the end of that year there were intervals when he was in an excited state. He used to be very much haunted by voices or tunes which be had heard, and, in order to banish these from his mind, a friend of mine would play lively airs in his presence. I went to reside at Aber dovey, taking the children with me, because my husband was going to alter the house at Pantlludw. I did not go there from any quarrel with him. He used to come to Aberdovey every day at first and sleep there, but latterly he came less frequently. I had no quarrel whatever with him. When lie visited me there it was on terms of affection towards myself and the children. In October last I was visiting some relatives of Mr. Ruck's in Kent. In the previous August he and I had been at the Man chester Exhibition together. We met Mr. and Mrs. Barnett there, the latter of whom I had known from my childhood, and bad kept up my intimacy with her. Mr. Barnett is a medical man at Reading, and attended my child on one occasion when I was staying on a visit at his house. During the time we were in Man Mester my husband behaved very kindly and affectionately towards me. We were there a week, and then I went to visit some friends of Mr. Ruck in Kent, Mr. and Mrs. Goord. When I was there I received a letter from my mother, in conse quence of which I proceeded homeward. 1 arrived at Machynlleth on the 25th of October. I learnt there that my husband had left by the mail coach, and I immediately hired a conveyance and followed him. I overtook the coach at a place about fifteen miles from Machynlleth, and found my husband dining at a little inn there. He appeared excited, and did not like to see me. I had been away from him about two months at that time, and parted with him on affectionate terms, and we hal corresponded in the interval. When I found him at the little inn I said 1 would go with him wherever he went. He did not like that; but on . the mail coach preparing to start I persuaded him to let me go, and he and I got into the mail together. On the road he imagined he saw people rushing into each other's arms. He laughed, and I asked him what was the matter. He replied, , pointing to 0 e road, "Don't you see those people rushing into each other's arms ?"f here was nothing of the kind to be seen. On arriving at Newtown, a gentleman, whom I had never before seen, got into the mail. He spoke to my husband twice on the road. My husband's reply was in a low tune, and I did not hear what he said. We left the gentleman in the coach at Welshpool, and he went on his journey. Nothing of an improrer kind took place between that gentleman and myself. He never spoke to me at all'. I said nothing to him about my coming to him, or anything of that kind. He behaved like a gentleman, with perfect propriety. When we gut to Welshpool I believe my husband made a charge against him, but I did not hear it. On getting out of the mail, he said angrily I was not to go with him, adding that " the boots " would do for me. I tried to persuade him to let me go with him, and having failed to do that, he asked me for money. [ told hint that I had 201. lent me by my mother. He took it, and ordered a fly, not knowing where he wanted to go. Finding I could not persuade him to let me go with him, I countermanded the fly, and sent for the best medical man in the place. The assistant of Mr. Harrison came first, that gentleman being from home at the moment, and aftet wards Mr. Harrison himself came. I wanted Mr. Harrison to accompany me to London with my husband to consult Dr. Coo3lly, but his engagements would Lot permit him to go. 311.. Barnett, of Readlog,was then telegraphed for. There had never been any improper intimacy between Mr. Barnett and myself. Nothing whatever had occurred to give my husband any such idea. It was by my husband's wish that we met the Barnetts at Man• cheater. When I countermanded the fly the horses were taken out, but my husband remained in the fly for an hour or more after that. I (lid not go to bed that night. 1 remained at his door, and did not see him again till the next morning (Saturday`,. He asked for me, and I went into his room. He toll me 1 ought to ask his forgiveness. I replied I did I not know in what I had offended him. He charged me with impropriety, but I cannot repeat the terms in which he did so. lie used very disagreeable language, applicable only to the very lowest cha ratters. I was obliged to leave the room. He told me afterward.; he was ready to forgive me, and to come and dine with me, I told him I would tele• graph for Mr. Barnett, and he said that would be very absurd. Ho came and dined with me that day. He was quiet and dreamy during dinner. Mr. Barnett came down on the Saturday, and we left Weishpoel with him that evening for floading. Poring SECOND DAY. The case was reauterd on Tuesday morning. The chief interest in the proceedings of that day—and it was a melancholy one—hinged upon the appearance, as a witness, of Mrs. Ruck, the wife of the unfortu nate gentleman who is the subject of the investiga tion, anti on the story—exceedingly touching in many of its parts—which she rttlateti. She is a re markably ladylike person, about thirty five years of age, of a tall figure, and gentle manners. Her manner before the court, during an examination lasting upwards of two hours, was characterized throughout by !Angular prapriety and self-possession, notwithstanding she was compelled, in deference to the exigencies of judicial procedure, to divulge cir cumstances in her history front whic h she must have Instinctively shrunk, though illustrating only her own patient endurance, fortitude, anti affection. Her husband, as on the preceding day, was again present. He smiled occasionally while she was giving her evidence. Mrs. MARY A, RUCK Was called, and, in reply to questions puz by Mr. Sergeant Ballantine, said :—I am the wife nt Mr. Lawrence Ruck, and have been married to him for about seven een years. lam the mother of six children by him. After the birth of the eldest child my huNiin.l and I did not occupy separam rooms. We continued to occupy the same room until about two years ago. He was occa sionally in the habit of drinking considerably, but up to April, 1856, it did not appenr to utfect hint at all. In that year we residea at Pantlludw, and from April of that year he was in a very excited suite at times. He used to hire Sys and drive about the country in the night as well as in the day, and apparently with fmt any object, lie took w with him ou those oc. expressed e rtowiwtsneleires qu e stion.tebhi r(i)ft.r the Friday night at Welshpool I did no t same room as my husband. I sat b Oc h e ' llpy t Nothing of an immoral character occur re d d myself and any one th at night. [Mr. ! Sergeantbetw• felt be Ba I a a t n ti beingn e aa obliged i n fegr eo d a m : . a r g s et a k iw i : ss t h bt that Welli sp o kind.] ()1, e tdo s nt i ail to Reading. My husband expressed himself to see Mr. Barnett when he came to Welsh orl, gl continued on good terms with him during the P • soilv to Reading. At Birmingham, where we stopp ed jurile. the Saturday night, I slept in the same r oom over my husband. When I was in the room he locked with door, and went several times back and forward t portmanteau. Observing that I was sayin g my pra)o his he said I might well say my prayers. IV e - as -lets, at Reading on the Sunday, and remained there unt i l the following Thursday. On the Sunday Mr. l ran away at Reading, having done so twice previously —once at Welshpool—and was absent about an hon e . When he came back I found that he had gi ven M r: Barnett, who had followed him, in charge of a police man. Mr. Ruck was with the pcliceman, was v er y happy and merry, and treated the matter as a goo . d joke. He shook hands with lar. Barnett, begged his pardon, and said he would not do sn again. 1 slept in the same room with my husband that night, When at Reading I saw him look over his ponman. teau, and it contained all manner of things, such 49 oatmeal, flour, walnuts, cocoa, sugar, candles, nails, and bits of paper. ['l'he statement found in the memorandum-book of Mr. Ruck, and the letter ad dressed by him to the governess from Welshpool, were shown to witness, and she proved them to be in the handwriting of her husband.] It is a mistake for any one to suppose that I and my husband occu pied different rooins, except when I was nursing my children, all of whom I have nursed myself. My husband has property in Kent and in Wales. The Kent property yields about 1,2001. a year, and is now being managed by Mr. Ruck's brother in-law. I have had nothing from it, nor have I had anything from the Welsh property. I have let the farms in Wales, but have not received any rent, there being none due yet.. Before letting them I sold the stock, which realized about IMO/. I applied NUL to the pay ment of debts, about 224/. to housekeeping and tls veiling expenses, and 5001. towards the proceedings connected with this inquiry, which 1 have partly ex pended and partly retained. I have been obliged to take my children from school. I have received letters from time to time from my husband since ilia removal to the asylum at hloorcroft. I went there to see him in January of this year, and again in Fels ruary, in consequence of letters I received front him. I saw him in January, but he refused to see me in February. His delusions were still fresh upon him when I saw him in January. At one part of the in terview he was extremely angry with me, and then looked kindly at me. I asked him what he thought of me. He said lie would rather not say, as if he did so I would say it was his delusion. lie said Mary Jones crept about his bed and whispered and talked to him. I frequently wrote to him at Mosrcrolt, asiliil die children also; but lie never answered the children's letters. Cross examined by Mr. JAMES: I last saw my husband in January. He said he was perfectly well, and ought to be released. He did not say the excite• ment from his inten.perance has passed over, and that he ought to be released. I don't remember directing Dr. Stillwell not to allow any one to see him. In May I instructed him not to allow Mr. Wainwright to see him. [Mr. Wainwright is the professional adviser of Mr. Ruck.] I did nut refuse to allow my husband to have any funds to try tot s matter. I asked Dr. Stillwell not to allow my husband to sign any money order whatever for Mr. Wainwright. An application was made to the Lard Justices in my husband's interests for funds to enalpie him to try this question, but I did not oppose ft tin any way whatever. I don't remember telling Dr. Stillwell to refuse the applicatioa of anybody to Si)' my husband. I think I did not tell Dr. Stillwell to interdict him from writing to any person. I ho s e paid Dr. Stillwell 1001. The charge tbr re sidence In , the asylum is to be 4001. a year. I gave my husband 28/. when lie went into the asylum ; I have not supplied him with any money since. I have had 00_ income myself. I have kept 50 01 . to co nduct this case. I have refused to allow Mr. Wainwright to have any money-crder whatever. The evidence of Dr. CONOLLY was as follows: I saw Mr. Rock at Rsading on the 3rd of N ovember. particulais of the case were as usual !aid before me, and I then had an interview with hint. If I l!a' t not heard Mr. Barnett's evidence I should unliesl_l_a: t ing l y have sail that I saw Mr. Ruck alone. impression is that I did so because that is in` iii variable custom ; but it is only ' fair to say tha t a _ Barnett's name was not on his door a s a surgei »,. might have forgotten that he was the other attest.ince medical lean. I conversed with Ur. hack' complained of his wife's iuddelitY with varlost.,, persons, but he 04 pa own pike auY sPe