The Express.
London, England, 1852-01-08 00:00:00

COMMISSION OF LUNACY.

Yesterday a commission of lunacy to inquire into
the state of the mind of Mrs. Catherine Cumming com-
menced its sittings at the Eyre Arms, St. John's-wood, be-
fore Mr. Commission, r Barlow.
Sir Frederick Thesiger, Q.C., and Mr. l'eteridorff ap-
peared in support of the commission; and Mr. Edwin
James, Q.C., Mr. Serj. Wilkins, and Mr. Southgate
against it.
The jury having been sworn, and the other customary
formalities having beer. gone through,
Sir Frederick Thesiger opened the case in a speech of
considerable length.
The report of the Commissioners of Lunacy to the Lord
Chancellor, the reports of Sir Alexander Morison and of
Dr. Monro, together with various other documents, having
been put in and veined,
Mrs. Elieahoth Browne (examined by Mr. Peteradorff) de-
posed as follows :—I reside in Roberta-buildings, l'imlico.
At one time I was living with Capt. and Mrs. Cumming u
nurse. I was there nine weeks, and I left March 16,1846. 'I hey
were living at Nu. I, Belgrave-place. When I was tint
hired 1 saw Mre. Cumming. Captain Cumming was so ill
at that time that he seldom left Ins bed. It was necessary,
in consequence of his illness, that I should sleep in the
same room with him. He was between 80 and 90 years of
age, and was a man of gentlemanly habits. Mrs. Cum-
ming was shout 60 yens of age, but she was so untidy in
her habits that I could not well judge. Her conduct to
her husband was very bad. At one time she came and put
her hand under hie smut, and afterwards broke the bell-
rope. The attack wee accompanied with great violence.
Captain Curamiag did nothing to provoke her. She was
very abusive ami used the worst language, all the time I
was there. I said bar maduct was very shocking. She
often said that cob wined her hatband was dead, and that
she could kill him. Then was a servant of all work in the
house at the the, awed Sulu Clarke. She was present
when Mrs. Cumin mule the attack on her huhand.
Clarke and I get Mrs. Ciiiiff,rom her husband's
room into tbe pram . Mrs. Cummin
g g
used to et at se o'clock in the morning
and knock violentlup y at her Moor re deer, thus disturbing
him from sleep; sad thea is mesh! swear at me because
I would not go in gad glee bee men slink. I had to give
the captain mediciads at dillment hews of the nista!
rs often beard M. Cowan &ergs bet brim& with
ing her money. She said that she had 11,1111111. worth of pro-
perty in Wales pdag to decay, and that she would n do
anything with it. he would curse and swear for • length
of time—ter a MR hear at a*t read—without the slightest
Oa ass maim die knelt dram sad peeped
ea bee greadshadren sad their parson.
The gramliehhilroa ware wen yews end esuld never have
give, her say sedges same. Mrs. Ommeng said that
Mee. Meow (her dastplaw) was la the haMt golag into
roucrk with the seiMem gni that that was the germ she
not have her M de hens. Obi said the little
Reopen were very bad Andrea. She said that Mr. Ince
(her sea-in-law) had robbed her of plats sad of a copper
coal scuttle. She said than hail been an hammy between
me and Mr. Inc., thed we were as intimate m a man sad
his wife, and that that was the reams why Mr. lase was so
civil to me. She said that Mr. lass was as tanners with
all the women as the aid saris Idastelf, send (laths always
gave us 7s. That charge was not true. I have SI
' children, and it is not likely. (Laughter.) fibs used to
sleep in her boots, and keep her money in them during
the Wot. She was very dirty in her habits. She kept
mad N. cats ia her bedroom, and arm Awed
them to go out. The room consequently became very dis-
agreeable and unbearable. I gave notice to leave dues
tames while I was there. On one occasion Captain Commies
wished for his writing desk, and asked Mrs. Comm* for
it. He went up stain to the second floor front room, whkh
was locked. I was sent up to ask him to come down. Ilia
reply was that he would come down if Mrs. Cumming
would allow him his desk, but she refused. At length he
tams down and seized a poker to protect Wardell' with, and
Mn. Cumming was then afraid of him. She had previously
been abusing him; and she afterwards got him on the
hearth-rug and beat him most dreadfully. lie became so
faint and exhausted that I was obliged to send for the
doctor. I and my fellow-servant removed Mrs. Cumming.
She very frequently knocked at his door and said I was in
bed with him. He was not allowed to have what, in the
state of his health, was requisite for him. Mrs. Cumming
used to order fowls and keep them so long that they were
unfit for use, and then they were buried. She gave 81. per
lb. for meat fur her cats, and it was served up on clean
plates with clean knives and forks and towels. The captain
used to have the liquor in which the meat was cooked. Once
she seat in some uncooked =ten, while she said the
dater might cook.
Crees-ermined by Mr. Jamee—l have been examined
before. Captain and Mn. Cumming lived very uncomfort-
ably together. I was always queerellieg with her. The
captain was soaked's., eggravad to use Men expressions
towards her. I saw Mr. Mee, the seam esada-law' about
three weeks go. Ladled at his hone to lean my turd of
address, as I am a woe, and waned en segagement.
Mn. Hooper sever ems to Mrs. Cumming's bone. Mrs.
Ina tams ewe. Neither of the We used the halm and
forks—(a briegh)—bat Mrs. Cueseabis eat up the meat for
them. Ohs always gave the meat is the aft and the liquor
to Om hashead. It was lot good ease* tor a sick person.
Mr. lass elleaded Capt. Cumadagas siesilleal man. Mrs.
Camming leak a peat deal of bawdy, wad I eetasionelly
remsbeia ihtle despot The amnia beak wry little,
a Mtge weeld ght. enemas Idm. Ks aright assastimes
have Me muss he abut le had aka
At ads steps of Oa preesedkup seer Amoeba that
M rs. Coming eight to he present if s nhe withal, and alter
some &MUM min her ability to attend, dr yes berreglit
into the ream She appeared to be trafferiag trader severe
indivisibly', mad to he esendiegly fel* has is other
raps* she was a very Ins Isaias old hey, sad showed
ao dips of mend aberratim.
fierlt.
ape'Wale seed bar Rae ilsit opal to the task she
And impend MEW (he bee ateradmme was of course
await hops so' sir.
kn
OMOsemeledeser (polatiau to the wither)—Do you
ow mum?
Mrs. Cumneleg—lbsst she
blastimeddillortntly from
what she wee nee. Imo,
es . She we a nurse.
The Commiedeater—De yea anew her name I
Mi. Cumesig--Bhe was very tenacious of giving her

says her Dam la Elizabeth

ofoowso,wit ataot believe her.
C rowasood—Mro.giteptthroorato.
There was no peadbox In the room fartbsoa. Mr. maws at
Capt. CENIVII house nearly every day, but it was after
tbeimplaila dined. tkissistianedlialthd. had WAN
swop lir dimmer. I never howl Mrs. Cumming all oat ke
Mips es amouat of her hasimars olohaso. la a pawl=
oho would mortalars on oat whoa so am ima mar her.
Elbe wadi mum Oa whoa is was la her badmen, when
the was Mar. Stamaimm I and M wane with Mr.
lace, as a medical grathams, bat art without Mrs. Cum-
ming's knowledge. Me Ism did oar at that time say
anything about taking oat a ammholost of lunacy. Mr.
Ince generally saw liaa. Cumming miry day.
lte-exuained by eir F. Tbeelger--Cagaids Cumming was
in a very feeble state of bealtlemi •l1111411:11: 011111110MIO
him. He was ordered to take Cumming
Wog tut eldosigrartheen, was vii;Wmahre and It was Wl-
p of VlAswish% him without
tali*/ epkft. but sow took IMO to intoxicate me.
The meat for the eats was not boiled IS as to extract the
goodara from it. The kitchen eat was not invited to dinner
with the net - _

dr-Olamlotienet-1 neva watt by say other name
that Istanin. wa serer unwilling Wpa ay name. M,
mails man we 211999.
Nisi Mo. Owarmlei what chain-
y wis e tended
ti b Act nabs* Dram was unwilling to
ns bat wan t