The Sun.
London, England, 1852-04-15 00:00:00

APRIL 152 1.852:

bill, was in the habit of visiting his shop, and had on
several occasions conducted himself in a most extra-
ordinary manner. The applicant then described a
number of extravagances which he alleged Mr.
O'Connor had committed. If Mr. Feargus O'Connor
found Mrs. Dunford or her apprentices (dressmakers)
engaged in their work, he would take the fabric,
whether of silk, merino, or whatever it so happened
to be, and tie round their heads, and a few days since
he again called at the shop. Applicant and his family
were about hitting down to dinner, Mr. O'Connor
rushed in and went to the rear of the premises, where
he conducted himself most indecently. He then re-
turned to the parlour and took up the hot leg of mut-
ton, which was in a dish upon the table, and held it
in his hands, at the same time cutting off the meat
and placing large slices in his mouth. Applicant's
little boy was sitting at the table, and because he hap-
pened to look at him he threatened to cut off his head.
Mr. BEADON inquired of the applicant what he re-
quired him to do in the matter?
The applicant said he believed Mr. Feargus
O'Connor not to be in his right mind, and he there-
fore applied to his Worship for protection.
Mr. BEADON asked him bow long it was since Mr.
O'Connor had so conducted himself towards Mrs.
Danford and the young woman. Mr. Danford said
about a month since.
Mr. BEADON said the applicant should have applied
earlier at that court, if he wished to adopt any pro-
ceedings against Mr. O'Connor.
'i'be applicant said he did not wish to have Mr.
O'Connor locked up in gaol, but merely restrained
from committing any violence. He had applied to
the Hon. Mr. Walpole, the S.TretaTy of State, and
he was referred to the Speaker of the House of
Commons.
Mr. BEADON observed that he believed it was ge-
nerally understood that Mr. O'Connor was insane.
He (Mr. Beadon) was not a commissioner of lunacy,
and therefore could not take upon himself the power
' of restraining that gentleman.
The applicant believed that Mr. O'Connor'a in-
sanity had been caused by his active exertions to
better the condition of the poorer classes.
Mr. BEADON said it was too late to take any pro-
ceedinga against Mr. O'Connor for having conducted
himself, as it had been stated, in the manner be had
towards Mrs. Dunford; but if anything of the kind
was repeated, the applicant would meet with every
assistance from that court, if he would only apply at
the time.
The applicant thanked his Worship, and was about
to withdraw, when
Robert Logsden, wbo described himself as a re-
porter by profession, and a newsman by trade, when
called upon to give evidence in a case of assault
which had been disposed of previously to the applica-
tion, stepped forward and said be could assure the
magistrate that Mr. O'Connor would be properly
looked after for the future, as there had been a com-
mittee formed, of which he had the honour to be a
member, for the purpose of placing the unfortunate
gentleman in a proper asylum, there being no ques-
tion of his insanity. He also informed the Court
that upwards of 51. had been subscribed for that pur-
pose, and that that was the only amount which had
been collected for Mr. O'Connor's patriotism.
Mr. BEADON was glad to hear that the proper
course was about to be taken in the matter, and the
subject then dropped.

THE MURDER IN LAMBETH.
FINAL EXAMINATIONft er OFavery THheavE MURDERER.
Yesterday afternoon, ay day's busi-
ness had been disposed of by the Hon. G. C. Norton,
at the Lambeth Police Court, Thomas Cathie Wheeler,
the unfortunate young man charged with the frightful
murder of his mother, was brought before that ma-
gistrate for final examination.
The prisoner on entering the court gazed round
anxiously, and surveyed the crowd present, as if to
observe if there were friends or acquaintances present,
but not appearing to discover say, he assumed a
thoughtful appearance. The unfortunate man seems
a good deal altered since Saturday, and has evidently
suffered from severe mental affliction.
During the reading of the depositions by the chief
clerk, the prisoner sighed audibly and wept bitterly,
and at that part where the witnesses described the
state in which they bad found the body of the deceased,
the appearance of the head on the table, the finding o f
the carving knife and hatchet covered with blood, his
features quivered, and large tears rolled down his
cheeks. In the depositions of the six witnesses who
had been examined on Saturday, and all of whom
were now present, there was nothing fresh ; and the
only additional witness examined was Mr. J. Cathie,
proprietor of the Lee Arms public-house, Brownlow-
road, Dalston, who was brother to the deceased, and
uncle to the prisoner. This witness said that he
had not seen the body of the deceased, nor had he
seen his sister (Elizabeth Wheeler) for a fortnight
before the present unfortunate occurrence, but he was
aware that she lived at No. 1, Durham-place, Ken-
nington-road, and had no doubt upon his mind that
the body described by the former witnesses was that
of the prisoner's mother. Witness was quite aware
of the prisoner's insanity, and had taken him himself
to Bethlehem Hospital in March, 1849 ; but nine
months afterwards he was discharged, though in an
uncured state, at the earnest entreaties of his mother.
After three or four months, however, he was obliged
to be sent to the Wandsworth Lunatic Asylum, and
there he remained until the Ist of February, 1851,
when, at the urgent entreaties and solicitations of his
mother, he was discharged from there. Before his
discharge, however, the committee of the institution
remonstrated with his mother, and told her that if
anything happened she would have only herself to
blame, and that the act of discharge was solely her
own. His mother, notwithstanding this, persisted in
her entreaties, and on her signing the printed form
required by Act of Parliament the prisoner was dis-
charged. From that time up to the present unfortu-
nate calamity he lived with his mother, wbo always
evinced the greatest possible affection and solicitude
for him. He (Mr. Cathie) was in the habit of allow-
ing the prisoner a certain sum weekly, and for this he
came regularly to his house. Oa Tuesday week he
called as usual, when his conduct was so strange that
witness felt it necessary to send a message to his sis-
ter in reference to him, and requesting that she would
du something with him.
Mr. NORTON—You say there was something
strange in his manner, will you be so good, Mr.
Cathie, as to describe what you observed ? Mr.
Cathie—Well, sir, on my leaving my house to go to
the butcher's on the morning in question, I found
him standing outside my door like a statue, and ad-
dressing him I said, "Halloo, Tom, how long have
you been here ?" He replied, " Oh, not long," though
I afterwards understood he had been there a consider-
able time. I seised him to go into the house, and he
said he should presently ; but I found him in the
same position when I came back from the butcher's.
I again asked him to come in, and he said, "Yes, I'll
now do so, but I prefer being in the sun ;" and then
he went into the yard, where the sun was shining,
and where he remained for a quarter of hour or
twenty minutes. During this time my daughters
went and spoke to him, but he did not appear to take
any notice of them. I then gave him the money I
was in the habit of allowing him, and also brought
hima coat from the bar which I promised him.
Having a bag under his arm, I asked him to put the
coat into it, but he refused to do so. I then offered
to make it up into a parcel, and took a newspaper for
the purpose, but he would not allow me to do so,
but said be should take it on his arm. He kept mut •
tering something to himself, upon which I said,
"Young man, I am sorry to see you in this state ;
you want somebody to control you properly." Upon
this he became much exeited—said he was an Eng-
lishman, that he should fight for his rights, and allow
nobody to control or oppress him. His conduct on
this occasion was altogether of so extraordinary a
character that I spoke to my wife on the subject,
and told her I feared that something dreadful would
happen.
Mr. NORTON—Were you aware that the prisoner
had been in the habit of carrying a knife and a pistol
about him in this black bag ? Mr. Cathie—No, sir,
I was not ; and if this was the case, it would account
for his objection to put the coat into it.
The prisoner—" Oh, no ! I carried this bag for a
weight, and felt a pleasure in swinging it about by
my side, like a pendulum."
In conclusion, Mr. Cathie said that his sister was
much too fond of and indulgent to the prisoner.
The prisoner had enlisted twice before he had been
first sent to Bethlehem, but was discharged, as being
unfit for the army. He also made his escape from
Wandsworth Lunatic Asylum, but was taken in an
hour afterwards at his mother's house by the keepers,
who had come in pursuit of him. The prisoner had
exhibited symptoms of insanity before going abroad,
one of which was, that he would leave excellent situa-
tions without the slightest cause.

This having concluded the evidence, the prisoner
was asked if be wished to put any questions to his
uncle, or to say anything to the charge, and be re.
plied, ~ Nothing." The witnesses were then bound
over in the usual recognizances to appear and give
evidence against the prisoner, at the ensuing session
at the Central Court, on a charge of wilful murder,
and the unfortunate man was fully committed and re-
moved from the court.
In the course of the proceedings Mr. Norton read
the following communication which he had received
relative to the accused, from Captain Robertson, chief
constable of the Herts constabulary :
sir,--I think it right to inform you that innsiAn t
"Hertford,
last Thomas Wheeler, now in custody for
het,a Inspector
Aprilgul,g3tu.ihse.
death of his mother, was brought to re° M2O having
Dunn, of the liens County C two miles
threatened to shoot a person in the
A Wheeler was insane,
from this town. lat once perceive—.
I with which he was
o n 5 tab uhl arroy,,,d ,
and after taking away the
pinto
in Lambeth, and the
armed, I sent him to his mother,
letter was received by In-
next day the accompanying .
ONCIOr JAM), partly written, '''' •va will pOTCeiTO, II th.