The Express.
London, England, 1861-04-10 00:00:00

THE CASE OF LORD KINGSTON.
C/1115 DAY.)

The proceedings in the writ lauatieo inquirendo
were resumed yesterday by the Master, S. Warren, Q.C.
Dr. George Turner Jones, examined by Mr. Chambers—
I am • medical man, and have been in preen. since 1842.
Since 18481 have turned my attention to mental diem...,
I am superintendent of the Denbigh County Lunatic
Asylum. We have there about 200 inmates. Lord King.
ston was placed under my care on the 14th September lsat
by order of two justices. I saw him on the next day, and
examined him so ae to ascertain the state of his mind. He
was brought in bye policeman when he CAMS to the asylum.
He was then excited. When I saw him the next day, he
was much calmer, but he talked very incoherently. He
made charges against different individuals. (The witness
repeated the delusions which previous wineries bad spoken
to as to the charge against the railway company, the
threatened action which was to result in a verdict of
100,000/. damages in favour of the alleged lunatic, the
accusations of unnatural crimes against persons of very
high rank, and the ennnences said to have taken place at
the hotel at Chaster.) He was not led to the convolutions
but opened it himself, and ran on from one subject to
another, without any connexion or coherence. He talked
rapidly. He laid he would bring an action again*
Mr. Dickson, the magistrate. Dr. Banks came to
see him in the asylum. After Dr. Banks had
gone, he said he would bring an action against Dr.
Bank& That was after the doctor's second visit—alma*
immediately. He said be was going to bring an action
against Dr. Bright for 2007. ; also that be intended to bring
an action against Dr. Price for 501. Lord Shaftesbery's
name was mentioned, and Mr. Poynter's, the magistrate.
He was going to get Lord Shen...bury dismissed from hie
office as commissioner of lunacy for not answering lus. letters.
The Lord Chancellor of England was to be also dismissed.
for not liberating him from the asylum. The Lord
Chancellor of Ireland was likewise to be dismissed. That
was in consequence of the Lord Chancellor of Ireland
having written to me in refereuce to two lettere
he had received from Lord Kneen's. I showed hint
Lord Chancellor Brady's letter, and then be said
that he should be dismissed as well as the Lord
Chancellor of England. [The letter was produced. It
stated that he had received the two letters from Lord King.
ston requesting him to interfere, and replied that be had
no power to do so. The date of the letter was March 30,
1861.] He told me he had been dragged out of Chester
Cathedral by order of the bishop, and that the bishop
should be dismissed, as well as all the other bishops, from
the House of Lords. He bad a great objection to take
medicine. I persuaded him to take medicine at last on
several occasions, and his bodily health then became better.
There was no improvement in his mental condition eons..
queen on his improved bodily health. Latterly he did not
talk so much of unnatural crimes as he did at tint. The
change in this respect commenced about three weeks before
he left. The Dames he mentioned as guilty of each crimes were
always the same. (The witness wrote down the num,
which coincided with those given in by other witnesses
yesterday.) He made no mystery or secret of these charges,
but spoke of them in his ordinary conversation. His
habits were very dirty. He made use of the corner
of the carpetted room as a urinal, and when
remonstrated with he said he had seen another
patient, a rev. gentleman, do the same. He was unseat as
a first-clam patient, but be was put in a first-class room, and
had • sitting-mom over his bedroom. His clothes were
always in • filthy condition. A foul odour came front
him at all times, but this is common with insane people,
and arises from the organ of secretion being generally
out of order, but the odour in his ass was increased by his
dirty habits. Homed the bath daily while at the asylum,
but frequently for the ordinary purposes of • water.
closet.
Mr. D. Seymour repeated his application for • jury,
assuring the Master from his instructions that the notice
not having been given within the seven days was a mere
accident on the part of Lord Kingston's friends.
The Master understood that Lord Kingston's friends were
the petitioners.
Dr. Jones—That is so.
Mr. D. Seymour believed when all the facts were before
the Master it would be seen that that was not so. As he
was instructed, he should be able to show that the parties
promoting petition were actuated by other motives than
a for the interests of Lord Kingston.
He in documentary evidence, viz., •
letter from Dr. Jones to Lord Kingston'. solicitor in Dublin,
and a letter from the solicitor, showiug that the demand
for • jury was made by his lordship, nod that its not having
been forwarded to the proper quarter arose en.
tinsly from • mistake on the part of the agents
and urged upon the Heater that in refusing
a jury under such circumstances he would be hardly
acting upon that discretion which the legislature placed in
his bands for the protection of alleged lunatics.
The Master thought he must bare some evidence beyond
the letters to justify him in acceding to the application.
Mr. M. Chambers wished to explain that his honourable
friend was erroneously instructed in reference to the grounds
on which the Lords Justices bad refused to grant • jury.
Under the act of parliament, failure in giving the notice
within the seven days was not an insuperable objection to the
granting of a jury. Not having been present at the inquiry
before the Lords Justices, he did not know what occurred
then, but he was told that it was suggested to them
that a jury should be granted, nod that they declined to
grant it not on account of the notice not having been given in
due time, but because upon the facts brought before them
in the affidavits, the argumeets submitted, and from a per.
soul examination of Lord Kin,gstoo, they did not consider
the case was one in which they ought to exercise their dis-
cretion in that way.
The Master intimated that in reply to a communication
made by him to the Lords Justices, he had received • letter
from the Registrar, stating that the Lords Justices having
twice stated that they thought a jury ought not to be
granted, he (the Registrar) did not feel himself at liberty
to bring the subject again before them unless on
• representation from the Master that it was his
wish. He (the Master) would see Lord Kingston in ame
liminary interview, and should have no hesitation, if he
then thought • jury neconary, in snowing it.
Mr. D. Seymour would, when the case of his hon. friend
closed, produce Dr. Took, who had examined Lord King-
ston, and who would speak as to his lordship's mental cu•
peteucy to demand • jury.
Examination resumed—Lord Kingston was in the habit
of wearing his shirt ten days or a fortnight while
at the asylum. He charged the attendant with mur-
dering the inmates for the sake of their old clothes.
He on one occasion wanted to send a letter after poet-
time ; he wanted a specie! niassenger to be sent
with it from Denbigh to Chester upon the chance
of catching • train, from thence to London, sad when this
was refused he became excited and kicked at the doors.
He used to write tee or twelve letters • day, but seldom
got answers. He threatened to bring an action against Dr.
Lloyd Williams. He spoke of notice baring been given in
reference to the inquiry, but mentioned nothing about a
jury, and said he should resist the proceedings, which he
said were instituted to get possession of his pro-
party. He was very fond of talking about his pro-
perty. He mid when he first came into posses-
don items worth 43,0001. • year, with encumbrances.
The Master—Judging from all that you have seen of Lord
Kingston, what is your opinion as to the sounduess VI un-
soundness of his mind?
Witness—l think it is one of those c uses approaching der
mentian, if Dot actually dementia&
The Master—Do you believe that he is capable this day of
expressing a rational wish, such as I, as the judge of this
matter, could attend to and act upon, as to having a jury to
lay this question?
Witness-1 have no doubt he will ask for • jury and will
demand one.
The Master—Do you think he will know w hat he is about
la asking [nit?
Witnees—l think to a great extent he would ; but Ido not
brow whether he could give a resume for it. Has improeoe
Is that these proceedings ate instituted for the purpose of
depriving him of his property.
Uamination continued—lie never positively exresseds
wish that a jury should intervene in his case. fhe ism
the same state as when he left me you would have oo
difficulty in deciding that he was not in • fit state of nand
to give or express a wish for a jury. He denies the dirty
habits—that is, he did deny it to me before he lift. Be
never denies having made the imputations alluded to.
Mr. P. Thompson here read a letter from Lord limg-
stoo's agent in Dublin, explaining the reason of the failure
in giving the notice for a jury within the seven der, m°l
showing that it was purely accidental.
In reply to the Master, the solicitor, who is the Leaden
meet of Lord Kingston's solicitor in Dublin, said that this
I.tie, had an been laid before the Lords Justices or the
1416111 r.
examoration resumed—Lord Kingston said he would
being an action against Dr. Lloyd Williams, the visions
physician, because he would not order his relcooc, awl that
the doctor would have two years in Newgate. lie eo
pressed anger against the chairman of tie board of
magsy~tes. He wrote to him, first, for a loan of 101.,
and on hie refusal, he said it would be worm for lions
for he would bring an action against him, and make Lim
pay 2001. He had no previous acquaintance with the chair-
man. If he were now allowed to be free he would not cer-
tainly be competent to conduct his own affairs. He would
not be responsible if he were to kill hi. keeper.
Be the Master—l would out trust him to witDN
a will, nor would I trust him with lib hanker's hook. Ti
a certain extent he would know right from wrong, but he
inanity is undoubted. He read the parliamentary debated,
and spoke of them. He charged Lord Dalhousiewith tong
• great fool, mad said be bad caused more murders than
one elan
wMr. P. Thompson—DU he not mean deaths by war?
itness—No ;as I understood, he menet mantes of sod
be the Datives. lam not sure he ilid not nican war, bat he
did sot en so. He spoke much against Lunt Elgin. 0, .I".°
policy in Chime Ise dimpprond of. 1 hare hum