Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-06-23 00:00:00

Irium, au

Whilst in the
asylum, his case was not that of a curative description, but
what he (Mr. James) might characterise as of a detentative
character only. The learned counsel then referred to the
Act of Parliament, which said that no person should be
confined under•- the medical - certificate. of any person
interested; yc

was not

proceeding:

. •
,in this. Case both were personally so. - This
was a violation of the law, for which they were liable. The
result of thiS Confinement had been the separation between
himself. and . his Wife and • the Cost of resisting the

commission of inquiry/ /mounted to £l,OOO, which th

plaintiff had had to pay. He called the following evidence

'Mr. Ruck depOsed : rani The plaintiff. , I am :i gentleman
of independent fortune, having estates in Wales and Kent.
I was a gentleman commoner of Oxford, and left there in
1840. :I married Miss Matthews in 1841, and have a family
of six children. After my marriage I resided in -Merioneth-
shire. I had two residences there, about eight miles from
each other. Latterly myself and wife lived unhappily.
That unhappy state of things commenced about two years
after our marriad.e. In August, 1857, I left my house with
my wife and two daughters for the Manchester Exhibition,
where we met by arrangement Mr. and Mrs. Barnet. Mr.
Barnet was a friend of Mrs. Ruck; and formerly practised
at Stourport. There was no previous intimacy between
myself and,Mr. Barnet. .We remained at Manchester four
days, taking almost every meal with the Barnets. After
that went, -accompanied with Mrs. Ruck and the
children, on a visit to a brother-in-law in Kent. I left
after two days, -but my wife and daughters remained. • I left
to -attend a railway meeting in Wales; of which I am a
director. I attended the meeting, and took a part in the
proceedings. A few days after
.1 returned -to Kent, and
remained there abed a month, during the sporting season.
My farms in were miderthe.management.of an agent.
During that time I mixed, generally. in society there, and
took part in shooting parties. 1-then returned in October
to Wales, and was re-elected -a direbtor 'of.-the railway
company. I teak part in the proceedings.. I went-to my
house, Pontlldlw, in. Wales, and remained there some time,
giving directions about my farm... When I got there I
found the house .was uncomfortable. .There• was only a
Welshman and his wife, who could not, BOcrlish, to
attend upon me. Miss Jones had been sent for by Mrs.
MattheWs,. Mrs. Ruck's Mother. •An intimacy had taken
place between myself and Miss Jones, and there had been
two children. I was not aware Mrs. Ruck knew it.• I was
exceedingly annoyed with Miss Jones's conduct, and, as she
made -too free with the bottled ale, we quarrelled. The
weather at the time was unfavourable -for farming pursuits.
I drove out to relieve the monotony of home, and, when I
drew np to refresh the horse, I drank freely myself. The
troubles affected nie, I think more than the drink I took.
They caused me much nueasiness and irritation, and I took
spirits to such an extent as caused me to feel great irritation.
This continued for the last four or five days I was in Wales:
Upon one 'occasion when I left home I found she had gone
into' my gun-room and disturbed my things ; especially some
medical works it was undesirable for a lady to read or to
be left about, because there were plates in them, were
strewed about the room. I afterwards burnt them.
From • the first it was ,my intention to have
returned to Kent; . but the weather would not
permit till about the 28th October. When I left home for
that purpose, I drove to a, place called Carno, on the road
to Shrewsbury. I had nofintimation that Mrs. Ruck was
about.to return to Wales, and to my surprise 'she' joined me
▪ Carnow from my residence. in Wales, whither she had
gone down in the morning, and not finding me at home,
drove to Carnow ; she was much excited. I had probably
- taken too much the day before, but I could manage myself.
-We remained there half an hour, and then proceeded by the
mail on to Welchpool. There was a dispute at New Town
with the guard, about .putting, an outside passenger,. a
gentleman, inside. We remained about three days at Welch-
pool, and each ocoupied•separate beds. I was then intem-
perate ; to a moderate extent I indulged. When I arrived
I sent for Dr. Harrison, and did not take stimulantS
afterwards. During my stay there that- . gentleman pre-
scribed for nie, and Dr. Barnet was telegraphed for by my
wife without my knowledge,
.and he found us there. He
remained about two houri, when we all pruceeded to
Shrewsbury. I took the box seat. and Mr. Barnet and my
wife rode inside.. On our arrival there we proceeded -by
rail. to Birmingham, and on that night I slept with my
wife. I told Dr. Barnet, when at Welchpool, that I was
going.to Kent,.and he surested,- as I had not seen his new
house, that I could call on him at Reading. At Birming-
ham be •also,suggested that I and Mrs. Riick should visit
him,
.and we. consented: We arrived at Readina, about
two o'clock on Sunday, the Ist of November: ITP"'on our
arrival my wife and Mrs. Barnet were' in 'conversation for
an hour or so,- and Mr, Barnet and myself settled our
money matters with reference to the journey, and after-
wasds we dined together. After dinner Mr. Barnet
pushed the • wine , towards me, and • pressed me
to take some, I did so, but found the taste
disagreeable; he pressed it, and I took half a glass more;
but, fancying I was drugged, I refused to talo aily more.
I determined on that to leave for Kent, and proceeded
towards the station. Mr. Barnet ran after me, and, almost
breathless, seized inc by the nil d asked• 'l6 Tvt:t
by leaving• his haise as I had done. I said I had a
perfect right to
.leave. A scuffle ensued, and I got Mr.
Barnet on the ground, when some person and the police
came up, and I explained matters to them. At the request
of the police, I went back with him and Mr. Barnet, and
again tasted the wine, when I found it agreeable. We
finished it:— Mrs. Barnet-saw me take my stick, as if
going for a walk. Mrs. Barnet wished to accompany me.
I declined. . She took my arm. I diser;ged. if,
m;(1
walked rapidly on. My 7(iN occupied the same bed as
myself during the ibree nights we were. at .Reading. Dr.
Connolly came down, I think, on Wednesday, Mr. Barnet
having called upon him on the Tuesday. On Thursday, I
left the house. Mr. Barnet introduced Dr. Connolly as a
particularly old friend of his, whom he
,wished me to see.
We conversed at first as two strangers usually do, and he
afterwards inquired of my health, my quarries, and my
wife. The interview. lasted about ten minutes, Mr. Barnet
being present the whole of the time. Saw nothing of Dr.
Connolly after that interview? There was nothing

then to lead me to the belief that Mr. Barnet
practised as a medical man. After Dr. Connolly had
left Mr. Barnet returned, and said, "Ruck, I think you
had better go and visit a particular old friend of
mine,- who, lives in a nice house some distance from
here." Mr. Chambers objected to the reception of this
evidence as affecting Dr. Stilwell. : The learned Judge said
it coniJ not be received unless it was shown that •Barnet
acted as -17.7. Stilwell's agent. Mr.. Ruck : . Mr. -Barnet
, ,StilwelPs name, Dr. Connolly did not:
I was accompanied by one of Dr.
mentioned -Dr.
Fowiltawhsiennisihnsagedr:Factui_r,::rti, ,
When I. left. Readit;'
ill.. Barnet informed me who he was.
- ... li_loorcroft House is near
no to this time to lead me to suppose
On a
nd my
he arrivala also
o introduced
ulic
erd. ..'
me
1 c asylui,.. • Rtilwell introduced
13i.til- 6;4 to me,O
',bridge..
.
to ."...
Weller
A.,...