The Express.
London, England, 1852-01-21 00:00:00

TIN COMMISSION OF LUNACY ON MRS.
CUMMINU.

Samoa Ills. Camomicena tsuow.

The following witnesses were called yesterdar
Dr. Hale 'stained—He attended Mrs. Cumming in the
18411, 1849, and did not Ind nay iadantion of
=ty. Considets that the delusions with regard to tier
eliWrea are not insane delusions. Wu in her bedroom
constantly and saw no indications of filth. Ile hut seen
Mn. Cumming, at lerist, three times a week since the 2Gth
of last November. Believes her to be of mend mind now.
On cross-examination, the witness stated it sun se in-
.

NM delusion whoa a believed in something which
did net exist sad acted ea that belief, cc when time wee
acne fouadaticio foe seek a belief, to carry it to ea allaindi
amdeatravagant extent. Mesmerism and many ssoludes
beliefs were evidenees of delusion, bat those who preOwned
belie) in there were not necessarily ins me.
To the Commissioner —Heard Mn.s Cumming say that
she bad made a will, but that she had not signed it. She
mid she would not leave any money behind her, hut any
y she left would go to those who sod by her at the
frrier .•
rt commission. Never saw Mrs. Cumming initial-
toad, but thinks she has sometimes taken more than was
requisite. Heard that she had deli:ium tremens at St.
Inereirds. Thinks a bottle of port in a day and a half a
great quantity fee her to take, it might account for her
bursts of passion. heard het any that she sold property to
the extent of 14000/. or 6,000/. She said the Lest commies
Mon coat ht r 3,0001., mud that her daughters got 2,0001. by
the compromise. Heard her abuse Mr. Haynes for it. She
said he was making bullets for her daughters to tire at her.
liar memory is very much impaired now. Never knew a
ease in which a parent bad so decided a feeling against her
laltrir.intl;alter Bryant, surgeon, examincil—First saw Mrs.
Cumming at the coninaimitin in 1516. Was then prepared
to give evidence of her sanity. Ssw her in the present
month. :die donie.l that she had attempted to commit
suicide, or to cut the throat of Aun llickcy. She said she
was 'nought up to feat (Jul, and hail very different prin.
she said that when 1/r. Mooroe Caine to her hr said
that he came as a friend, bet that could not be, because ho
bad sogind a report stating that she was insane. Believes
her to be of sound I.
Ctoassexamined.—Was sent by Mr. Baynes to aeo Mrs.
Coming. Is one of the medical olticers of the Monetary
LOWS Society. Undristood from Mrs. Cumming that the
inipmmion of its being her daughter's intention to strangle
her, when she threw her arms round her neck, was a mo-
mentary one. A delusion is a belief in something that doss
not exist. Does not think that a beliif carried to an absurd
or extravagant estent is • delusion.
Sir I'. l'hesiger.—ls it then a rational b.:diet or otherwise
for a man who has been overreached in a commercial traus-
acti,m by another to believe that that other man has picked
hisjawlirt ?
Me. Bryant —I should say it is a rational belief.
(Lsurhter.)
Mr. O. Simpson, surgeon, examined—Saw Mrs. Cum-
ming whilst in lurk Bowe Asylum. Witness detailed the
nature of the conversation between them. Saw nothing
Jarboe about her. Saw her again iu last December. She
was in very gaud humour. Dr. Diamond and Dr. Davy
had just born with her. She said to witness when be en-
tered, " Upon my word, I think you doctors will drive nit
mast'. Does not thank Mrs. Cumming of unsound mind.

Mr. Farm produced a notice of appeal ou behalf of Capt.
Catantang. to the order of affiliation mule on Captain
" Canamina," which w.ka pruilnceil yewertlay.
•

• . .
Dr. Caldwell otansined—Attended Mr:. Cumming as her
feefliesi &beer from the 12th of May, 1517, up to the pre-
seat how. Del nut exprrieuee in her room more than t:
ordisary closeness of a sick chamber. Neva r saw any eat.'
filth but on one uceietion, and then Mr.. Cumming urn -red
It to be removed. The statements of Mary !Taney and the
chthlt,n weer %greatly esaggerated. The state of her health
would hare urea: toned some of the thing. which had becu
sworn to. Believes her to be of sound mind. Newer

heard her sat a word about the poisoning the whole time be
was in att. nilance upon her.
Cromexamiaerl—ttemillects • correspondence between
hint and Mr. Thorne. Wrote to Lim to sac that fur his
attendance for years he c.ould get nothing but one promis-
sory note after another, which was not honoured either by
Mrs. Cumming or her agent when they became due. The
date of that letter is the 7th of lkeember, 18:10. She de-
clared that he (Mr. Haynes) had her money, and ought to
discharge the note. Mr. Mayne. on the contrary, declared
that he had given her hundreds of pounds at intervals; that
hedul not know what she could be doing with it, except to
Mug it up, and that the estate was considerably in his
debt. MCA a promissory note on the sth lkeensbcr, 1850,
fee b 31., and had a fresh unc since then for 211., which wan
Enid. There was a promissory note of 30 guineas besides.
Xt. Mayne, paid the Money. and received the promissory
sates. Mr. Maynea said that of he would take in exchange ru
many paid-spawns in the /Clattery Luau Society for the
SM. note, and a new note of 211. which had become due,
there were shares to he hod to that amount. (dot hi shares
for the 71/. The shares arm 4/. each. The first note of
221. wax paid by Mrs. Cumming herself. in Stamford-street.
There was nobody present. His. Cumming does nut
allow any third party to be present at her lousiness trantac-
-00111. (lot another note in tWorthing, on the tith August,
1611, fee 3.11. 10.. 9.1. from Mr.. Cumming. Supposes that
what was dee to him since would amount to i. 54.0. Often
applied to Mr. Haynes for money, but was told by him that
Mrs. Cumming was living so much beyond her means that
there WY frequently want of cash. The whole amount of
his claims era. 22/11:_ . .

Tu Mr. James—Was not acquainted with Mr. Haynes
when he was tint called to attend Mrs. Cumming.
To the Commission, r—Mrs. Clamming takes scarcely say
food. She takes brandy and water, and wine and water.
Same is necessary for her. Heard that she takes some on
the sly. ,I.stighter.) Nut more than other people.
(Laughter.) Cannot say that his orders are obeyed.
Mr. Madding, general practitioner, bring in Uloucester.
place, Portman—pram, stated that he called upon Mrs.
Cumming in May, 1811, to ascertain if ahe was in a suffi-
ciently sound state of mind to execute a deed of conveyance
erase property to Sir C. Morgan Thought she was a
person of clever and acute mind. Has seen her since three
limas sad thinks that she is still of sane mind.
Cresseesamined.—Mr. Haynes was present daring the I
examination ed Mrs. Cramming. Understood that Mr.
Haynes objected to his examination as being unnecessary.
Mn. Elizabeth Davis examined.—Was matron of the
York asylum in 1818. Came forward on the present ocea-
IMO in consequence of reading an account of these pro.
etlllll7o in the papers. Lett the York asylum before the
commission of lunacy in 11146. Recollects Mrs. Cumming
bring brought to the, house. She behaved with great pro-
priety.. She was very nice in her habits. Did nut consider
her in the least insane. One of the daughters came Oaths
asylum on the occasion.
To the Commissioner—Did not inform Dr. Millingen of
her opinion of the sanity of Mrs. Cumming.
Dr. Forbes Winslow was neat called and examined—He
detailed the particulars of twenty-two int, rviews which he
had with Mrs. Cumming since the 7th of last November, en
each of which he spoke to her on the subject of her
alleged delusions. The result was that be believed Mrs.
Cumming to be perfectly sane, end had less doubts in this
pee than in any other which had been called in question.
Dr. Winslow underwent a lengthened cruse-examination
Ly Sir F. Thesiger, but nothing material was elicited.
The commission adjourned at taentypinutos pin 6 till
10 o'clock this day.