The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-08-11 00:00:00

OXFORD CIRCUIT.

GLOUCESTER.

• •
1 CIVIL MOB.
WILLIAM HODCETTS, WILLIAM ASH-
, MOHR, AHD RICHARD RAUL
This case was commenced et; Saturday last, and as the plsintifrs
case was only concluded en Saturday night, at 11 o'clock, the de-
fenslunts' cast could not thee he commenced, and it was postponed
until the Wednesday ensuing (the 9, by
It was an action brought by the plaintiff, a farmer in the county
of Steffen', against the defendants, who are part proprietors of the
Ihrminginnn Journal and G.:peral Aden gser, to recover a com-
pensetion in damages for two Aloe,' libels ptildis.lied by them in
their paper, imputing to the plaintiff the most atrocious cruelty to.
wards a lunatic brother in his Lure.
Mr. TAtrotrao opened the pleadings.
Mr. I LL (with whom also was Mr. %I lIATEirs) stated
the plaintiff's case. Never, in the vet* course of my life, Gen•le-
men, del 1 rise to addrees a Jury with the statue anxiety as that
which 1 now feel. This• action has been bent& for libels the
nitro air wines, black, and I believe itsfortuderl, that were ever
published against any Mime', being. They impute to the plaintiff
such misconduct, such criminality, sued want et' feeling and want
of natural affection, that if there was it: e smallest foundation for
them, be would not only be unworthy to aimear in society, nut he
would be a disgrace to our commie; avulse- ticielemen of the
Jury, the plaintiff in this ease is iw the sane rank of life with
yourselves; lie is a moot respectable helmet. rm ding in the county
of Staffeird. Ile is the son of a dlr. *Smith. who had a nume-
rous family of antis and daughtere. . Leiter lived at Willow
Bridge bodge. where the comity of Stafford borders with the county
of Salnp. The members of his family who resided. ` ith Mtn were.
William, the proem plaintiff; another son nioaml Thomas, a
third son named George. and his daughter Saran. It pleased Ond
that his son George was born an idiot; he was an idiot front his
birth, never knowing the distinction between right and e rong. He
could barely nrticule‘e a few wnrtls,not !mewing the meant, tg of what
he spoke. Gentlemen, he was subject to fits, and gradtally grew
worse and worse. In early youth he was able to walk ale. at, but
only with the assistance of a guide, because he was unable :9 take
charge of himself. Ilia father and his mother were, as yot. may
naturally suppose, very much auricled to him, because, when any
member of a family has any defect either of mind or body, the ob-
ject of such a visitation excites the tenderest solicitude. NVlsm
he was ahout the age of twenty-two, in 11107, his mother, whit
had taken particular care of him, died. Ilis father then be-
lieved towards him with the grea:mt fondness, tendernms, and
kindness. Ile appropriated the best room in the house to
his use. . Ile consulted a number of medical men, but they
told him that nothing could be done fur him. It was found
that the light • . red him, aggrandized his disorder, and made
him wn-se. This window at Willow-bridge, therefore, was
darkened, aril more or less light was let in. accordii gas he could
bear it. Sometimes he was very quiet, but at other times lie tore
the clothes from off hie back ; he would fall down, tireadltilly con-
vulsed, and at other times lie won't throw whatever he could find
at those whet were the most attached to hint. When the fit was
over he sunk in exleviseon, and so would remain until the fit un-
happily returned. Gentlemen, about the year 1811i1 or 1809 his
father took anothet farm, at no considerable distance from his re-
sidence, called Muckleston-wood Perm, likewise in the county of
Stafford. To that farm lie sent his son William, the present
plaintiff; at Christmas, NO, and the daughter Sarah fol-
lowed. The father was much attached to her. and could
ree lire without her ; and he therefore resolved to follow
his eon %Villiam. But what was to become of the etthappy idiot?
lie determined to carry the unhappy young man along with him.
Preparations were accordingly made fur that purpose. The father
selected the best room in his house to be appropriated to his use.
It was a lofty airy room on the first floor, and he had a bedstead
constructed purposely to obviate the effects of this unhappy young
man's infirmities. He was now very much reduced. He was un-
able to walk, and lie wan brought front NVillow-bridge on a bed in
a cart. lie was placed in this room. and his father and the brother
Thomas, and the sister Sarah, continued to behave towards him
with the :tiniest kindness up to his removal. There was a glazed
windree in the room, Gentlemen. which continues in the Motu until
this clay • but for the sake of sheeting him front the light, which in-
ereiseed his distemper ; a number of bricks were put into that room.
window edgewise, which might be, or were not removed, as oeca-
sequired. The father did not long srvive his arriva at Mut-
icieston Wood. He went on a visit to anuother daughter,l who was
married, and he died at her house In the month of May, 11319.
On his death-bed, he gave special injuections to his chil-
dren, who were blessed with reason, that they should be-
hart with kindness to their brother George ; and not send him
to any asylum, hut keep him in his own house with the utmost
kindness and affection. Sarah was et this dine absent; but Mrs.
Moreton, a married Mater, was there uuril May. 1812. At that
time site left Muckleston dWootl ; Sarah returned; and from that
time until January, 1828, fur a period of fourteen years. did Sarah
devote herself to an attendance on her wretched brother, which, I
believe, is almost unexampled for its assiduity, for its unwearied-
pees, for its kindness, and for its affection. You will find that the
brothers, Thomas and William, also constantly superintended all
his comforts. When they returned home, alter having been to
market, or on any little journey, the first thing they uniformly did
was to go up and see the situation of their unhappy brother; and
everything they could possibly do to lessen the calamity of the
wretched man, `• that did they." He was unable to walk, but
they used to remove him in a chair. to another room, and to the
garden, for the sake of fresh air. lam now, Gentlemen, obliged
to relate some cireumstanzes with respect to ;his unfortunate man,
which may be extremely •tlisgusting ; and, therefore. if ,there be
any ladies in Court who might feel their delicacy offended with the
details of hie unfortunate infirmities, perhaps it would be more
proper they should retire.
The 'Bench, at this moment, was crowded with beauty and

fashion.
3lr. Justice Buartouou, with his usual gallantry, politely re.
commended the ladies to retire for short time to his room. Ills
Lordship's words were, " Ladies, you had better retire for a short
time. tio into my room."
The ladies now instantly retired, and the chasms on the Bench
occasioned by their absence, were instantly tilled by less couthly

subjeets.
Mr. CAM ptELL continued. It is indispensably necessary, Gen-
tlemen, for the ends of justice, that 1 should state to you, this un-
happy idiot was totally insensible to the calls of nature. lie
involuntarily voided his urine and hisfircer ; and these are circum-
stances, which I understand, are by no means uncommon in cases
of idiotism. It will appear to you in evidence, that every thing
that could possibly be done, was done, to obviate the inconveniences
that would otht rwise result from this habit. Ile had two feather
beds, which were put alternately upon the bedstead. that had been
made expressly the him by his father's order. The coverings
of those beds were changed generally every second day. He was
treated like an infant, and linen was put under him, which
linen was removed from time to time, as necessity required.
Besides the two feather beds, he had two mattresses filled
with chaff. These were a!so changed, and fresh chaff put
into them in this manner. Generally the brother Thomas,
who is of very weak intellects, carried up the bag of clean
chaff, and attar emptying that which was soiled out, refilled
it. The bed was changed, and the dirty one brought down states
clean sheets ant blankets having been carried up and put on. The
unfortunate idiot was then washed, combed, and replaced in the
bed with all the comfort of which he was susceptible. Gentlemen,
on Monday the 23d of January, the unhappy idiot was very vio-
lent, he continued so on the Tuesday, anti his sister Sarah was
obliged to sit up with him all that night. At that time he had been
lust shifted on Monday ; and, between ten and eleven o'clock on
Nt'ednesday morning, Thomas and Sarah went up, as they were ac-
customed to do, for the purpose of shifting him again, Thomas carry-
ing the bag of clean chaff Sarah brought down the dirty bed anti bed
clothes; looked out clean sheets, blankets' and a clean shirt, which she
hang to the lire to air. Thomas took his brother George out of heel,
and was preparing to wash him. He had just taken the ditty chaff out
of the matters+, to till it with clean chaff. this was going
on, Mary Hulrne, the servant, saw two gentlemen tiding into the
courtyard, one of whom she knew to be Mr. Eld. There was no
room in which they could he received, save and except the
kitchen. She therefore immediately removed the dirty and the
clean things that were there into the scullery. Having done this,
she went up stairs to tell Thomas and Sarah that two gentlemen
were coming to the house. Mr. Broughton, the Magistrate, was
the gentleman with Mr. Eld, but hie name the servant did
know. While they were coming near die house, Thomas replaced
his brother George in bed, on which there was then nothing but I
chaff, covered the blankets over him, and, I believe, also put a
top-coat and two bags on him. lie then ran down for the purpose
of speaking to the two strangers who were coining to the holm.
They turned out to be Mr. EH and Mr. Broughton, as before stated.
They demanded to see the brother George, and Thomas wished
for some little delay, as his brother was not in a condition to be
seen by atrargers. At this time, Sarah, who had been up stairs
assisting, came down in the hurry of the moment, without her
gown, and hail merely thrown a shawl round her shoulders. She
wished for • little time also, and Mr. Broughton (whatever his
motives might lie, certainly hit conduct did him no credit, either
as a clergyman, for I understand re is in holy orders—or as a Ma-
gistrate, for he is in the commission of the peace—or as a man)
damned her, and used the most rude and offensive language.
(Here the Learned Counsel stopped for a minute or two, and in.
sinuated that the ltev. Mr. Broughton, who was on the Bench, was
smiling.)
Mr. Baottowrox repelled the charge with some warmth.
Mr. CAMPUELL resumed—Gentlemen. I might he mistaken.
should think this case ought not to excite a smile in ant, quarter
for, certainly, it appears to me to be the most paintul case
that was ever brought into a Court o 1 Justice—painful to the Ad-
vocates—painful to the Judge himself—and painful, I should
think, to you. But justice requires that we should all do our duty
in our respective situations. I will do mine, Gentlemen, fear-
lessly. Mr. Broughton and Mr. Eld, accompanied by a consta-
ble named Poulson, went up stairs. The door of the nano in
which George was confined was not locked ; it was fastened only
with three links and a staple. Ha could not open it
from within, but it was easily opened, even by a child, from
without. They went in and saw thin unhappy creature in the
Nate in which he was, and, no doubt, they were very

much shocked at his deplorable condition. No doubt the situation i Witness immediately went .and celled Mies Smith, his sister, wM
of a fellow-creature deprived of reason man be most harrowing to : came and got him into bed. %Viten elm returned to the ro mi he hid
any man's feelings, and though every thing hare been dine t i . got half wily out of the window. A leer thrit thee/indet had re h.e nearly
ameliorate his misery, still enough will remain to make so hide- i bricked up. Sometimes heused to hette these flts every week andeome.
lible impression on the mind ut the beholder. They found the I times he would not have one for a fortnight. One of his rams Was tie-
room rather dark, no doubt. going in from broad day-light, and k ; formed, and used to hang back in this way. All the whole right
believe they removed some of the bricks that closed up • part of side was 1.011. His, knees
always seemed sinew-tuclud. Mr.
the window. Sarah, by that time, was in the room, and pointed • Hopkins,. ;he surgeon, used to attend him. He is dial now.
out her brother George, but they made no inquiries. They did, ' Other doctors tired to atteed him. lliey envoys said they need
what I dare say they thought a most Troyer thing, namely, they Ido him no good. They wished liim always to atop with Miss
ordered this unhappy person to be removed from the care of his re. 1 Smith, and that she should not go teem him. Miss Smelt at that
lotions to a public usylum; and eceoreingly they sent a person 1 time was about thirty. The fits would continue on him sometimes
named Garrett from the eta ntt Lunatic asylum, by whom 1 for half an hour, and sometimes more. There was no doing any
Ceorge was removed to that enabliehment. eintatever were their 1 thing with him until the fits were off. He vied to foam very ouch
motives,
however, hey acted very indiscreetly, and I must say inn. at tire mouth, and once struck witnese nn the hick ahtl knocked
properly.. They might be toietaken as to the situation in which her ovet, without any provocation whatever. He then fell &An 10 11
they saw this wretched man, but they most grossly exaggerated it, fit. He used to tear his shirts off his back. William and Themes,
an.l propugated rumours which were utterly unfounded, They his two brothers, used to shave him, and he had a great avennen Rio
represented that being done. He was not able to go to the pnvy, and be was
that this family had treated their brother with ha
nets and with cruelty, and my client well knowing that he and the insensible to the calls of nature.
He used to do In/ occeeions enher
whole family had ever devoted theniselva 1
with affection and kind- him in bed, but was regularly shifted end, revenged
three ask ten as •
eats to their unhappy brother, did what he was bound to do, net:emery. The door was fattened °melee liy Poanti it
timely, he brought an action against Mr. Broughton, upon which staple, to prevent him from getting oat in feweniebri Ms. and
r Kee Broughton thought lit to muse a prosecution to be instituted Ma. Smith, before thee died, alwayannbed Mrs Smith to take
tagainst my client, his brother Thomas, and his sister Sarah, for care of him as long as he lived. At the time dein liantheen deetli,
i satiety to their brother. I now come to the cause of the present George was not at all sensible of it. He had lost hie speech mileage-
ietion• The defendants are the proprietor% of a newspaper in very 'her then. After the tamily moved to Alueltlesente-wood, *knew*
extensive circulation, called the Birmioghast Journal and General used to wash ter them, anti wash George's thing's.
Advertiser, and in that paper of the II eh of February,l626, they This witness was then croes-rxamined at eonsiderat le length.
thought tit to publish the following libel : and ',wore positively that all the ire
u to behoove With thd
" Bonaire AT teoeur v." —The ninepins noantal gives the greatest kindness to their brother George, and that he hid hie
&Rowing outline of a case of unnatural Amity almost vosheani oe. owns from their table Atmore rilwaye before they licleed them-
The names are suppreesseL as the circumstance% are under legal. in- selves. Witness
gas not been in thee part of Awe eweltrnfor the.
vestignion." last four years. Po hat she did not. know what had talw I piss in
You will find, Gentlemen, that in the second libel they observe no that time. Witness used to bring home spinet and orenges for
such delicacy : hien, but always gave them to Mira Smilt to give the.n to hi n. ,
" A brother and sister reside near the northern border of this Used to go to his bedside, but could net tell ally she did not
siounty niltropeltiree whine father died about fifteen years ago, give these nice things to him herself. Ilea occasionally nen I.•nt
truing seven children—four bons and three daughters. Ow of the sitting in en arm cheat. He was never left mote than a fortnight
sons was, unhappily, an idiot. The tether, by his will. bequeathed unshaved.
'to the brother and sister the sum of fifteen hundred pounds in trust, Re-ekarninetl—Witnese has seen attempts made to shove him,
the interest thereof to be applied to the maintenance, in the most when he would not suffer it.
corneertable manner his unfortunate situation would admit, of his Martha Johnson examined by Mr. WHATELEY—Is the wife of
deranged child. Immediately after the death of his father (as is John Johnson, living at Chesterton ; lived as servant.tn Mr. Wee
alleged). the poor idiot was locked up in a small dark room in the Smith. the father of George Smith, at Willow-bridge, aboof
11l
house, where he was daily fed like a swine, through small eper. years ago. That was in the .year 1795; toga! there two yeah at •
Sure in the wall, for a series of years. About eleven years ago. the that time; went there as servant again about three years afterwards,
brother and sister gave it nut that their unfortunate brother had and then stopped three years. Alter that sbe went there a third
dial, and was buried at a distant place : in consequence of which time, and stopped one year ; she listed there altogether six yeomen
the family went into mourning fur him. The brother and sister service, extending overnice years of time. Knew the son George;
then spread a report that the house was haunted, in order to deter lie was an idiot, anti did not know right from wrong ; he could not
persons from visiting it." talk; he could make sounds, but such art nobody could understand.
Now. Gentlemen. this is justified; but then follows a passage Ile did not knelt* whit he did. Witnees has seen him put hie
which isnet itiniti d:— fingers into the gene, end pull the fire out ;he used to have lits. .
" However, a savant girl, who had been with them for fourteen Witness then went on generally to corroborate the evidence of the
entire, left them a few day!' ago, anti went into the service of a elm last witness, as far as her observation went during the time she lived
,;
gistnste in the neighimerhood, and communicated the above circum. with the family, and stated, that they always treated their brother
mange. The elagisnate took immediate stein, arid, with a consta- George kindly. She knew the family after they removed to
ble, scent to the house, and requested admittance. This being re- Alucklestoee Wood, anti there he was always treated with kind-
fused, he been open the door, and found the unfortunate object of ness end attention. The room in which he lived was the weeniest
their search in a place of total tlarkeess. They procured a light, anti most comfortable in the fiction. The window was bricked up,
and found the miserable victim of atrocious penury crouching in a but there were five Meeks down to admit light, and there was
corner of the room. Ills hair had grown all over loin to the length always light enough to ace to do anything in the room. Miss
of threeur fuer inches. He was become quite deformed, and Mount( Smith used to sleep in the next room to him. He was always stiller
to little more than a yard in height. 'When his father died, he when the room was darker.
was in person a well-made and tall young Mall. Blaiikets were Five other female servants who had lived with the Wilily were
procurel to place him in ; but when the constable went to wrap then milled, and swore that George Smith was always tamed with
then round hip, he sprung at hint, and bit him in the cheek, mak. kiridnees. One stated that he was treated better after the des I% of
ing a buerible arid unintelligible noise. He was, however, brought his father and mother, and she had seen and heard Mies emit!'
down stairs, and conveyed to the Staffindshire Lunatic Asylum, often praying by hie bed side. She had been in die room on soot*
where lie at present remains." • ose OCCasiolls. .
Now, Gentleman was there ever a statement more calculated to William Massey, wheelwright, proved that he mar's a Iliedsteset
poison the public mind ag.tinst my clients? el'as there ever such a Particularly adapted to the use of George, by the dirention of Mr.
charge as thus brought against any human being? If this family Isaac Smith, his father. after lie had gone to live at Mucelestone
had been charged with putting ben to death, much less atrocious Wood. That bedstead was screwed down to the floor, and there.
conduct wuuln be impund to them, because by this they are charged was no cordage about it, for fear Geo-ge should do Inn-emir any
with men,
his existence only that he might Miler. But, harm. Was in the room where the bedstead was last Tuesday.
Gentlemen, here is the other libel. On the 26th of Febtuary ape The floor was p
oplar,or wheel is a soft wood that Would very soon
pared the following attiele— rut, if exposed filth.
" BARBAROUS ATROCITY—We noticed in a former number Cross-examined by Mr. RUSSELL—Did rot see the room front
an iestance of horrid atrot ity, stated to have been committed by a the period he set up the bedstead until last Tuesday morning, when
brother and sister upon their Insane elder brother. There was he was sent for to link at it, by Mr Smith, the pl.intife, and saw
something so revolting to human nntuie in the account that we it in his and his sister's presence.
trusted it was false, and should have discredited the facts altogether John Norcop, a servant in the family of the Smith', corroborated
had it not been positively stated dot the sufferer wan rescues and the general statement of the other witnesses, as to the kind and an
removed to th Staffordshire Lunatic Asylum. We extracted the fectionate manner in which the
Lodgerbrothe George was treated. hat
p otieulars front the Salopian Journal, and the circumstances were was brought from Willow.bridge to Mucklatone-wood on •
said to bas: taken mace sear the borders of that county. A con. bed in a cart.
tradiction of the transactioe has since been ineertee in tile S'aews. Maria Darlington. the wife of John Deelington, who was for-
emen Chronicle, bus nernanftessese were nor, on restli.ig that eon. Teeny • servant in the Stniths' family, when flee name was Mary
tradictiou, any more inclined to doubt the tenth of the previous Cruteltley, spoke equally strong of the affectionate manner in which
statement, as it appeared to have been written by some of the George Smith teas treated by the family. lie was always kept as
parties implicated, and a threat was held out to newspapers gene. clean as necessary, and the rcom which he occupied was over the
rally, it they did not cuntradiet the former account. We have this brewhouse and ovehn,
ever and was
the two ;he warme
esrs bad t room ibeenn the Reuse. She
week received a communication from a very respectable cares- stated also that wei broth out., partite.
pendent, raiding near the spot, corroborating in all the main prints larly the plaintiff. he would pat his hat on the table on his return
the horrid narrative given by the So/opiate Jou. nal, and though 1 home, anti immediately go tip to see how his brother George was.
there may be ' scarcely a line of truth in the whole tale,' the acts Murtha flaked', the landlady fit the Loggerheads public-bowie,
of unnatural cruelty to which the pixie sufferer was exposed are not . alrOre that. she had often been in e 'habit of visittng the emith
only confirmed, but aggravated. Relying upnn the veracity of our , family, and uniformly observed the kind manner in which George
correspondent, we shall insert his communication verbatim, re- ; Smith was treated by them. She used often to take him nen; par-
gardiess of the divests held out in order to prevent the horrid trans. 1 ticularly Orleans plums,
oh which he was very fond ; and the seetei,
action from being brought to light." Miss Smith, was particulrly anxious that no one should lime tee
Then, Gentlemen, follows the account of this veracious cor. fruit brought tor her brother George.
respondent : glary Prince, another female servant in the family, swine to the
't The account of an atrocity discovered on the borders of kind and affectionate manner in which they treated George Smith.
Shropshire, as copied into the Birmingilans Jour not from another Job Rogers. a man servant in the family fourteen years ngu,
Paper, is not, in all its particulars, quite correct. The citcum. swore that George Smith was treated kindly and affectionately at
stance is no secret, since it is made the general topic of converse. that period.
tion throughout the neighbourhood. Aluckleetone-wood is situated Jane Bennett, a servant in the family seven years back, gave
about a quarter of If mile from the Loggerhead% public-house, at i similar evidence as to the manner in which George was treated at
which, the two turnpike-roads from Eceleshall to Woore, and from that time.
Newcastle to Market Drayton, cross each other; anti the house, Racked Lewis was in a similar capacity, and left the eamily four
which is large and of respectable appearance, is inhabited by two years ago. While she was in their service she always saw George
bachelors and a maiden sister of the name of Smith, anti the luna. treated kindly and affectionately, and taken every care of that Was
tic is their atter brother. The communication was first made to a requisite. She had heard Miss Smith pray by his bed side. and
Mr. Ind, brother of the Alagistrate of that name, and he, with pray to God to restore him. He was not capable of joining in the
the Rev. 11. D. Broughton, it Magistrate in the neighbouthoon, devotion.
accompanied by the constable of Alticklestone, broke into the garret Susannah Rogers lived servant in the house at Mucklestone- •
where the lunatic was confined. The cry. which be uttered on be. Wood front Chet:omits, 1824, to Chris•mas, 11125. She also stated
holding the light was that of horror, but It does BM appear that he that George was uniformly treated during that period with the
bit die constable. Indeed, such was the stench that issued from greatest kindness. She used to scour out his room twice a weak
the room, that the parties could not enter for some time, and when with sand and a whisp.
they did so, it war by ascending a hill of filth which had accumu. Mary Huline, the last servant in the family, proved that she first
hated to the height of more than a foot. His body is not overgrown went to live there in 1822, and afterwards went when the last wit.
with hair, as absurdly stated in the Papers, but his hearth is about ness left. She then described the scene which took place on the
live inches long, his hair hangs about his shoulders, and his nails 1 morning when Mr. Broughton and Ale. Eld went to the house,
have grown to a prodigious length, as from a confinement of le years 1 nearly in the manner narrated. by Mr. Campbell in
mhos opening
may be reasonably supposed. Prior to the time of his iitcarceration." , speech. There was a pail of water, sep, and towels reon at
—Here you see, Gentlemen, they state that he was iniprisoned— the time they entered. and he was just about to be washed. There
that lie was shut up in a sort of gaol. " Prior to his incarceration was no filth at all in the room at the thew.
he was so far rational as to drive the cattle and do antigen and; Sarah Smith, the sister of the pleintifland the lunatic, was next
could give a direct answer to a plain question, though he now seems , called, and entered into a statement of immense length, the whole
to have lost the powers of speech and of reason. His sense of 1 gist of which was, however, that the family had uniformly treated
hearing, however, ties been proved to continue by experiments made 1 her unhappy brother with the greatest humanity, tenderness, seal
since 1113 removal to the County !Vsylum at confided- The pour I affection, striding him up his meals before they teen their own.
creature was found in a state which may be considered equivalent She also cetroborated the last witness's account of that which web
to nudity, and was unable to walk erect. His thigh has been place when Mr. Broughton and Mr. Eld came to the home. They
broken, tied permitted, it is sueftesed, to re-unite of its own accord. left a unstable behind them, with directions to take notice of the
circumstance innstsituation more deplorable,
as he cannot have had a have rendered his
ny means of procuring sumenance but that ' changed until Mr. Garrett, from the Lunatic Asylum at Stafford,
situation of the lunatic, and to see that his situation. was not
This
'of receiving the provisions lurniehed to him by means of a slidecame ter him. Mr. Garrett came in the evening with a post.
inserted in e partition or Wall. Mr. Broughton, with becontime chaise, and took George away.
the
humanity, has exerted himself to obtain foe the lunatic the highest On her cross-examination she admitted, that though this was in
1 legal advice and protection, and it is generally attarrood Clint his I the month of January, there Wad no fire in (icemen room. Afeee
(Mr. Brouglitonn) conduct RI likely to afford ma for the prolific some equivocation, she said there was some straw and sticks in the
genius of Mr. Charles Flint, the confidential friend of Lord Stafford grate, to light one, but it had not been lit up to twelve o'clock in
Cooke. Such are the correct particulars of a case which, to say the the day, nor was it afterwards lighted. There had been a fire to
lent of it, has linen the county of Stafford with astonishment." the grate on the Friday previous to Wednesday, the '2sth, but not
(The Learned Counsel then went over the different parts that were for a fortnight previous to that.
justilied, and flatly contradicted them.) As to the family ree Other witnesses were then called, one of whom was a brother to
porting that this unfortunate man was dead, arid going into mourn- the plaintiff, and another a sister. They had often visited the fa.
ing fur him, it is utter invention, and of the most absurd kind, be- only, d
with a and observedffectionate tend that Georgerne
esswas taken the greatest care on aml
cause it was knewn all over the neighbourhood that this poor man treate.
was there, and what was his unfortunate and deplorable situatiou. Several eminent medical men were then called, and stated that
The person who fabricated this story, therefore, must have copied they should conceive, from the description they had heard of
it from one related by Madame De Geniis, in her tales. From the George's fits, they were epileptic. and that he was effiitted with pa-
narrative I have given to you before I read the libels, you will talents. They had examined him in the Lunatic Asylum. and ae.
perceive that they are mere fictions from beginning to end, add if cording to their opinions neither thigh had been broken, though
there be any truth about any part of them, it has been most grossly the right thigh had a considerable curvature in it. Ile was now
exaggerated. Gentlemen, my client has thought it right to bring in much better health titan when he first went to the asylum.
this ease before you. Until your verdict has absolved him from Thomas Smith, the other brother on the premises when Mr.
thew horrid newton it is impossible he should show himself in Broughton and Mr. Eld went to the house, wee not called.
society, or meet with confidence the face of a human being. But the Mr. CAMPBELL-1 hat is the plaintiff's case, my Lord.
day of trial has at length arrived ! The defendant have dared to jus. The Jury was then dismissed, by
suchn•utonsent of both parties,
inn these libels. Let diem call their witnesses. Let them, Utile), until Wedneadey, in consequence of cause which came on on
can, prove one syllable of the calumnies they have uttered. It Altenday, in which Ale. Scarlat and Sle. Sergeant Wilde came to
will appear that front the first moment down -to the moment this hits city expressly, and which was expected to occupy two slays at
unfortunate man was removed from their care, this family behaved the leant.
towards him with uniform kindness and affection. If my friends GLJAtEESTER, AUG. in
shall venture to call witnesses, I shall have an opportunity of ad. At ten o'clock this morning this case was rammed.
dressing you again. If they do not, I leave my client's; case Mr. Justice Bunn° c Gli
Dordered all the witnesses out of Court.
with confidence in your hands. EFENCE.
Proof was then given that the defendants are part proprietors of Mt. Tan e TON—Gentlemen of the Jury,-1 am now to address
the Ili) ming/ram Journal and General Advertiser. you in behalf of these defendants, who are pereons tilling a re.
The libels were then read, and several technical objections uneue- speciable situation ia society, anti engaged as the publishers and
cannily taken, as to variances in the declaration teem the libels eroptietors en arcsppe. Genthmen—among the minor-
printed. tones which are dent to the length of the ereeent else, it ie not.
Elizabeth Wynn stated, that about twenty-three years ago the one of the least tl•at I arise to athirese you under circumstances of
was servant to Alr, lea= Smith, the father of the plaintiff, when he very considerable disadvantage. It is no slight disadvantage that
lived at Willow-bridge. She Bled with him there for twelve months 1 have to observe upon a body of evidence which did nut take Inne
after the lapse of a twelvemonth: she went there again, and lived titan twelve hours in delivering by the witnesses produced to rhos
with him a second year. She then quitted the second time, re. box. It is a still greater disadvantage that the inquiry was inter.
mained absent for twelve montlo, and then returning, lived web rupted at a period when the plaintiffs case was closed, and thin I
the family a third year. George Smith, the lunatic, was then living had not an opportunity of laying my case before you while the inn+
in the house. Ile was not in his right mind, and was subject to pressioes were teeth on my mind, and also alive in your own ; Finn
tire. When the fin were on him he did not know any one. She that disadvantage is increased by the fact, that in the io..
had seen him in danger of falling into the fire. When he was in ttatil between Saturday and the present hour, I have been
the fits he used to tall off his chair on his hands and knees, and incessantly engaged with other business and other dune, e
there remain quiet. Witness used to be set to watch hini, Be so that I have had no tipluntunity of refreshirg my recollection.
was worse the second year she lived there dun he was the first. On It will not, therefore, I e poesible for me minutely a.d eireumatallSir
one occasion be broke six pima of glass in his room window, tinily to go through the whole of the contradictions exhibited by