The Express.
London, England, 1849-08-18 00:00:00

SPORTING.

CANTERBURY RACES—THURSDAY.
CITY bizmaaan' PLATZ of 601. Heats, one mile and a
halt.
Mr. Spllhary's b e by Voltaire, out of Mecca, 3 yrs, 7st 77th
(02.11barp) I I
Mr. E. Farranoe's The Old Fox, 3 3 re, let 41b (C. Hoessay.
Mr. H. Rines b f by Maley Moloch, oat el tmoldsna, 3
Ira. Ist Sib (Omni S dr
Mr. Rowe's Manchester, 1 yrs, Bet Mb (Ilatwell 0 dr
Mr. Cook's Damson, 3 yrs,
.let 4.k Medway 0 dr

Bailb.hvats won easily:
SWELPIITAILES of 2 soya. each, villa the Ladies' Puree
added, 2 miler. was won in two heats by Mr. Simmonds's
Dan Tucker, 1014 4ib (owner), beating Mr. IVootton's Mar
ebiotiess, 3 yrr, 10st 41h (Mr. Sherrard), and Mr. Davie's
Lady Fordwick, 6 yes, 12st (owner). The first beat ways won
eae44, and the second by a bead.
'Aar KENT HANDICAP of 15 goys. each, 10 ft, and 5 only
If declared, with 1001. added, the second to receive 20 sou.;
Yd the third 101. About 2 milts.
Mr. Smith's bl I by Veloclptde, out of Miss Winifred, 3 yrs,
Sot 9lb (Sherwoodi 1
Mr. Oreville's Puff', 3 /re, Set 1011,
Mr. Webster's Pillage, 5 ye, Set 3lb (W. Boyce 3
Mr. Dodtersy's Lady charlotte, aged, Sat (Dockeray 4
Won cleverly by two leugths, Pillage losing second place
by a head only.

Raba intelligence.
COMMISSION OF LUNACY.
EITILACHLDINAILT CASE.

Yesterday • Gominuason de Lunatic.) Inquirendo was
opened at the King's Arms Tavern, Horton, before Mr.
Commissioner Winslow and a special jury, relative to the
Late of mind of Elizabeth Fisher, a maiden lady, aged 49,
of high acconsplishounte, formerly a govern's' in the lamely
of Lord Granville Somerset, which engagement she relin-
quished on her mother's aet..sitiou of a fortune of 40,0001,
but was now an inmate of Ho:ton-House Lunatic Asylum.
Mr. Parker (of the firm of Parker, Hooke, and Co., of
Bedford-row), appeared in support of the commission, which
was unopposed.
The history of this lady's case is extraordinary. About
nine years since a gentleman named Sileester, her uncle,
bevueathed to her mother a fortune of 40,0001, upon whom
this acquisition had the effect of producing • derangement of
intellect, and which communicated itself to the
subject of this inquiry, and against whom, eorsequently,
a commission issued in 1842, when she was found by a jury
to be of unsound mind, but she had so far recovered in 1844
as to induce the Lord Chancellor to supersede the commis-
don, and she was then releases from Dr. Philp's asylum,
Kensington Hewer, where ate had h. en previously confined.
Her conduct having, in 1848, become trident, it was neces-
sary again to pace her under r s:raint ; and in consequence
on 14th July, 1848, she was placed in St. Luk s's Hospital,
and subs. qutn'ly removed to Horton House.
Mr. Joseph Nash, Medical Superintendeht of St. Luke's
Hospital, described the nature of her malady, stating that
she was e xceediogly violent, particularly when viii ed by Dr.
diciarieg that he had moldered her mother end also
her uncle. He had frequently se. n her throw basins and
other articles of crockery at Dr. Philp. The latter never did
anything to irritate, but on the contrary alweys showed
her the greatest kindness. On one occasion when her
sister, Mrs. Cooper, visited her, she showed great violence ;
so much an, that it was necessary to remove her. She
called Dr. Fillip a Tahiti, a rascal, and • murderer. She
had a delusion that her knee was dial, cated, and to pacify
her a bsndsge was placed thereon, though it was quite un-
necessary.
Dr. neap, physician to St. Luke's Hospital, and pronrietor
of Kensington House, stet. d that he l ad known Mi.., Faber
many years. Sue eras in 1842 an inmate of his establish-
ment, when she attempted his life with a pair of scissors, al-
leging th .t he had murdered her mother and uncle. Having
eiesetihed her admis.ion into St. Luke's and violent conduct
there as mentioned by the preceding and other witnesses, he
proceeded to say that she was discharged from that hospital
in July last as an unsound pi dent, when she was rem vet
to Holton 110111 e. She ci minty wes not capable dieting
care of herself or her property. Witness had attended her
mother about nine years ago for a case of lunacy, and cured
her. Miss Fisher, when labouring under her press nt malady,
was negligent of her person and attire; though when in
good mental health she had been quite the reverse.
Mrs. Ann TriMMillg, her sister, said that Min Fisher
imagined that she had been robbed of money and furniture
by her family. There was no ground ter her hatred to Dr.
Philp, who had cured her mother, and it was by the desire
of the latter that she w.is placed under h s care. She was
c Instantly threatening to pay off " her family for what ohs
termed their ill-treatment.
Mr. E L Biyan, resident medical superintendent of
Horton Howe, described her malady as insanity of conduct,
inability to govern her actions or temper. Ste d that
Dr. Philp had given her some illegal medicine. Her mind
wandered from one subject to anotuer. SW might p..ssibly re-
cover and remain well far a year or two, bat he had no doubt
of her mind again rely sine.
Atter further evidence the unfortunate lady was introduced
to the jury, but from her exted Mate It was deemed incur.
Miry Viet Dr. Philp should previously retire.
In person she was majestic, and by no means devoid of
beauty. Her manner' were ladylike, but on taking her seat
by the side of the learned enntem‘eioner she proceeded to re.
cord, in good language but with the utmost volutility, her
imaginary injuries, complaining that she was unable to em-
ploy solicitor or counsel, that she had been improperly con-
, tined in • mad :Dose and ill-used by Dr. Philp, &c,, in most
reel:mere confirming the foregoing testimony as to Ler
delusions.
Amongst her more remarkabl. observations were—" I was
put into a &tower bath at Dr. Warburton's, and the water
crushed me down. As soon as Igo to sleep I dream of the
eevil, and that he comes to me with a surplice on. Dr.
Philp, when he came to see me at St. Luke's, said, I em
glad to see you better, Miss Fisher.' I replied, ' You are a
liar."
Commissioner—That is not • very ladylike expression.
Perhaps not, but the Duchess of Beaufort and all the
nobility use it."
Having positively refused to see Dr. Philp, or hear from
him any explanations, she retired from the room, when
The jury unhesi•asingly returned a unanimous verdict—
" That Miss Fisher is now of unsound mind, incapable of
managing herself or her affairs, and has been so since the
14th July, 1848."