The Sun.
London, England, 1864-01-27 00:00:00

Escape of a Burglar from Bow-street Police
Cells.—This Day,

A circumstance of not very frequent occurrence,
and therefore creating much excitement in the
neighbourhood of the Bow-street Police•court,
occurred this morning—namely, the escape of a
desperate burglar from one of the police cells
attached to the Court.

The particulars are as follows :--This morning,
between four and five o'clock, one of the constables
of the F division on duty in Great Wild-street,
Drury-lane, met a man (whose name is Sullivan)
under very suspicious circumstances, he at
the time having in his possession some pictures
and a quantity of small miscellaneous articles, such
as smelling• bottles, tools, &c. ; and suspecting they
were the produce of a robbery, he stopped the fellow
and questioned him as to how he became possessed
of t:.° property. He gave a very rambling account
of himself, and this circumstance strengthening
the police-constable's suspicions, he at once con-
veyed him to the station-house in Bow-street.
Some time after, another police-constable of
the same division observed two or three of
the shutters of a shop in Great Queen-street
occupied by a miscellaneous dealer had been forced,
and it then became known that a burglary had
been committed. In due course the man Sullivan
was placed befors Mr. Henry, the sitting magis-
trate, at Bow-street, and the goods having been
identified by the shopkeeper as having been stolen
from his premises,the prisoner was put back into one
of the cells, situated at the back of the court while the
depositions were being completed previous to a
committal for trial. Ttiis having been done, the
prisoner was required again to attend in court, but
when the constable went for him it was found he
had escaped by climbing over the wall of the police-
court and crawling along the ledges and walls
of the adjoining houses, until he reached the
back yard of Mr. White, a grocer, . in
Great Russell-street, into which he must
have dropped, and then proceeding along the pas-
sage, let himself out of the private door. The
police authorities instantly made every effort to
regain possession of the prisoner, but in vain. In the
early:part of the day another prisoner was confined in
the same cell as Sullivan, but his liberation rested
upon the payment of a fine, and as his friends raised
the money for his release it is supposed that the
door by an accident was not properly secured when
he quitted the place, and thus Sullivan had an op-
portunity presented to him of which he was not
slow in availing himself of.

Sullivan is known to the police, so it is expected
hat he will not long remain at large.

THE TOWNLEY CASE.

The following are copies of letters addressed to
Sir George Grey by the Justices of the Peace who
signed the certificates of insanity in the case of
George Victor Townley :

Spondon-hall, near Derby, Jan. 22.

Sir,—l beg to acknowledge the receipt of Mr. Wadding-
ton's letter, dated the 19th inst., enclosing some extracts
from a letter which has been addressed to you by certain
magistrates of this county, and calling upon me, as one of
the magistrates who signed the certificate of the insanity of
George Victor Townley, dated the 29th December ult., for
an explanation of the course pursued by me on that oc-
casion.

I can not only ha'e no objection, but I am happy to avail
myself of the opportunity thus afforded me, to state fully
the steps taken by me in the matter referred to.
On the evening of the 25th of December Mr. Leech, the
prisoner's solicitor, called at my residence and desired to see
me, and after explaining that an Act of Parliament provided
that, on a certificate of a prisoner's insanity being signed by
two justices of the peace and two medical men, the Secre-
tary of State should have the power to respite such prisoner,
requested me, in my capacity of magistrate, to make a judi-
cial inquiry into Townley's state of mind. Mr. Leech also
informed me that he had endeavoured to obtain the services
of other magistrates for the same purpose, but without suc-
cess, and he named Sir Henry Wilmot (one of the visiting
justices of the county gaol), who had declined to act, as
(being an elderly man) he did not feol equal to it; and Mr.
Devas, also one of the visiting justices, whom he (Mr.
Leech) found was from home.

Believing it to be my duty to do so, I consented to enter
upon the inquiry, and on the following day I proceeded to
the county gaol, where I found two other magistrates for
the borough of Derby—viz., the Mayor and Mr. Forman,
together with two medical men—viz., Dr. Goode and Mr.
Harwood. As, however, we were informed by the governor
of the gaol that the Luuacy Commissioners were then with
the prisoner (Townley), we decided, after waiting some con-
siderable time, to postpone our examination. until the fol-
lowing day, so as not in any way to interfere with the com-
missioners. Accordingly, on the afternoon of the next day,
Dec. 27, we again met at the gaol. Previous to examining
the prisoner I requested to be informed of the exact purport
of the act of Parliament under which we were proceeding,
whereupon the governor of the gaol himself produced the
act, and it was read aloud in the presence of my fellow-
magistrates and myself and the medical men before named,
the surgeon and the chaplain of the gaol being also present.
We then proceeded to examine the prisoner, which we did
at great length and with the utmost care, my two fellow-
magistrates and myself, the two medical men and the
governor, the surgeon, and the chaplain of the gaol, being
the only persons present. Having thoroughly convinced
ourselves by such examination that the prisoner's mind was
diseased to such an extent as to free him from all legal and
moral responsibility, the form of certificate was prepared
(by the governor's clerk), and was then signed by the Mayor,
Mr. Forman, and myself, and by Dr. Goode and Mr. Har-
wood. Immediately after our signing the certificate the
governor expressed his great gratification and approval of
what had been done, adding that 'Now Townley could not
be hanged.'

On the Tuesday following, Deo. 29, I was again applied
to by Mr. Leech, who stated that a doubt had occurred to
him whether, in point of form, the certificate of Townley's
insanity oughtlnot (in order to comply with the provisions
of the Act of Parliament) to have been signed by two county
magistrates, and that to obviate any objection on that ground
he had requested Mr. Scott, of Draycott, a magistrate for
the county, to join with me in a fresh examination of the
prisoner. I then saw Mr. Scott, who appeared at first re-
luctant to enter upon the examination, stating that he did
not think it would be fair for him to do so, as he was so
strongly prejudiced against the prisoner, and, to use Mr.
Scott's own expression, " wished him hanged at all costs."
I replied that I thought such a prejudice only made him the
more fit person to make the inquiry, and we then proceeded
to the gaol and entered upon a second examination, equally
careful with the: first, as to Townley's state of mind, the
same persons being present as before, except that Mr. Scott
took the place of Mr. Forman and the Mayor.
The examination having been concluded by Mr. Scott
expressing himself to me as entirely convinced of Town•
ley's insanity, and as I myself saw no reason to alter
my opinion, but, on the contrary, was confirmed in it by
what had passed, the certificate dated the 29th of December
was then prepared;anksigned. I may add that on leaving
the prison Mr. Scott expressed to me his gratification at
having been called upon to make the investigations, stating
that, notwithstanding his previous very strong prejudice
against the prisoner, he was now convinced that he (Town-
ley) was perfectly insane, and that it would be a sin to take
away his life. _

I have now, I believe, stated every particular respecting
the origin and progress of the inquiry which resulted in
the certificate of the 27th and 29th December so far as I was
concerned in it. With respect to the statements contained
in the magistrates' letter of the 15th instant, I cannot, of
course, say with what views the visiting justices (viz., Mr.
Mundy in the first instance, and Mr. Evans in the second)
granted the orders of admission under whioh my fellow
magistrates and myself had access to the prisoner on our
making the examination above mentioned. On this point
I can only state that I distinctly understood from Mr. Leech
that on applying to Mr. Mundy for the requisite order he
expressly stated to him the object which he (Mr. Leech)
had in view in requesting it, and the Act of Parliament
which it was sought to put in force.

Neither I nor, I believe, the magistrates who acted with
me, were ever requested to make the inquiry which we sub-
sequently made " as a preliminary to obtain Government
commissioners,"

I fully understood, both from Mr. Leech and also from
a perusal of the act, what was the nature of such inquiry,
and what would be the effect of the certificate which I
afterwards signed. Being conscientiously of op:nion that
GJorge Victor Townley was insane (an opinion the result
of the examination I had made, and not in the slightest de-
gree caused or arrived at in any other way or by any other
weans)), I signed the certificate in each instance with the
intention that it should be acted upon by you, sir, as Secre-
tary of State, in the manner in which it has been.
Nothing was ever said as to " appending any reasons to
the certificates ;' no such question was event mootedftom the
commencement of the inquiry to the signing of the certifi-
cates, and how or by whom it could have been decided (as
appears to have been since stated by Dr. Goode) ' to leave
to persons more conversant the task of collecting and com-
paring the evidence for the Secretary of State,' I am alto-
gether ignorant, and am unable to conceive.
" It is perfectly true that on the occasion of both exami-
nations, I was applied to by Mr. Leech, the solicitor, who
conducted the prisoner's defence on his trial—but this did
not appear to vie to be any sufficient objection to my enter-
ing upon the inquiry which ho requested. It was necessary,
of course, for some ono to take the initiative, and it seemed
to me nothing beyond what was natural and proper that the
prisoner's family should be anxious for an inquiry to be
made, so that the act might be put hi force if, as they no

doubt believed to be the case, the prisoner should be found
to he a fit object for its exercise. That my opinion was in
the slightest de;r,ree based or influenced, or attempted to
be biased or influenced, by Mr. Leech, or any friend of the
prisoner I most positively deny ; neither (as I have before
stated) was Mr. Leech present during the inquiry.;
" With regard to the statement of the magistrates in their
letter of the 15th inst., that Townley's removal to Bethle-
hem Hospital was effected by the expenditure of money, I
can only say that I am entirely ignorant as to any and (if
any) what expenditure there has been in the matter. Some
expense may possibly have been incurred (though as to this
I have no knowledge) by Townley's family or friends in
engaging the services of Mr. Leech; and beyond this I do
not suppose the magistrate's remark was intendel to ex-
tend. If, indeed, they can have intended to insinuate
that the opinions or acts of myself or the magistrates
or medical men who acted with me in signing the certifi-
cates of the 27th and 28th of December were directly or in-
directly in any way so influenced, I beg, as regards myself,
to give such an insinuation my most unqualified and in-
dignant denial, and as regards each and all of those who
acted with me, to express my entire conviction that it is
utterly unfounded.

"If on any point relative to the matters referred to in
Mr. Waddington's letter of the 19th inst. (which, I may
add, I did not receive until yesterday) I have been less ex-
plicit than I have wished to be, and should you desire a
fuller explanation, I shall be most happy to afford it you.—
I am, icc.,

"W. T. Cox, J.P. for the County and
Borough of Derby.
"To the Right Hon. Sir George Grey, Bart., &c.

44 Derby, Jan. 22.

" Sir,—l have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of
your letter of the 19th inst., with enclosures, which I have
carefully read, and I beg to state in reply to the first of the
passages mentioned by you that there was no doubt what-
ever existing on the minds of my brother magistrates and
myself as to the 'nature and effect of the act' performed by
us in certifying to the insanity of George Victor Townley.
Before we signed the certificate dated the 27th of Decem-
ber, 1863, the Act of Parliament bearing on the case was
read and fully discussed and understood by us.

" With reference to our being ' put in motion by the pri-
soner's solicitor,' this is untrue if by these words the Der-
byshire magistrates wish to impute that any unjust or uu-
lawful means were adopted to induce us to take the steps
we did ; and it is only by the words previously quoted—viz.,
' put in motion,' that I surmise the Derbyshire magistrates
would imply that Townley's removal to Bethlehem was
effected by the expenditure of money.'
"I have only to add that I did not take part in, nor do I
know of, any act periormed by my brother magistrates or
myself in this business which did not arise from pure and
conscientious motives.-1 am, Sir, your obedient servant,
"THOMAS ROE, Mayor.
"To U. Waddington, Esq."

" Derby, Jan. 22.

" Sir,—l beg to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of
the 19th inst., with enclosure, and to thank you for the op-
portunity you have thus afforded me of giving you a full
explanation of the course which I took with regard to the
case of George Victor Townley, and of answering the state-
ments so far as they affect me contained in the letter ad-
dressed to you by the magistrates of the county of Derby.
On the 26th of December I was requested by Townley's
solicitor to attend at the gaol, in company with other magis-
trates and two medical men, for the purpose of examining
Townley and reporting to you our opinion as to his state of
mind. I felt and expressed great reluctance to take any action
in the matter, but after full consideration I consented to do
so. I was at the time entirely ignorant of the provisions of
the Act of the 31 and 4th of Victoria, cap. 54, and of the
powers thereby given.
"On Sunday, the 27th December, Mr. W. T. Cox, the
Mayor, Dr. Goode, Mr. Harwood, and myself had a long
interview with the prisoner. Mr. Harwood has been surgeon
to the Board of Guardians for upwards of 20 years, and in
that capacity has examined raost of the pauper lunatics sent
from Derby to the asylum during that period. Dr. Goode
has also had considerable experience in cases of lunacy. Mr.
Harwood, from his great experience, appeared to us to be
the most proper person to conduct the examination of
Townley, which he mainly did, and to oar entire satisfac-
tion.

" I entered upon the enquiry without any bias, and with
a sincere desire to arrive at a just decision. Ido not claim
to be an expert, nor to be better able than other non-profes-
sional men to form a correct opinion on such a subject, nor
do I profess to understand the diffirenco between insanity
and unsoundness of mind ; but I judged of the prisoner's
mental condition to the best of my ability, and I came to
the conclusion that ho was insane. Our decision was una-
nimous. The chaplain, surgeon, and governor of the gaol,
who had been present during our examination, entirely con-
curred in that decision, and to sign at once the legal certifi-
cate was in my opinion the only course open to me, consi-
dering my conscientious conviction of the prisoner's in-
ranity."

"For myself I deny the allegation of the Derbyshire jus-
tices that the certificate was expressed in terms directly
opposed to the publiciy-eeclared intention of those who
signed it.' Before entering upon the examination I read
carefully the clause in the Act 3d and 4th of Victoria, cap.
54, and kneW perfectly well what I was doing.
" The justices' letter asserts that ' Townley's removal to
Bethlehem was effected by the agency of his solicitor and
by the expenditure of money.'
" If by this they intend to convey the impression that I
was in any way unduly influenced by money, or any other
consideration, they assert that which is entirely untrue.
" If they know, or have reason to believe, that money
has been improperly used, they ought, in common fairness,
to state in what manner it has been applied, instead of, by
implication, casting suspicion on all concerned. If, on the
contrary, they have no knowledge en the subject, they
have no right to insinuate a charge of so serious a character
which they cannot substantiate.
" I was admitted to see the prisoner by the order of Mr.
Mundy, chairman of the visiting justices. I was not aware
of the circumstances under which that order was obtained,
but Mr. Mundy himself has thrown light upon it by his
speech at Quarter Sessions on the 6th of January, from
which I quote, as reported in the Derby Mercury of the 6th
January :
" ' The day after Christmas-day I received an applica-
tion from the attorney for the defence that two or three
magistrates and two medical gentlemen should be allowed
to see the prisoner, and, having been made acquainted with
the Act of Parliament which authorised such an interview,
I felt that I had no alternative but to do so.'

" How Mr. Mundy, on careful perusal of the clause in the
supposing the 'two or three magistrates and two medical
Act of Parliament referred to, came to the conclusion that,
gentlemen' believed Townley to be insane, any other ,
conse-
quence could result than that which actually followed I am
at a loss to know. _

by any other than &conscientious desire to give an unbiased
" In conclusion, I again beg to disclaim being influenced
opinion,--I have the honour to remain, Sir, your most
obedient servant,

" THOB. B. FORMAN.
"To the Right Hon Sir George Grey, Bart., her Majesty's
Secretary of State for the Rome Department, &c."
—,---__.

" Draycott-house, Jan. 23.
" Sir,—ln reply to your letter of the 19th inst., which
vasinsanity
only received I
signed the certificate on the 29th of December last of the
ty of George Victoresterayl beg to inform you that when
, Townley I was unaware of its
iiyd T
effecttaken an earlier opportunity of informing you of this had
Inot abseernegleadrdw its
beloibelvieg,a ftlivonnt
ont you. And I should have
the fact of the respite being
granted before the certificate of the 29th of December had
first certificate. you had throughout acted on the
been received by you, that Yc

4, I was never in any way influenced by the prisoner's soli-
citor, being in the first instance applied to by the surgeon of
the gaol (Dr. Gisbome), who sent over a note to me on the
morning of the 29th of December,
received me at his house explanation was never
attendance at his house that afternoon on the subject of
5 urgently requesting my
Townley's insanity, where the necessity of my presence
given, would
asb eis
if fully
l l
nor appeared until late on the sans, afternoon. I net my
brother magistrate Mr. Cox there and Mr. Leech, the pri-
soner's attorney, who informed us that a meeting was to be
yG
leaxdpsltaoinnee d
neither. This
eceived
held at the county gaol at 3 o'clock, requesting us to be
there. I then found it was for the purpose of being present
at a private examination into the state of Townley's mind
that I had been sent for.
is We were there joined by Dr. Goode and Dr. Harwood.
The prisoner was then brought before us, and examined by
us for two hours.

" During that time 1 became convinced, and my convic-
tion still remains, that the prisoner was of unsound mind,
and my own judgment was strengthened and confirmed by
the opinions then expressed by the governor and chaplain
was then signed by rue in the belief that
of the gaol.
own conviction of the insanity
I was merely
certificatecerti
13
jug
my
of Townley.
obedient servant,
W. HUGH SCOTT.
n the
knowbusin nothingbusiness
Ia whatever e3rooufr anyve expenditure of money
Very
" To the Right Hon. Sir Geo, Grey, Bart."

LOOKING A NICE LITTLE GIFT PONY IN TIIE
Mourn.—l was surveying the collection of New
Year taxes which had been levied by Madame do 11. Her
fair daughter was at hand. I lifted a very pretty box,
lightly and brightly put together. I remarked that the
taste shown in it was exquisite. The young lady shrugged
her shoulders, and answered—" That, Monsieur : I'm sure
it didn't cost ten francs 1" UnLappy wight is he who had
given that exquisite little box of sweetmeats to Madame
de H. It is true that he is only a young employe at the
Ministry of the Interior, and that he has only a very few
hundred francs per annum ; nevertheless he should not
have done this thing. lle should have put the watch his
mother gave him into " Piety's fair Mount"—and have
lived for a month or two on haricots—and, in this way,
afforded to march boldly into therenowned establishment of
Sirmdin. These are not the days of sentimental gifts.
Gifts are not held to the heart : they are appraised,—.Pai is
Correspondent of the dthenonin,