The Express.
London, England, 1863-12-16 00:00:00

THE CASE OF CRUELTY TO A LUNATIC IN

CORNWALL.

Samuel Porter was brought before three of the
county magistrates at Falmouth on Monday. The feeling
of indignation excited by the statements made as to the
nature of the case was so strong, that • large concourse of
persona assembled in the street during the morning to
await the prisoner's arrival, and on his making his appear-
ance he was greeted with loud boots and groans, while the
manifestations of a desire to proceed so extreme mea-
sures against him could only be thwarted by the
presence of a guard of °mistake. Porter's wife and her
brother, • man named James, had met with a similar
reception on poising up the street • few momenta before.
Dr. Byron woe the nominal prosecutor ; Mr. J. B. Moor-
man, of Falmouth, defended the prisoner.
After hearing evidence the bench announced their in-
tention to remand the prisoner until that day week. On the
applkation of Mr. Moorman, the bench accepted bail, the
defendant being bound over in the sum of 3001.. and two
sureties—]fern, Rice Tongue and John Bond, of Flushing
—each in the sum of 250/.
. . .

This concluded the legal proceedings, but the street was
filled by a crowd anxious to take proceedings of an opposite
character, and their demonstrations were so noisy that Mr.
!doormen asked for the protection of the police for his client
and his client's wife. The bench had no doubt the police
would do their duty, and called the attention of an officer
to the matter.
After waiting a short time Porter ventured into the
street, and the moment he was seen a rush was made
towards him. The Royal Hotel omnibus passing at the
moment, he jumped into it, but the conductor had to
exert himself to prevent several persons—one of them
armed with a large stick—from seising hold of him.
The man with the bludgeon succeeded in getting pos-
session of the step, and flourished his weapon vigorously,
and u the omnibus drove on it was followed by numbers
of men, women, and children, hooting and yelling. Porter
made a vain attempt to escape from the vehicle into the
street, and at length was lauded safely in the yard of the
hotel, where he remained in seclusion for a considerable
time. A portion of the crowd had, however, waited for
Mrs. Porter, who appeared to be, if possible, more un-
hopular than her husband. She managed to escape to the
use of Mr. ?doormen. Towards dusk this unwonted
excitement subsided, and Falmouth resumed its customary
state.
The following is the report of the authorities of %drain
Asylum on the condition of the lunatic :—" He is 56 years
of age, and was admitted rather after midnight ou Surday,
Dec. 6th, 1863. Daring the journey up the attendant re-
pored that he had been quiet, given no trouble in any way,
and partaken freely of food ; was carried into the ward,
given some supper, and put to bed. The first night is
reported to bays been comfortable, but has bedding was
dirty in the morning. When questioned, he did not
seem capable of answering intelligibly. His height is about
5 feet 10 inches, weight 941 be. ; sits with his knees almost
touching his chin, bogging his legs with his arms ; the legs
bent beck on the hams, feet crewed and turned inwards, the
right foot over the left. Can only extend his thighs to about
a right angle with the body, and the legs to about a right
angle with the thighs. Attempts at further extension are
resisted and prevented by a contracted state of the &tor
tendons. Them are some small sores on the head and
extremities, the result probably of dirt. His mental state
is dementate. Reis perfectly quiet, harmless, and tractable.
He is dressed daily, and sits in a lounge chair before the fire,
but notes little of what gees on around him, and frequently
muttering to himself in an undertone. Seems to compre-
hend much that is said to him, but is not capable of con-
versing connectedly. When asked by his attendant to go
to bed, he gets off his chair and follows by means of his
hands ad feet, in • aeries of short jumps. Helps to un-
dram himself to the best of his ability. The following qua-
Moos were put to him :—Have you had a good breakfast ?
Yes.—How old are you? No intelligible answer.—Are you
not a mason by trade? No intelligible answer.—Did you
ever build a wall? Yes.—These roooosyllabie replies are
always iodistinctly given in an undertone, and require great
attention to be understood.*