The Express.
London, England, 1853-04-13 00:00:00

COMMISSION OF LUNACY ON MR.

FEAROUS O'CONNOR.

Yesterday the mental condition of Mr. O'Connor
was investigated by a jury of Middlesex freeholders, under
the presidency of Commissioner Barlow, at the Roebuck
Tavern, Chiswick. Serjt. Shee stated the ease, and after
reviewing Mr. O'Connor's career until the period when he
was entrusted to the care of Dr. Tuke, which he now en-
joys, said that there was remaining of Mr. O'Cunuor's pro•
pert], about 1,1001., for which it was desired to obtain, by
means of this inquiry, the protection of the Court of
Chancery, so that by securing a proper maintenance for him,
the alleged lunatic might be saved from a future dependence
on public support.
The first witness called was Mr. Ernest Jones, who de-
posed to the decay of Mr. O'Connor's formerly vigorous
faculties, commencing, in his opinion, about the time when
a committee of the House of Commons was appointed to
report on his land scheme. His speeches, writings, and
social conversation then underwent a great change, being
marked by wildness and sometimes by indelicacy. When
visiting witness Mr, O'Connor would occasionally burst into
a violent fit of laughter, and then into a (hod of tears, with-
out the smallest perceptible reason for either. Occasionally
he would declaim on the ingratitude which he said bad
been shown to him by those whom he had befriended, but
never in a connected manner. He sometimes put his band
to his head and said, " Oh, my head !" and again he would
roar like a wild animal for an hour at a stretch.
Mr. Dougsl M'Gowan, of Great Windmill-street, deposed
to similar facts, and confirmed the accuracy of the reports
of the proceedings before the Muter in Chancery, which
were published in 1852.
Mr. Jacob Bell also deposed to the eccentricities familiar
to the readers of the parliamentary reports of the period. •
Dr. Tweedie proved having been called in with Mr.
Lowrance to see Mr. O'Connor last year, and was decidedly
of opinion that he was of unsound mind. He considered
him to be suffering under what physicians distinguish as
" moral insanity.
Dr. Conoliy gave similar evidence.
At this stage of the proceedings the jury paid a
visit to the asylum of Mr. Tuke at Manor Rouse, and had
an interview with him in the garden. Upon seeing Mr.
Bell, Mr. Jones, and several of his acquaintance, Mr.
O'Connor broke oat into extravagant expressions of delight,
praising his friends as the handsomest set of fellows in the
world. lie further indulged in singing a political song
once popular with his followers, but could not be brought
to talk rationally upon any subject.
As the learned commissioner and jury passed out Mr.
O'Connor appeared anxious to accompany them, but a
whisper induced him to return, and he stood in the door-
way as the company departed exclaiming to each as he
passed—" What a handsome fellow you are! What a hand-
some fellow you are ! "
Dr. Tuke states that Mr. O'Connor amuses himself with
the other patients very satisfactorily, and plays cricketand
whist with comiderible skill. He invariably asks Dr.
Tuke to take him to town each morning, and is always
satisfied with the doctor's promise to do so next day, if he
is better. _ _

On the return of the court Dr. Tuke wgui ermined, and
deposed that Mr. O'Connor was put recovery and had ao
lucid intervals.

The jury, without troubling the commiasioner for any
remarks, at once found " That Mr. Feargua O'Connor was
of unsound mind, and was incapable of managing his
affairs," dating the lunacy from the 10th of June, 1852
the day on which he was committed to the custody of the
Sergeantat-Arms of the House of Commons.

Mon-

NEW MAGISTRATES FOR LIVERFOOL.—,... _
day a communication was received in Liverpool from the
Home-office, announcing the appointment of the following
gentlemen (on the recommendation of the Select Vestry) as
magistrates of the borough, via.: the Venerable Archdea-
con Brooks, the Rev. Rector Campbell, Me T. D.Auderson,
Mr. Francis A. Hamilton, Mr. James Still, and Mr. James
Daniel Mather; throe liberals and three conservatives.
Thole recommendations took place last summer, when the

Town Council were asked by Mr. Walpole, then home
Secretary, to name six gentlemen also. They named the
preownt mayor (Samuel Holum, Req.), Sir John Bent, Mr.
J.Aspinal Tobin, Mr.W. It. Sandboch, Mr. J. B. Brancker,
and Mr. Francis Shaw:, all gentlemen of conservative
opinions.
WRITS OF DISTRINGAS.-A Parliamentary paper
has just been printed, showing that in the last five rata
3.593 writs of distringas were lodged at the Bank of ling-
lantl.l The number of these di/trim/sus warned otf was 331,
and the number of irjunctious °Malin d 31. It uppelr, Innis
the same doeumNlt that the manv:er of a..connts et stuck et
he 1; s.k is 261,17:1, and the roamher of le:counts in the
banes of two or more holders, 117:325.
IMPORTATION or Foos.—The number of eggs im-
ported into the United Kingdom in the month ended the
lith ult., was 6,630,725, being a decrease on the like period
of thtireceding year, when the number was 8,633032.

ELECTION EXPOSURES.

11 LONE.
UR. KRlllneti CARL
After the decision in this cue, which was given
yeAterday,

Mr. James „
there never was a more malicious or meagre
case brought before a tomcat tee, and that it had faileground, applird to the committee to report to the
house
th attht
the
petition was frivolous and vexatious, can-
tendingd
in
all its allegations. lie grouh d toe in ppliratiou for this
and for costs under 5 and 6 and 11 and 12 Vie. These alle-
gations of the petitioners, he contended, were not only un-
founded, bnt wilfally untrue, and the motives that had
prompted the other party to the arrest of Mr. Keogh were
not only indecorous Litt disgraceful. The harmed counna
proceeded to characterise the proceedings of the other ride
as unprecedented iu their vindictive animus—a. (wing
levelled, he b. lieved, not so much against the qualification
of Mr. Keogh as with a view to destroy hie prospects. lie
(the learned counsel) undenduud that Mr. Keogh's oppo-
nent, Mr. I.awcs, was a person of considerable wealth.
The Chairman—We h .ve not had that stated.

Mr. James had understood so, but at any rate he was a
bill-broker u ith 4 butter —(lumr.it, r)--t ho latter having
pointed out Mr. Keogh for arrest, and Mr. LAWCS ha l made
himself uncommonly bus, in hu)ing up other people's sit bts
for the purpoie'of wresting individuals. Mr Lawn polled
only ten votes at the election, and then set himself to work
to harass Mr. Keogh, and a warrant having been issued
culling on Mr. Keogh to attend before this committee, a
meeting with Cox was held in Birchen-lane. and it was re-
solved on Mr. Keogh's corning over from Ireland 14 arrest
him on his leaving the Howe of Commons. If ever the
right of petitioning the house had Men abused on any occa-
sion it had !.ceu iu the present one. The right of petition-
ing in this case had been exercised in the most frivolous
and unfair spirit against Mr. Keogh, not only spitefully but
to oppress, and in such • way as entitled M:. Keogh to
ha;.: his costs of the proceedings paid by the petitioner.

•-••• • •
'r:. Amin.** having been beard in reply,
The committee decider) the Pet""'n of R. P. 'Awes
is not frivolous and 'caution', and that tne entnmittea sae
no reason to give cots in any matter arisie4 out of the pre-
sent care.
The committee they broke op.

TAUN TON.

CASE FOR THE FENTIONERS CLOSED.

Yesterday, on the rc-assetubling of the commit-
tee, Sir George Grey in the chair, the committee Melded
that nu proof hail been given of Mr. Marshall Leiag an
agent for Mr. Mills. .

It harm,: been announced that the case for the petition-
ers was closed, Mr. James, Q.C., and Mr. Macaulay,
summed up the evidence on either side.

After ar long discussion, the consinitteo intimated that
they would, on re-tusseinbliug, this 414 y, resoivo as is
ther they would comp to a decision on the petition against
Mr. Mills, at this stage of the proceedings, or whether they
would go into the urea petition against Sr E. Colebrook.,
and then into the scrutiny prayed for; or re.erve their de-
cision in each case until the evidence in all had been ad-
duced.