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

17:Ttr xeßTirotztV TIMES, -TITTIRSTAY, JUNE 23 1559

AI IMPRISON ME

aINITIC .. ASYLUM

S ...
( RLICK.2,. S TtLIWELL AND OTIIIIRS.-(-1116 was an action
ififor illegal detention, brought in the Court of Queen's Banch,
' on Tuesday last, before Mr. Justice Hill and a special juff:
The' declaration alleged that the defendants seized' and
•eompelled the plaintiff to go to 'Moorcroft }louse, and
d4amed him there amongst lunatics for ten months, con-
trary :to law. and Against the plaintiffs will, whereby he
was put to considerable trouble' and expense to obtain his
liberation ; that tie defendants took him into their house
under Medical certificates - according to the recent Act of
Parliament for the treatrwnt . of lunatics, signed by certain
medical men, and on the- order, of Mary Ann Ruck ; and
that whilst there he recovered, of which the defendants bad
notice, when it became their. duty immediately to give notice
of the same to Mary Ann Ruel.c, or to the Lunacy Comniii-
sioners, but that they omitted to d.o so._ . The defendants.
pleaded, first, not guilty by statute; secondly, that they
(defendants) were not such keep,ers of a lunatic asylum as
alleged; thirdly, that they did not receive the plaintiff
under such orders and certificates as alleged; fourthly; that,
whilst the plaintiff was under their- care, he did not recover
"p,s, was alleged ; fifthly,. that they had no notice of such
repoyery • and, sixthly, not guilty.. Mr. Edwin James, in
I . •.
~.,.._. -_ .

ontine-tlloywse to the jaiy, said this was an action t(

trespass baTeht 63.; t,he plaintiff.against the defendant, th
pioprietors of a private aiiyiwn for the reception of lunatics
at Moorcroft House; and the quesiiPo. to be submitted. to

them in the 'course of this inveslig,ation Tits one of consi-
derable importance to the personal liberty, 4f the subject;
But in this case the plaintiff sought to recover compensation
in damages for ?laving illegally detained 'and eonaned him
in their establishment for. a,
.period of ten months, and
until he was discharged last year .under a commission of
lunacy, which, after sitting -several days, declared the
plaintiff to be of sound mind. The plaintiff was a
gentleman of independent fortune, having large estates in
Wales and Kent, she fOrmer of ;:tiell were very valuable

frrm th

ihis assistant, Immed.lately on my finding the outer door
was locked after nu:, my keys demanded, and my luggage
searchda, I saw my predicament, but I had no idea of it
I, h.,; Fore.. I,asked-Dr.•§tilwell -if he iptended te,detaixt,me ;
he said he was empowered to ilo so undei s6,,inelniklic4l cer-
tificate. .No. medical attendant was called ..to. examine.rde.
Dr,. Stilwell NYP.. queedingly cliriou@ about. the report,.i. IN-
- • -•-• • - —• , -21,'./.. , -ic,
had heard of me, but there . was no. examination as to illy
.
health, He asked me if I. required any
}
j;„yie, and I said
no. I was never under medical treatment during the time
I was there. I was placed under two attendants ; a man
named Randall chiefly attended upon me. Ile had a separate
. shake-doWn in the room with, me. Some one slept in the
room every night ' for the first six months, and after that I
gept in the room alone. I was never allowed to go beyond
the grounds except with a keeper. I was prevented from
posting* a letter ou one occasion, when an attendant walked
out with me. I was about to post it, when he-stepped forward, -
and said be could not allow it. I occasionally saw the Lunacy
Commissioners on their visits. Dr: •Stilvrell was present.