The Sun.
London, England, 1862-01-17 00:00:00

CASE OF MR. IV. F. WINDHAM.

The adjourned inquiry into the state of mind of
Mr. W. F. Windham, of Fellbrigg-hall, Norfolk,
was resumed yesterday, in the Westminster Ses-
sions-house, before Mr. Warren, Q.C., one of the
Masters in Lunacy, and a special jury.
Mr. M. Chambers, Q.C., Mr. Field, and Mr.
Hume Williams appeared for the petitioners ; Mr.
Charles Russell for Lady Sophia Elizabeth
Giubilei, the mother of the alleged lunatic; Sir
Hugh Cairns, Q.C., Mr. Karslake, Q.C., and Mr.
Mil ward for Mr. William Frederick Windham;
And Mr. Coleridge, Q.C., for Mrs. Windham.

At the sitting of the court,

Sir E. Armytage, the foreman of the jury, handed
the Master a certificate from a medical gentleman,
stating that one of the jurymen was seriously
and if he had not a day of rest he would be unable
to attend at all. He wished to know whether they
could be let off on Saturday. Several other gentle-
men on the jury were also seriously ill.
The Master assented to the proposal. He also
asked when the learned counsel for Mr. Windham
thought their evidence would be concluded.

Mr. Karslake replied that he hoped it would be
finished to-morrow.

Mr. George Whidborne said he had been a medi-
cal man for 28 years, and had been for 14 years phy-
sician to Blenheim-street Infirmary, Oxford street,
and since physician to the Great Northern Hospital.
He resided in Guildford-street, Russell-square. In
1860 ho was called to see Miss Willoughby at
Cunningham-lane-place, St. John's-wood. He had
seen her once before in the hunting field at Hert-
fordshire. She was then suffering from dislocation
of the ancle joint. He had attended her also when
suffering from rheumatic fever in December twelve-
month. He next saw her on the morning of her
marriage. Previously to that he received a mes-
sage from her about his acting as one of her trus-
tees. She said it would be greatly to the benefit of
her sisters and her mother. He had never seen her
sister s. He assented, being informed it would not
involve much trouble. He saw her on the morning
of her marriage at the house at St. John's-wood.
Mr. Windham sent his brougham for him. He
had never seen him up to that time. He found Miss
Willoughby there, or rather as he then knew her,
Mrs. --. The sisters were there as well. Mrs.
Windham introduced him to Mr Windham. That
might have been about a quarter before 12 in the
morning. He was in the room whore all his friends
were assembled. He withdrew from the room with
Mr. Windham, who said he wished to speak with
him a minute. They went into anotherroom alone.
He examined Mr. Windham at his request, and told
him he was not suffering from any disease. They
then went to church, and the marriage took place.
They returned, had breakfast, and then Mr. and
Mrs. Windham went off to Paris with one of her
sisters. The next time he saw Mr. Windham was
at Morley's Hotel, when that gentleman asked him
to see his wife, who he said was very ill. That was
about a fortnight after the marriage. He prescribed
for her then for a disordered stomach, arising from
travelling, she said. Some time after that he went
down to Felbrigg, with Mr. May. That was about
the middle of September, to shoot. He remained
from the Saturday to the following Wednesday. He
wished to leave on the Tuesday, but Mr. Windham
said he expected his uncle the general to come, and
he wished to introduce him to witness. The general
did come on the Tuesday, about two o'clock, when
he was introduced to witness. The general took a
biscuit and a glass of wine by the fire, as it was a
sold day. He heard a conversation between Mr.
Windham and General Windham. It appeared to
be about an exchange of some piece of land. The
general stayed the best part of an hour. The con-
versation about the land lasted most part of that
time. Mr. Windham's behaviour during the whole
time was just like other gentlemen. He was per-
fectly rational. He was an early riser, and took a
great deal of exercise. He was one of the attesting
witnesses to the marriage.
By the Jury—Mr. Windham never spoke to him
about the abrasion after the day of the marriage.
The spots en his forehead indicated either violent
exercise or venereal disease. It never struck him
that any gentleman would come on the morning of
his marriage to inquire whether he had the venereal
disease. He had not made a thorough examination
of the abrasion.

Mr. James Bowen May said he had been a soli-
citor for 20 years. He had been solicitor to a me-
dical company for the exposure of " quacks." Mr.
Whidborne had nothing to do with that. In 1859
Miss Agnes Willoughby was introduced to him as
a married lady. She attended a meet of some
hounds in his neighbourhood. She had her own
horse, and came with two gentlemen. It was in
Hertfordshire in the fall of the year 1859. She
hunted and rode remarkably well. She is a per-
son of great personal attractions. Some people
considered her remarkably beautiful.

Mr. Chambers said he should cross-examine upon
that point.

Mr. Coleridge said if there was any doubt about
it he would produce the lady.

Witness continued—The next time he saw her
was at a meet of her Majesty's ataghounds at Slough,
in Buckinghamshire. She fell going over a fence,
and her horse fell upon her. Witness picked her
up and took her to her hotel. She subsequently
called upon him on business, and he brought an
action for her against the London General Omnibus
Company for damaging her brougham. The action
was brought in the name of Willoughby, and then
witness for the first time found she was not married.
She was not of age when that action was tried above
a year ago. She told him she was living under
protection. She told him the name of the gentle-
man. In July or August of last year she called
again. She told him she was going to be mar-
ried. No gentleman was with her. She had talked
about marriage before. Witness told her she was
better as she was. Her income was discussed on
more than one occasion before Mr. Windham. She
told him she was going to be married to a wealthy
man, but he did not think she mentioned the name.
She called a fortnight after alone. She said he was
a gentleman of position and a man of wealth. She
did not say that she was going to be married, but
that she had had an offer. She mentioned his name.
'They discussed the thing, but he still thought there
was nothing in it—that it was a dream. The first
occasion he saw Mr. Windham with her was on the
Ist of August, when she introduced him to witness
as the gentleman who had made her the offer. She
said she had not made up her mind whether she
should accept it or not. Nothing was said about her
income on that occason. The next occasion he saw
Mr. Windham was a few days before he came of
age, when they called together. He said they were
going to be married, and that she had accepted him.
Witness asked him his age, and Windham said he
should be of age in a few days. Witness said that
when he was of age it was quite time for him to talk
of being married. The first time the matter was seri-
ously discussed was on the 20th of August. They
then told him that they were going to be married—
first they said in October and then in September. He
forgot to state that before the 20th of August he saw
Mr. Windham, when witness took him into an ad-
joining office alone,and said,"Are you really in earnest
about being married, because I think it right to tell
you that this lady is a kept mistress, and she is very
eztravagant; she keeps two-or three horses, and
is used to hunting ?" He said, " I know all that,
and I am much obliged to you, it is quite right of
you to tell me." They then returned to the room
where Mrs. Windham was. Returning to:the:2oth
of August witness asked Mr. Windham what his
income was.
,He replied it would be £14,000 or
£15,000 per annum, but was then only £3,000.
mes. Windham said, " If I marry him I must have
£l,OOO per annum settled." Mr. Windham said!
"At present I can't do that, my income is tod
small." Witness said she ought to be content witli
£5OO. Fhe ridiculed that, whereupon witness pro-,
posed £6OO. That she refused, and said this, " Dci
you think it is likely I tthould give up £2,000 pell
annum for such a settlement?'' Windham said,
" I will give her £BOO a year now, and £1,500 per
annum when I come into my property." She dee,
rnurred to that, and witness said that ought to sa-
tisfy the most selfish person. She added, " And
mind, I am to have that so that I can will it away."
Witness said the ordinary mode of settlement was