The Sun.
London, England, 1852-01-10 00:00:00

10, 1852.

COMMISSION OF LUNACY,
On Thursday the inquiry into the state of the mind
of Mrs. Catherine Cumming, was resumed at the Eyre
Arms, St. John's-wood, before Mr. Francis Barlow, and
a jury of nineteen gentlemen. Sir F. Thesiger, Q.C.,
and Mr. Petersdortf, appeared for the promoters; Mr.
Ince and Mr. Hooper (the sons-in-law of the alleged
lunatic), and their wives. The petition was opposed by
Mr. Edwin James, Q.C., Sergeant Wilkins, and Mr.
Southgate. The examination of witnesses on behalf of
promoters was resumed.

George Vernon Driver, a surgeon, had been from 1840
to 1847 in the establishment of Mr. Ince. Was on inti-
mate terms with Mrs. Cumming and her family. Mrs.
Cumming was then living at Maida-vale. Had visited
her two or three times in company with Mrs. Ince. Mrs.
Ince's conduct to her was that of a dutiful daughter. At
an evening party, at Maida-vale, witness heard Mrs.
Cumming speak disrespectfully of the old captain. Cap-
tain Cumming overheard her, and some excitement en-
sued which caused the party to break up econer than it
would otherwise have done. That, however. made no
difference in her conduct to her daughter. Afterwarde,
when Mr. Ince was living in 13elgrave-place, and :wli( n
Mrs. Ince was dangerously ill, Mrs, Cumming came into
the house and ran up to her room without being asked.
That male Mrs. Ince a great deal worse. •After then
her conduct to her daughter became lees affectionate,
and at length an estrangement took place between her
and her family. Her conduct tenverd I her husband was
very improper. The house was filthy in the extreme,
go much so as to be prejudicial to health. Mrs. Cum-
miilgwa was on good terms with Mrs. Hooper and her
children,
but afterwards she became estranged from
them.
Crose-examined by Sergeant Wee ram—Some of
Captain Cumming'e nurses were recommended by Mr.
Inca, who attended him as surgeon.
Thomas Ince, cousin to Mr. John Ince, the son-in-
law of Mrs. Cumming, had known her intimately fur
three or four years, about the time her daughter was
married. That was sixteen or seventeen years ago.
When first witness knew her she was a person of lady-
like manners and appearance. She then appeared to
behave exceedingly well towards her daughters and
husband. About the time Mrs. Ince was married, Mrs.
Cumming said she had been the best of daughters, and
would be a great loss to her, but she hoped it would be
for her own good. After the marriage of Mrs.
Hooper, there was some estrangement between her and
her mother. Mrs. Ince had exhibited great regret and
sorrow at the estrangement which had taken place be-
tween them. Had intimately known Mrs. Ince 16 or
17 years, and had never known her behave unkindly to
her mother. Had never known Mr. Inca guilty of
any unkindness to Mrs. Cumming.
Cross-examined by Mr. Jamas—Was aware that
Ince and Hooper had taken out a commission of lunacy
against Mrs. Cumming. Was not aware that they had
commenced a Chancery suit against her, or charged her
with perjury.
G. Dangerfield, a solicitor, was applied to by Mrs.
Cumming to manage her affairs. A Mr. Hawkins had
been her solicitor previously, but she intimated that
there was a want of confidence in her towards him.
Witness recommended to her Messrs. Birch and Davies,
of Newport, to manage her Monmouth property. Had
seen nothing of her since October, 1844. In December,
1844, witness received a letter from her, in consequence
of which he called upon her. She refused to see wit-
ness. Had paid over to her or on her account all the
money witness had received, and had a claim against her
for costs. Had certainly never robbed her of 3001,, or
of any plate. Found that she always objected to every-
body she employed. See always spoke slightingly of
her daughters and their husbands, and particularly
wished that her address should not be given them. She
seemed to consider Mr. Hooper was inferior to her
daughter, but she made no intelligible charge against
Mr. and Mrs. Ince. In 1844 witness compromised an
action for her with Mr. Williams for misusing the fur-
niture in a house she had occupied in Maida-vale. It
was a nicely furnished house, at a rent of 2001, a year.
It was alleged that she bad had the washing done in
the drawing-room, and the ironing on the 100 table;
and that the pigeons had dirtied the furnitnre. She
denied the truth of these allegations, but afterwards
consented to compromise the action for 121. 2s. A
much larger claim had been made. She said she would
not sleep on the bed in that house because the
landlord had weighed the feathers, but she would sleep
in her own bed. Witness was the solicitor to the com-
mission of 1846. Captain Cumming was alive when the
proceedings in lunacy were commenced. They were
taken with his concurrence. Tho commission was not
actually issued until after his death, but the order for
her confinement in York House was signed by the Cap-
tain. After the commission had sat some days, an ar-
rangement was come to by the counsel on both sides.
Supposing that arrangement had been carried out, her
property would probably have been protected. On that
occasion Mr. James was is support of the petition, and
Mr. Petersdorff against it.—(Laughter.)
Cross-examined by Mr. JAMES—Mrs. Cumming was
rather litigious, and was a good client to some persons,
but not to witness.—(Laughter.) Did not know that ho
ever delivered her a written account except on one cc-
casioa. Her rental was about 400/., per annum. Had
given her verbal accounts from time to time. She now
owed witness from 50/. to 100/. Did not know whether
it was usual in furnished houses to wt igh the feathers in
order to guard against fraud. Thought what Mrs. Cum-
ming did was a simple piece of absurdity. Would not
go so far as to say is was a delusion. Messrs. Ince and
Hooper applied to witness about the commission early
in 1846, while Mrs. Cumming was confined in York-
house Asylum. Witness went twith Ince. and Hooper
and searched the house, but witness had no recollection
of taking any property away. Captain Cumming had
died before then.

Winifred Todd had been in Mrs. Cumming's service
as cook. She then lived at Gothic Villa, Queen's-road,
St. John's Wood, where she still resided. Mrs. Cum-
ruing used to borrow money of witness. The greatest
sum was 30s. She used to ccmplain that she was robbed.
The house was in a very destitute state, but Mr. Haynes
told witness, when she mentioned it to him, that when
Mrs. Cumming came into it, it was completely furnished.
Mrs. Cumming was in the habit of giving orders and
countermanding them. Had known her to go a whole
day without giving any orders whatever, or taking any-
thing except a little brandy or wine and water. On
one occasion she ordered dinner at six o'clock in the
evening, but she did not come home till one in the
morning, and then she ordered it up. Their dinners
were generally cooked in her bedroom. Sometimes she
would order a slice of salmon, and then she would fancy
a chop, and then a stewed eel, all at the same meal. She
kept four cats and a kitten in her room, which was very
disagreeable in consequence. She once told witness that
she was seized with a fit, and that iwhilst in that state
Mrs. Haynes attempted to take the rings off her fingers;
but she said, " For God's sake, don't rob me before I
am dead." Each cat had a separate, plate placed for it,
and meat and soup at the same time. Napkins were also
placed for them. When they had milk they had it out
of china cups. She was attended by Dr. Caldwell, who
used to see her every Wednesday. One Sunday witness
asked he what they were to have for the kitchen dinner.
Mrs. Cumming replied that they might have a leg of
mutton there was in the house. She then sent for it,
and told witness to cut it in Three. Witness, not exactly
understanding her, she took the knife from her threw it
violent down, and began to curse and swear; then said
that she had no dinner herself; and her servants might
also go without. She once said that a servant named
Clarke had attempted to poison her. Witness left be-
cause her health was beginning to fail. She was some-
times required to stand as much as eight hours together
by her mistress's bedside.
Cross-examined by Sergeant WlLienes—Mrs. Cum-
ming rose at different times of the day. Sometimes not
till five in the evening. Her dirty habits might some-
times have been involuntary. She would sometimes ex-
press sorrow when she saw it made witness ill. The
house was once broken into, and the kitchen nearly
stripped.
much
A letter from Dr. Caldwell was read by the Commis-
sioner, stating that Mrs. Cumming had been too "
Good
exhausted by her attendance yesterday to be able
to bo
present to-day.
Mary Rainey had lived upwards of two months in the
service eccen-
tricities. of Mrs. Cumming, and deposed to various
w
tricities. On the Ist of February last, after a visit from
God!Mrs.what
a tHutchinson,
have
IM
doners. Cumming
bow;
said to
That pumpkin,itness, tire.
Hutchinson, has been here, and persuaded me to send
her son down to Wales to collect my rents." Witness
went down stairs, and her mistress locked and bolted her
door. She then began to scream out " Murder!" and
three policemen came. Having with some difficulty
effected an entry into her room, one of them said he had
come to protect her, She replied with
an oath,
,you
person from the madhouse Come
After this she was quiet. She had been talking the
ious day about destroyin-
g herself. She
prev • had then five
cats, and would have had six, but she said that Mr. Jon es
had strangled one of the kittens. The room w
so filthy
and had so affected witness's health that she as
should feel
it to the day of her death. The cats had a medical at-
tendant named "Dr. L (7, ( ou laughter.)
Mrs. Cummings used to say
that Mrs. Hutchinson
came to hear all she could, and convey it to Mr. Robert
Haynes, and witness thought so too.—(A laugh.)
When Mrs. Cumming spoke of a will, Mrs. H. said her
husband would make one for her, she h. d done
afor
another person, quite as well asa •
a solicitor, and would
save her six or seven pounds. Mrs. Cumming told wit-
' nets that Mr.
Robert Haynes had made a will, which he
wanted to persuadefher was hers,
but it was not so. She
said that Mr. Robert Haynes had willed over all her
property to himself and other persons of whom she
knew nothing. She stated that Mr. Robert Haynes had
sent her two dozen and a half of wino, but that it was
like bog-water, and that it contained poison, so she sent
it back. She was of opinion that all her servants were
connected with Mr. Robert Haynes, and that ho was
robbing her. She would not allow her food to be
cooked down stairs for fear of poison. One day her
favourite cat, which was named " kit," escaped into the
garden. She offered witness a sovereign if she would
catch it. Afterwards she offered her five. Witness
was in and out after the cat all night, and at last suc-
ceeded in catching it. Mrs. Cumming was so delighted
that she cried, and kissed witness's band twice.—(
laugh.) She afterwards gave her five farthing.—
(Laughter.)
Cress-examined by Mr. E. JAMES —Had introduced a
person named Vickie into the house: her duty was to
read to Mrs. Cumming, and to wait upon the cats.—
(Laughter.) Witness had sworn in her affidavit to the
Court of Coancery that she (witness) was " an extremely
mild person, and not of a quarrelsome temper."—
(Laughter.) Mrs. Cumming did not charge her with
ill-using her on the let February in the coachman's pre-
, ewe. If the coachman said so he ought to be executed.
..-(Laughter.) Did tell her that she (witness) could f
easily secure her. That was after the police had e
Mrs. Cumming wanted to go out of the room and
wit-
ness told her that if she did not keep quiet she wou.
SQQII settle her. Witness did not know who !!Dr.W4ll-1