The Express.
London, England, 1862-12-09 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, TUESDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 9, 1862.

lab, Inttiligenct.

COURT OF QUERN'S BENCK7Dsc. S.

Sittinp at Nisi Prigs at Wertmiasier.--(Before Yr. Judie's
Crompton and a Special Jury.)

HALL V. SEMPLE-ALLEGED LIINACT.

(Continued from yesterday's ExPrem.)
Harriet Harmon examined—l reside at lb, Robert-statet,
Hampstead-roed, and 1 have known Mr. and Mn. Hall for
27 years. I left off visiting them on account of the dis-
graceful language used by Mr. Hall. I was godmother to
the two eldest girls, and also bridesmaid to Mrs. Hall.
Mr. Justice Crompton—Well, never mind that.
Witnees—But its the truth, my lord. (Laughter.)
When Mrs. Hall was moaned of Mrs. Wright that is—
(aughter)—l wee at the house, and I saw that the room
was quite stripped. That was at the time of the coronation.
Mr. Chambers—And before the Prince of Wales was
born. (Laughter.) We are going back a long way.
Witness-Well, that mused me to be godmother. Mn
Hall was left penniless, and I lent her the money to pay for
the christening. The eldest child bad not been christened,
and when we went to the church I said to Mrs. Hall, what •
shocking thing it would be if she died without being
christened, and
Mr. Justice Crompton—Yon lent her the money to pay
for the christening'
Witness—l did, my lord.
Mr. Justice Crompton—And I hope you saved the
child' (Laughter.)
Examination continued—l have seen acts of violence on
the part of Mr. Hall towards his wife, not absolutely
striking, w
but ill-using and swearing. Eight years ago I was
at the house helping to paper the when Mr. Hall
came up and tore it all down. He ru a candle against
the wall which had been newly papered, and he threw the
slops over Mrs. Hall. He tore the curtains off the bed.
Cross-examined—l have lent money to Mrs. Hall. My
sister lent Mr. Hall 56/., and he repaid her. He used to act
very strangely, but I don't say he is a madman. I dare
not say that. (Laughter.) I was teaching the girls to paper
the room. _ . . .

--Mr.Ccarnbere—Are you a paper-hanger? (Laughter.)
Witness—No; but being • godmother, I thought it my
duty to teach the children all I could. (Renewed laughter.)
Mr. Chambers—l was not aware before that that was
part of the duty of a godmother. (Great laughter.)
Dr. Griffiths was recalled, and said be had attended
Mrs. Hall in her confinement in November 18.51, and she
was then suffering from pain caused by violence—either •
fall or • blow—but he could not say which.
Amelia Homeston, who had been in the habit of working
as charwoman at the Hall's, deposed that on one occasion
the plaintiff seized his wife by the throat, and said he would
have her life, on which Mrs. Hall told her to fetch • police.
man. . .

Mr. Burge, of Tottenham-court-road, proved that Dr.
Semple had called on him in reference to Mr. Hall, when
witness told him he believed be was labouring under some
delusive idea as to his wife's chastity and conduct in busi-
ness. He only knew Mrs. Hall in the way of business, and
be had never seen any indication on her part of drinking.
She bad frequently complained of her husband's conduct.
This closed the cue for the defendant.
Mr. Serjeant Pigott then summed up' the evidence. He
said the question for them to decide was whether Dr.
Semple had been guilty of negligence in signing the certifi-
cate of lunacy. The defendant justified his conduct by the
act of parliament, which required that no person should be
committed to a lunatic asylum unless on the certificate of
two medical men, who should not examine the alleged
lunatic together, and who should not be relations of the
family. He contended that all Dr. Semple had done was in
pursuance of the act. In the course of his speech the
learned serjeant, in referecce to the report of the case
which appeared in the Tuna, maid he could not approve
of comments made in the public prints when a case was
sub judice, whether a witness bad been shaken or not
shaken in his cross-examination, hut he believed that such
comments, uncalled for u they were, would have no influ-
ence on the jury.
Mr. Chambers, in replying on the whole case, contended
that Dr. Semple had, at the instigation of the plaintiff's
wife, signed a certificate of lunacy, which the state of the
plaintiff did not justify, and further that he had interposed
to prevent his being discharged from a disgraceful imprison-
ment. He urged it would be a disgrace to the English law
if the plaintiff could not recover damages for the injury and
ignominy he had sustained at the hands of
the defendant, who bad been. actuated by wrong
motives, who had acted negligently and without
reasonable and probable cause, and that the commonest in-
quiries would have saved him from the serious responsibility
which now attached to him. In conclusion he said that the
damages were immeasurable, for once a man was conveyed
to a lunatic asylum he was stamped for ever, sad the stain
might descend from generation to generation. At the con-
clusion of the learned counsel's speech there was some at-
tempt at applause in the body of the court.
Mr. Justice Crompton said that SA the case bad lasted so
long (it being then six o'clock), be proposed to sum up to-
morrow (this day).
After Term Sittings at Nisi Prins, at GuildhalL —(l3efore
Lord Chief Justice Cockburn and • Special Jury.)

This was the first day of the Guildhall after terra nisi
prima sittings. The list contains the entries of 163 causes ;
72 are =manes, and 53 are marked for special juries.

WOOD AND OTHERS r. LORSONT AND OTHERS.

Thin was an action to recover the value of Bye bills of ex
change for 1,&371.10a. each. The defendants, by a Twisty of
pleas, denied their liability.
Mr. Lush, Q.C., Mr. Digby Seymour, Q.C., and Mr. Tap-
ping. ware counsel for the plaintiffs ; Mr. Bovill, Q.C., and
Mr. Garth were counsel for the defendants.
The case had not concluded when the court rose.

COURT OF COMMON PLEAS.—DEc. 8.

Sittings at Nisi Prins in London.— (Before Lord Clief
Justice Erie and • Speak.) Jury.)

BUMINESS OP THE COURT.

This was the first day of the sittings after term in Lon-
don, and the list is an unusually heavy one, the total entry
being 135 causes, of which 61 are marked for trial by
special juries. No less than of the cases are remanets.
The only case tried during the day was one arising out of
the bankruptcy of Mews. Cook and Greenwood, and of
which the details were interesting only to the parties
concerned.