The Express.
London, England, 1859-07-08 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, FRIDAY EVENING, JULY 8 180.

pleased. They thanummemeeditheationing me with raged
to my clans em fedwels pommy% Squire leffi therewith
and Gill thee imbed me abed ml dam. I did net ;give hth
any laswer. In 10 Lathe Brae mbuned, emir le lid
me my suspicions about the homey were quite nehmthed,
and that he would place my Ithest is the herb d
banister to rove that 1 the mot fit la bhp aw d MOIL
They both left me thou. On the ftheettagthg use dap elt
which the certificates see dated), I wont the the City and
drew my cbeque as usual. I returned bank mad ea ins meth
I was told there was • party who mle aidstem
lamtnetang-roota. When I wont is the pethe mithithell
me am Colonel Fletcher. He told salaam regtheil lomat
some lawyers at Kensingem-beefia. I mid llosaw nothing
about Kensington-house, sal Met I haw malting of may
lowyers. He said Iyr tsiaked is balms with regard to
my claim, and that It wee caanested with the parties who
called on Sunday. I sad, se theme parties had my admen
they could write to see. I them left him, and the stranger
called me back, saylag la led somethisig to tell me. K.
then o the hart door, sad • short thick-set man
sat . He then radioed a keg minted paper. (This
paper was tho order of detention at the lunatic asylum,
*aid by Colonel Fletcher, the defendeat) I had not dm
Othmel Fletcher since 1866. Mr. Gill was with me shoat
• guitar of an horn. I as radian nothing more as
between us than what I have stated. (Mr. Dill's
metthcate was then put in sad red. It stated that Mr. Oill
W examined the plaintiff st Brookaby-place, lathgton, mad
maws the grounds of the comilicate as already referred be la
Mr. James's opening.) I had an attack about a fornight
thorioas to that visit. It lasted about three months. I have
• perfect reoollection of everything that occurred between na
on the Sunday. lam not aware of my manner having been
at all incoherent on that day. AU I said to him on the sub-
ject of my father's property was that I required explanations
respecting it. It is faire that Mrs. Draper a servants Waned
to wait upon me. I had no disreputable aoudads. Mr. and
Mrs. Thomas Clarke, old servants of toy father,kept a public-
house and they frequently gave me • meal. I never requested
my landlady to turn any one out. I certainly told her whilst
I was unwell not to allow any one access to me. (Mr.
t3gaire's certificate was then put in end read.) It is not
true lever made any attempt at sell-destruction. Daring
my attacks I had a feeling that my throat was going to
burst, and • suss of suffocation. I am conscious that I
used to put my hands op to my throat. I had been an-
iseed to be umnied, but I broke off the engagement at the
connesacement of '6B. Mr. Squire found • book in my
room with • lady's name written in it. He asked me who
she w, and If oho was the party I woo engaged to. I said
" No." He continued chaffing me, and I said if he thought
so he wee at liberty to do so. I acid, " She had money, end
that I would use it to prorecute my claim." Oa recovering
from an attack I used to think everything wee blood fed,*
that feeling used to lath set more than a second or two. I
am not aware of having mid anything about blood upon the
wall. I declined to go to the lunatic asylum ; but the
stranger told me very civffiy I most. I said, at least I must
have my breakfast first. Ithms wed to brealdsst. Afterwards
I made la{ hmdladr< dengther go op stain, and in her
premium I mind the enema if it was a locking-up we, but
be said MO night get beck the same afternoon. I 'gain
retheled the "wake, and molted the lanes answer. The
ass Wald tat to be Sorely Dr. Wood's bead-keeper. I
was than pat tato a oats sad aken to "Kensington-house."
No lime vas used. I wee the shown Into the library, and
Mr. Thssiere Davits, the aminsal, came and looked at ma.
I was than token upstairs; a door was unlocked, and I was
shown into • drawing.room, where there were the patients.
Mr. James then called for the books of the asylum.
Examination continued—l arrived at the asylum Within
ten and eleven. The dinner hour was two, but I declined to
take anything them, because I could not. Whilst to the
asylum little or nothing wee done for to., except to give me
morphine and quinine. I was not perraithelto walk out with •
keeper until I requested leave from Col. Fletcher. I remained
in the asylum until the 30th July, when I male my escape.
Neiher my uncle, Colonel Flacks, nee my uncle James,
with whom I had carrespoadal about my claim, ever came
to see me. I wrote to them, hemmer, several letters. My
mother was ill at Boulogne. My uncle James lived in town,
at Chaadoe-street. I was out walking with the keeper and
another alleged lunatic when I escaped. Whilst they were
looking at the heroes in Rotten-rem I pored through a
small gate into Kanaington-road and got away. Not having
say money I had put on two suits of clears, la order to
pledge one to get money. I went to Mn. Clarke's, my
tather's old servant, in Be!. mews, took of one suit of
clothes, and got some money on than. I than went to the
medical man who used to attend ma whilst I wee formerly at
Mrs. Claire's I told him I was going to lb Society of
Alleged Lunatic,' Friends to ask them to take up my ease.
However, he went to the society for roe. The next evening
I bad just got into the her of the Brown Bear, Mr. sad Mrs.
Clarke's house, when " Seedy " followed by • policeman,
entered. He said, " Mr. Fletcher, I went you." 1
exclaimed, " I am lost, there is no beck way."
Mr. Clarke, however,ssad, "Ran up stairs." I did so,
gad I got into Mile Churcit's bedroom. I elated the door.
Seedy cried out to "break it open." A Mrs. Garrett, who
wee in the room, said she would smash their skulls if they
did ett. Sandy then went foe a warrant, the prdiomnan re-
maining In the parer whilst he was sway. I escape' over
the roots of the house.. I got into another hones, and than
I remained until ten o'clock at night. A petticoat, bona*,
veil, cuff*, and everything belonging to a lady's dress,
were handed to me, and I passed out, I sew Dr. Dicks.
tea days afterwards. I was specially visited by the Com-
=Manners of Lunacy whilst at this asylum. I was ex•
&caned, and the oommirsioner told me my memory
was remarkably good—that they had seen the nocounts
rendered by the firm, and reoommended my putting
the matter in Chancery. The oomenissioners were Dr.
piss sad a Mr. Proctor. That yr about the end
af 1 had three or four Wachs whilst in the
asylum, and I suffered a great deal of anxiety. I
have not had an attack for four months. I have had decent
food, which I had not had previously to my detention. I
wrote several letters to my uncle. I wrote to him on the
21st of Jon. (The hater was put in. In It the plaintiff
aged the defendant to permit him to see " Me. John
Mugu, of Albion-place, Hyde-park-volume," who had
bra her family physicien, on the ground that Dr. Wood
sad his madam. although they treated hint very kindly,
did Mast" @dogmata time to him. He likewise compeined
dust itairtai soliciaat air and exacta, and asked for some
dote ad soma skirts. Mounde answered him on the 23rd,
and declined to permit the attendant* of Mr. Morgan on the
around of expenes.) My mini was Lever dated after the
fits pasted off.
The plaiatiff was then modexamined at considerable
length by Mr Boall.
Charles Reeds examined—l am • Fellow of Magdalen
College. Oxford, and author of several novels. Sines the
plaint's escape be has reheated upon mine and the Bey
Mr. Olbeon's kindness.
Cross-exeiont---• _

.r. Fletcher represented to webs bad •
Imp dabs ups his fstbsr's firm—he seemed convinced of
his claim.

lie-examined—l could sod no delusions about Mr.
Fletcher. 1 examined him myself, and then t3ok him to Dr.
Dickson and Dr. Routledge.
By Mr. thrill—Dr. Dickson is author of the " Fallacies
of the Focalty."
By the Chief lustier—Mr. Fletcher informed me thet the
executors had told him his claim wee all right, but he did
net bakes it.

Mr. elorgan, surgeon, deposed that the plaintiff was not
ait perste to be *echoed in a lunatic asylum, and that he
W sograted to the plaiautt's uncle that ho ought lather to
be Oral la a cottage in the country, mod under the oars of
/NM um
The court then rose, it befog past eve o,clock.

Smethurst objected. We had some ocavenation about mosey
matters, and toe precast said he thought nip sister had not
got so much as abe ought to bays had. She had the interest
of 6,0001. in the funds. While I was there my dieter com-
plained of the taste of the tapioca, and that it was bitter, end
she egad me to make some, but I did not do so became
Dr. Basetamest told me the milk had not come. I afterwards
proposed to make sours Mond mange, but the prisoner told
me not to do so, as it would annoy the landlady. I saw the
prisoner give the deceased what he said was a saline draught,
and the moment she took it she was very sick. He after-
wards gave her some soda water. She was not sick after she
had taken this. My sister appeared to have recovered from
her 'elation before I left, and he expressed • wish
to on no again soon. On the 20th of April I wrote
to her saying that 1 should come and see her in •
sheet time, and I received an answer from the prisoner,
dated the 21st of April, in which be stated that the doomed
had passed • vary had night owing to the vitiation she had
beta throws into by wenn me, and that the doctor forbade
my wag Mr Earths pretest. Oa the 23rd of April I sent
some jelly to my sister, sad received two letters from the
prisms' requesting me not to call to see my sister, as the
eadternent would do her injury. In consequence of a letter
I received from the prisoner oa the 30th of April, I wont to
Richmond on the following day. The prisoner came to me is
the dining.room, and said my Meer was very ill, and I might
go up and see hr, but the would not be able to teeth tome.
I went up, and found she was very much shared, hut she
knew me, and put out her hand and tried to speak, but was
unable to do so. I only remained in the room a few momenta,
and Dr. Smethurst was there all the time. I had taken some
soap with me formy aster, bat the prisoner said it was too
strong for her, and he mixed some warm water with • por-
tico of it. The prisoner then said he would take it down-
sudrs to 0001, and left the room for about a minute, and when
he returned he gave the soup to the decemed, and she wee
very sick and threw it all up immediately. I only saw my
Meese once after this, as the prisoner told me she could not
bear me in the room. I went up in about two or three hours,
and saw her the second time. The miaow was with her
during the interval. He told me that Dr. Todd had seen my
sister, and that he had ordered her some pills, end the was
much worse after she bad taken them, and that they had
caused • burning mutation all over the body. I p
to sit up with my sister during the night, Lut the prisoner
objected, and said he would rather attend upon ber himself.
I went to • lodging I had provided, and on the following
morning went to Alms-villas, and Dr. Julius came in
shortly afterwards, and he mentioned some other medi-
cine which he wished my sister to try, and the
primes', desired me to have the medicine made up in Lcadas.
He wrote out • prescription and wished me to go and have
it made up immediately. I wished to see my sister, but the
prisoner said she was too 111. I went to Loads. and returned
with the medicine in about fonr hours, and gave it to the
ner, and he said he did not want it, for he had tried mare
else. I then again said I should like to see my sister,
but e told roe she wee too W. At this time I was not
aware that any charge had been made against the prisoner,
but while I was at the hones mime constables came in and
took the prisoner into custody. He name beck to the house
the lame evening, and he asked if my sister had inquired
after him, and also said that Dr. Julius was killing him. I
had seen my sister while the primer was in cus-
tody. She was able to speak and naderstoad per-
fectly what I said. I sat up with her all night,
and gave her arrowroot and other food. She
was not sick after taking the food I gave her. When
the prisoner came back from the police court I asked him to
put out some tee and other things for the nurse that had
been sent by Dr. Julius. He yodeled, end said 1 had taken
the responsibility on myself, sod I =et pay the avows.
My sisterappeared to rally during the night, but she Nankeen
the following morning, and died about 11 o'clock. After
the arrest of Dr. Smethurst no one but myself and the nurse
gave anything to the deceased. My titter bad a sum of
about 1,8001. out at mortgage at the time of her death.
Cruse-examined—Dr. Bmetharet was very ranch agitated
when he came back after having been taken into cus-
tody, and hie said that Dr. Janus had charged kiln
with poiscaing my sister. Wks he returned ha kissed
my meter. Some medicine was brought by the sane
after the prisoner had been taken away. I did sot not
the nurse administer this mediates to my sister. Ido sat
remember heeding my sitter say that be (meaning Dr.
Smethurst) was so kind to her, that it was almost • pleasure
to be ill. She did say that he was very kind to her. My
sister was occesionally subject to bilious attacks, and she
consulted a medical gentleman named Bartlett respecting
these 'Ueda I have heard that she was sick sometimes
while riding to • carriage, and I have several times seen her
AM. I told the primmer upon one mimics that I considered
-mutter was very fragile. My father did not die of a severe
attack. He died of • complication of disorders, and
not from exhaustion produced by diarrhoea. A good many
menthes, of my family have anNred from repeated billow
attacks. One of say sisters died young, of consumption.
There were contingencies under which, if my sister had lived,
she would have become entitled to more property.
Re-examined—We had a joint interest in the sum of
5,0001., and the contingency I refer to would have been the
death of myself sr another sister.
By the Court—l was told at first that Dr. Smethurst was
• manned man, but afterwards I WA informed that be was
not wooled.
Mr. P. B. &nice eaid—l am • solicitor at Richmond. The
called at my office on Saturday, the 30,h of April.
Clse::: a stranger to me at that time. He said he called to
buy if I would come up the hill and make • will for a lady.
I told him I would go Immediately, and he replied, "No;
not today—tomorrow ; the ledy was too ill that Aeration."
I said I supported he meant Monday, and he said "No," he
meant to-morrow. I told him I did not like to do business
on Sunday, and that the law did not like wills being exe-
cuted on Sunday, tut if it was an act of necessity I would do
it. He showed me the paper produced, which was a draft of
a will, and which be said had been drawn up by • barrister
in London, and the lady wished to write it herself, but be
thought it had better be done by a prof. ssional man. He
called at my office on the Sunday morning, and said he must
trouble me to come. se the lady bed passed • very bad night.
I told hies I should like a medical man to be presentee the
lay wee so 111, and he said it was quite unnecessary as the
lay was ably sego lag from diarrheas, and was quite right
in Mr mind. I went to the prisoner's lodging, and he told
me he thought it was right to inform me that although he
was living with the lady, they were not man and wife, and
this was another mare why he did not with a malice] man
to be present. 1 then went up to the bedroom of the de-
ceased, and the prisoner said to her, " My deer, this is the
gentlemen who has come to make your will." She bowed,
sad headed so the paper I had seen oa the previous Satur-
day. I looked at the raper. sod asked if that was what the
wished, and read it to her, and she said it was quite
correct, except that she wished to leave a brooch
to • friend. I then drew up the will in ac-
cordance with her instructions in the lower room. The pri•
snow was with me, and when the will had been drawn up
the prisoner said that the daughter of the landlady might be
use of the witnesses, and he mid he supposed I could say it
was some Chancery paper. I toad him that w iuld not do,
the must know it wee a will, and he repli• d, " Oh, very
well." Shortly afterwards the deceased executed the will,
and I and Miss Wheatie attested it, and I then banded the
document to the den and wart down stairs, accompanied
by the pi isomer, and he Feld me my fee.
The will was then put in and road. It was to the effect
that the whole of the property of the deceased lady war, with
the exception of a br itch set In pearls and brilliants, clinked
to the prisoner who was also constituted mole executor. The
lady wasdescribed in the Instrument as • "spinster," and
the ptimaer was described as her "sincere end beloved
Mood."

Cress-examined—l read the will over slowly to the de-
ceased, and eke appeared to be quite aware of the effect of It,
sad to be perfectly competent to execute such an thatrument.
By the Court—l made an inquity with regard to the rola-
done of the deceased lady.
Mile Lauila Hankie reoslled—Nothing wee s•id to me on
the Sunday about my deter having made her will.
Mr. W. Tart stid—l have known the deceased 25 years.
Her health wee generally very good.
Dr. Julius mel-1 am a medical practitioner at Rich-
mond, sad ham been ha practice for thirty years. Mr.
Bird is my panne. Oa the 3rd of April teat I wee
called in to see Mies Betakes. She was at that time
staying in Old Pales terrace. The prisoaer told me
she was suffering from viobnt diarrhea. and vomiting,
and that it had Meted for • week, and be wished me to see
her. I saw the den-a- ed, and put some qoeetiens to her,
and believed it was • ens of simple dlearhoe.. I prescribed
some chalk medicine, end saw the deceased again on the fol.
lowing tanning. The primmr wee purest, and he said
the deceased had previously eajoyed very good health, sal
he believad her liver was loaded with bile. I was shown a
vomit, which had • very peculiar appearance, and of •
greasy green oolour. I prescribed some other medicine, sad
saw the deceased seals on the sth of April, when she ap-
peared tot,* much worse, and complained of a hurting meta-
lion in the Lamle end oersteds of the mouth. The sickee•s
we. oleo very constant and very distreming, and the pri.oner
complained that she could not take my toad. He advised a
particular reedbine containing prosaic acid, which I sail I
thought would not answer for such a case, but he
gemmed a oontriny °photon and said be would stop it directly
he found it did not here any good effect. I made the primw
ration, but the deceamed continued in the same condition and
none of the symptoms were allayed. There was no appear-
ance of bile In the evacuations of the deneased after the
fourth or Afth day that I raw her. N me of my eneliaines
appeared to have say cfirct, but she appeared to get worse,
and become weaker, end it wee the same atm y as to the
sicknese and purging day slier day. The deceased com-
plained of parchieg thirst, and of a burning eensation to her
mouth. 1 could not account for any of them appearances by
soy natural diem*, and I entertained en opinion that some-
thing of so irritating character was being administered to
the demand.
By the Court—l am of opinion:that no natural diadem
could have produced the constant mate of suffering exhi-
bited by the deceased.
Rumanians ciontlaned—l varied the treatment sad the
medicasouseveral oticesioes, but I never found any ormati
in the eymplems, sod to consequence of the opinion I had
fanned, I requested my partner, Mr. Bird, to see the de-
ceased. I did net nuke him acquainted with the iropiemion
that Weed is my own mind. The primes? advised that
preemie said shou'd be administered In an drawee/ling Mate,
but I objected, and he said be was perfectly conversaat with
Its wee, sad that he was in the habit of placieg it upon crumbs
of bread and throwing it out of the window to the sparrows.
I prepared the medicine as the primmer suggested, and a day
or two afterwards the prisoner called upon me awl 'eked if I
had not made some mistake in the med vine, as it had affected
the dammed n ry mentally, and I told him I wen sore I had
sot. All the old symptoms still continued, but la
aa aggravated form. On the 28th of April the dm

ceased was very ill, and the prisoner suggested that
Dr. Todd should be sent for, and he came to my boon
em Sat day, and I gave bin; en outline of the ewe and
the symptoms. My opinion of the rue was the same
as It had always been bat I said nothing to Dr. Todd upon
the subject. Dr, Todd directed a preecription, which wee
leads up by my assistant. It emulated of sulphate of copper
sad powdered opium. The prisoner objected to the au of
this medicine, as he said It produced symptoms of poison. I
afterwards took means to procure one of the evacuations of
the deceased, and I obtained one on the 29th of April. Mr.
Bird eiterwards obtained another. 1 ant quits sure that none
of the medicines prescribed by me could have produced the
effects exhibited by the deceased. On the 30th of April I felt
it my duty to communicate with Mr. Penhryn, ass of the
Richmond mestrates, and the prisoner was takes into cus-
tody. I sae g WBathes at the house on Monday, the 30th
and I never gore an direction., or advised that see
ebould not see the decaaeed ; •in fact I was not aware that
she bad seen her sister on any previous occasica.l
When the prisoner was taken into custody he said
it was a serious thing to take a medical man
from his wife, and If any mineral substance
had been administered, it most have bees contained in my
medicines. I could not form say coejecture at tha time of
the death of the deceased ea to the cause of that death, and
I could not ascribe it to any internal cause. If small dose
of irritant poison had been administered to the deceased from
time to time during her Wars, it would bare accounted for
all the appearances that exhibited themselves. Antimony
and arsenic were the chancier of poieous likely to
produce such results. I did not administer either antimony
oe arsenic to the deosseled while I attended upon her. No
chlorate of petals wee seat from our surgery to the deceased.
After the primrose was in custody, I received a letter from
Men (produced). The letter requested to be Informed of the
coateme of the Mistreat medicines that bad bees preecrihed
for the deceased, and also whether arsenic wee kept in the
rue-e rantined—Tbe prisoner described the symptoms
sovreAly to me from the beginning, and I formed the
opinion that some irritant substance had been administered
from the pri.toner'e statement and my own personal
observation. He appeared very anxious from the first to
have further medical assistance, and he suggested that Mr.
Mille and then Dr. Todd should be called tn. I first formed
the opinion that something wrong was being administered on
the 18thof Aptil. Mr. Bard formed the same opiaion after
he had atteabd upon the deceased four or five days. I ad-
inialstered what are called grey powders to the deceased the
first time on the 4th of Apo'. These powders are oompoead
of mercu y and chalk pounded together ; a very small pro-
portion of the former Wing used. Nitrate of silver and bis-
muth were also prescribed to the deceased, as well as diluted
prude acid, somata of lead, and ea:6oWe of soda. The
witness wee cross etandasil at very considerable length upon
the subject of the different preamiptions he had prepared, but
nothing very material appeared to be elicited. A great Nagoya
the matters referred to see unfit for publication. The witness
stated that he bad reason to believe from an oboe. vation that
was made by Dr. Smethurst, that the deceased lady was not
in the family-way, and, therefore, he made no further
inquiries upon the subject, but be said that if he bad been
aware that she was in as early stage of pregnancy, it would
not have induced him to prescribe for her in any other man-
ner than he did, and that the medicines he administered
were not calculated to have any peculiar effect upon the de-
cowed in consequence cd her being pregnant.
At the close of the crose-examination of this witness, the
trial was adjourned, it being past six o'clock.
The jury, as is usual in each cues, were taken to the
London Coffee-house in the charge of the officers of the
court.