The Express.
London, England, 1849-06-26 00:00:00

not all very young. These are no children except those of
the inmates. I think the very yonegest inmate who is
numb ris about 24 or 23 years of age. 1 should think the
plaintiff is the oldest.
Mr. Arthur hlaybuim examined : I practise u a surgeon
and apothecary at Chulinch. I have known the plaintiff
ring 1846. She has bad r o need of my profetsionel set.
vices, u she was Aims very well. She was of 11011D4
mind, very mild and lady-like, and perfectly gentle. I
never knew her to be in a state dangerous to hereelf or
to others. I live in the Agapemone, and have seen her daily
since elle returned from the lunatic asylum.
The Lord Chiel Baron—Are you a married man ?
Witness—Yee.
Cross-examined—My wife and I reside in the Agepemcno.
I have no other prude& except amongst the inmates there.
The plaintiff was
never particularly examined the state of her mind. There
was no occasion for my examining whether there were any
delisions in her mind. I did not do so. There are no de-
lusioas in my mind. I believe that the day of grace is passed,
and the day esfjudgment arrived.
Re-examined—Wince the plaintiff's return from the lunatic
asylum I have seen her every day at meals, and I have never
perceived anything to induce me to think her of unsound
Wad.
Mr. John Williams examined : I am an independent gen-
tlemen, and live in the Agapemone. I know the plaintiff.
I had a slight interview with her, and had often seen her in
October, 1846. I have seen her frequently since her return
from the lunatic asylum. She was always gentle and lady-
like. I think her perfectly sane,
Cron-examined : lam not a married man. lam one of
the single birds residing in the Agapemone. (Laughter.)
I bad been a farmer previously, end now live at my ease
there. I don't manage the farm there. I adopt the religious
views that have been described. I do not prey, but I desire
all the while. I don't see the necessity of going on your
knees to pray. I think the Testament is a canonical book in
the church of England, and I believe that as God is a spirit,
it filleth all things. The sun, moon, and stars, are enable
manifestatious of truth. I believe in God, and the manifes-
tations of the spirit. (The witless then entered into a very
uninuiligible disquisition upon hie notions of the deity, and
the duty of man in this world.)
Tbe_plaintiff 'a case having been closed,
Sir F. The 'get, Q.C., addressed the jury on behalf of the
defendants. It there had been the slightest foundation for
the sordid motives attributed to them by the learned counsel
for the plaintiff, he said he would feel it his duty to tell the
jury that they ought not only to award her the highest da-
mages but that they ought to express the 'hugest feelings
of indignation at such conduct. He hoped they would not
be harried away by the representations which had been
made in opening the case ; and after calmly and dispassionately
considering the whole of the circumstances, he confidently
hoped they would find a verdict for his clients. He attributed
none of the present proceedings to the plaintiff, who was
only a weak and feeble instrument in the hands of those
mercenary people by whom she was now surrounded. The
whole of her property was under their control in " The
Abode of Live." Her very first act after genii, from the
lunatic asylum was to transfer it absolutely to Mr. Prince,
upon whom she unfortunately looked as God Almighty. If
the defendant& wantonly or maliciously assailed the domestic
tranquillity of the plaintiff, and had her incarcerated in a
madhouse for the sordid purpose the learned counsel stated,
the largest damages ought to be given; but the de'endants'
object was of the kindest description. Their intention
was merely to rescue the unhappy lady from the
vertex of that 104 and contemptible superstition
into which she bed been deluded by these ap state
clergymen who had such unparalleled influence over herself
and her unfortunate sisters. The learned gentleman then
called the following witnesses:
Mrs. Nottidge examined.—l am the plaintiff's mother. r
was Using at Roseehill, in Suffolk, in 1844, at the time of the
death of my husband. My unmarried daughters were then
living with me. The year before Mr. Prince had come to
preach at Stoke. My daughters occasionally attended his
chapel. I hesrd of hie leaving and going to Brighton.
Louisa (the plaintiff ), Harriett, and Agnes went to Brighton
purposely to hear Mr. Prince. They took a house there for
that purpose, and while there Mr. Nettidge, their father,
became ill. I sent for them to Brighton to see him before
his death, and they returned with very great reluctance.
They said they would come as it was the will of God. My
husband died in May, 1844, and they returned to Brighton
in Awing or September of the same year. I lived with my
daughters then at Brighton, but I never joined them in
attending Mr. Prince's preaching. I told them I should
never consent to We Mr. Prince. All my unmarried
daughters (five) were then living with me at Brighton. Mr.
Prince called after I bad said I would not see him, but I
never did see him, and I was obliged to lock myself up in
my bedroom to prevent his intrusion. My daughters
were willing to receive him. One of my daughters
married Mr. Ripley, the defendant, in 1822. My other
daughter is married to the Rev. Mr. Roberts, rector of
Hovahill. I remember the opening of the chapel at Char-
linch. My daughters attended. Thy took clothes merely
for a few days. 1 remonstrated with Louisa for travelling
on Sundays. She told me Mr. Prince first said that they
could not travel on Sundays, but that he afterwsrls made a
prayer, and said that they could. The plaintiff then told me
that her sisters were all going to bo married as it was the
will of God. I was very much surprised that they consented
so suddenly, and without communicating with me. She
said it was the will of God. She told me that her brother
"Thomas" was coming to sleep there that night, although I
very much objected to it. That was the gentlemen who
afterwards married Agnes. I said I would not allow it. She
said that was of no consequence. It was the will of (Jo I end
he would come in. I said i 1 he came in I would go out,
upon which she said, "So I might, for if it was the will of
GA, he would come in." At ten o'clock at night he walked
up stairs without saying a word, and went into his bed room.
He soon afterwards came down and said it was the will of
God and he would sleep there that night. (Laughter.) I
then left the house and went to a friend's in the neighbour-
trod. I returned the fallowing day, when I ascer-
tained he had left. I then heard that after he went it
was the will of God another man should come
(laugliter)—and sleep there that night. (Laughter.) His
name was, I head, Turner. I immediately wrote
to Mr. Ripley, my son in-law, in London. He always acted
with the unite st kindness to every one of my family dace
his connexion with them. Having received information that
my daughters were to have been married, I heard it was to
have taken place at Swansea, and I went there to prevent it.
They were resolved upon it, and I returned to London. I
returned to Mr. Ripley's for a little, and then went to Rose-
hill, where my daughters Cornelia and Louisa were with
me. While there Mr. Starkie and Mr. Turner came for
Louisa. I did not see them. She told me that it was
" tearing the flesh from the bone to leave her home." But
it was " the will of God, and she should go." They came in
a carriage, and drove up to the door. They said she must
be ready in a couple of hours. She packed up her things and
went in the carriage they brought for her. That was the
last time I saw her until she wastalien away from Cbarlinch
by the defendants. lam 76 years of age. After she left my
house I went down to Wales alter her. I heard she was
living in great iniquity. (This remark by the witness, whose
appearance was extremely lady-like and venerable, caused a
general sensation through the court.)
Mr. Cockburn objected to the question.
The Lord CUM Baron said the author of the reports
ought at least be first known.
Examination resumed—l communicated to Mr. Ripley
and to my brother, Mr. Pepys, the reports I bad heard of
those parties at Weymouth. I had the accounts from many
friends and others, not by anonymous letters. It was in
consequence of those reports I went in pursuit of the plain-
tiff, and I requested the defendants should do so.
Mr. Crowder proposed to ask what were the reports which
were communicated to the defendant& by witness.
The Lord Chief Baron thought that evidence inadmissible.
'the witness might be asked whether she had given the de.
Pendants directions.
Mr. Crowder pressed the evidence, but it was rejected, the
learned judge tatting a note of the fact.
Examination resumed—ln consequence of what I had
heard, I had been for six weeks searching for the plaintiff.
I offered one person a reward of five guineas for telling me
where she was. I was not successful. Oa my return I con-
sulted Mr. Ripley and Mr. Pepys, and my eon the clergy-
man as to what should be done. I afterwards obtained a
clue lo where she was, and I begged and entreated of the
defendants, if they could find any means, to bring the plain-
tiff up to town. I then referred to the reports I had heard,
and reminded the defendants of them.
Mr. Crowder again proposed to give in evidence the parti-
culate of the witness's communications to the defendants as
to the reports she had heard, but the evidence was rejected.
The witness proceeded.—The defendants went down in
consequence of my directions. The plaintiff was brought
immediately to me. I conversed with her at Mr. Ripley's,
at Woburn-place, where she was brought. She told me the
night she came that she could not remain, for it was the
well of God she should go back to Marlin& on the Wednes-
day. I made a written memorandum at the time of what
she said ; when I spoke of Mr. Prince, she said, " I know
no such person u Mr. Prince now; God now dwells
only at Claarliach In the flesh of him I once knew as
Prince; God who made me and all the world is now mani-
fested in him I once called Pliers. He has eat red his taber-
nacle of fii sh amongst men, and I have seen God face to
face ; he will deliver me wherever I am taken."
Mr. Crowder—After those statements did you send for
your brother, Mr. Pepys ?
Witness—l did. It was upon his advice the medical gen-
tlemen were sent for.
Sir F. Pollock said it was a very ill-advised step to im-
prison a lady of property for 15 or 16 months without the
peeper commission of inquiry.
Mr. Crowder—Whether that may be right or wrong I
will not say now. I don't wish to discuss that question
with your lordship upon this action, but I think it is not en-
resemble that a family should wish very naturally to avoid
an inquiry of that sort.
Cross-examined— I had ne communication with my
daughter from the time Mr. Starkie took her away, until
November. when she was taken away by the defendants.
The conversation I mentioned took place in my bedroom
and in the drawing-room. The plaintiff told me that she
should die now. If she would have returned with me to
R ee-bill with • keeper, I should have taken her back. She
said she would go as soon as it was God's will. I was
afraid I should not have been able to restrain her. When I
got her away from Cuarlinch, my intention was to have her
taken back even without a keeper, and keep her under my
roof ; bat, Helm would not remain, I intended to have her
sent to a lunatic asylum. If she was resolved to go
to Charllnch, I was resolved to put her In
lunatic asylum. I remised in London about a fortnight
after the plaintiff was taken to the asylum. I accompanied
her there, and west to see her twice afterwards before I re-
turned to Rose-hill. I saw her on beth eseadm. In a few
maths afterwards I called on her again. I did see her, bat
she did not see sae. She said she had no mother. I was at
do window, and heard what pared. I never said it was my
ganszminaidea the plaintiff iboabi live and diets the asylum.