The Sun.
London, England, 1862-07-17 00:00:00

s

.;.
illftili.N
(
1),-4. . arr.ld
,
4,.... lirC,!;
.4‘
..
~_ .
...."_,
t5T,:4,4:;""i.2
MI.
\\ , '-'._ ..- - 1 OR*
ri ' , ,
~ \ .. : ' ~.•
„ :.
, .
-- 7-,p
r
• ~,,, 'T.,ir... <
..1
, ,
1 ' "'
14'..:,..,,,%' 7
.`-g----,..,--clii
.;:i. ~ .. , :0)14..1.2,:ci....:L,..:' ' ...,,,...-orila '04:4: ea:
74.--- , 116.4 r
1 .
~,:‘,.., •
-4,-
,"str-,
-•'-''''''''''' - 096, DM' '«, ~.
P 11.
Etiow",- 4. . " - ' ‘x .
'.....-
.:,.. ..'
' • ,
•-;•11141' Eb
.
1 .1'; 1'...-

THE SUN, LONDON, THUESDAY EVENING, JULY 17, 1862.

EXTRAORDINARY COMMISSION OF

deposed that he attended Mr. Smith on the 21st of last
May, in accordance with the request contained in a note
received from him that he would form an opinion as to
the state of his mind. He conversed with him for nearly
an hour, and formed the opinion that his mind was un-
sound, and that he was incapable of managing his affairs.
Witness observed great dirtiness of person and linen that
would hardly be consistent with health in any one. There
was great incoherency and confusion of ideas. He told
witness of purchases of millions, either in amount of
money or numbers; that he had bought 4,000 houses.
He then reduced the number to 400, and then to 40, but
would ramble to some other extravagant notions.
He said he had spent a very great amount of
money in land and houses but was not a penny
the poorer. He could not explain this, when
asked, and merely replied that it was so. He ex-
pressed his intention of leaving his coachman and several
other persons £5OO a year; and he spoke of having
20 millions of ready money. Witness told him he consi-
dered his mind was unsound, and that he was unfit to
manage his affairs, upon wlich he laughed, and remarked
that that was a matter of opinion. Witness described
another interview on the 31 of the present month, which
confirmed his opinion. Hetalked with considerable ration-
ality upon the weather, and such common subjects. He
said he had purchased two houses for £1,700, and cleared
£1,200 by the transaction. lie also said that Mr. Weall
(the solicitor for the petitioners) was mad. (Laughter.)
Counsel for Mr. Smith having addressed the jury, they
to be a person of unsound mind,
and not capable of managing his property.
found Jason Smith, Esq.,

LUNACY.

to the dissipation of the mystery that still clings
around the Sandyford-place murder.
Yesterday, the female prisoner was brought down
from the North Prison to the County-buildings, be-
tween 10 and 11 o'clock, for further examination
and identification by witnesses. As soon as the
cab in which she was conveyed turned into Bruns•
wick-street, a crowd followed it, so that before the
woman could get out she was surrounded by a large
number of individuals, who showed great anxiety
to get a look at the woman who has filled the pub-
lic mind for a week past. Her appearance is vastly
altered from what it was a week ago when she was
first called before the sheriff. She is now very pale
and careworn, and has even a somewhat emaciated
look. There can be no doubt but the ordeal through
which she has passed since the dire event occurred
has made her appear many years older than she
really is. In any view of the ease, whether the ma-
jor charge upon which she is now detained can be
substantiated or not, her anxiety after the first
visit of the detectives must have been extreme, and,
considering her position, when it is known that
she was again and again called upon and questioned
to see if she could throw any light upon the melan-
choly death of one with whom she was on the
best and most intimate terms, not only in her own
house but also before the Sheriff and his Fiscals,
one is astonished that her coolness never left her.
The procurators-fiscal were busy the whole day
precognoscing witnesses, but beyond what the
public is already acquainted with, nothing very
definite has yet been arrived at in regard to either
of the- prisoners. both, of course, remain in
custody.
The excitement in the public mind seems to be
greatly on the wane as facts transpire which throw
even a modicum of light on the mystery. The
crowd at the County Buildings soon dispersed
after Mrs. M'Lachlan entered them ; and little at-
tention comparatively was paid to the matter
throughout the day, although certainly there was a
great anxiety for " news" still apparent.

(Before Master Warren, and a Special Jury.).

READING, JULY 15.
This morning an inquiry under a commission in lunacy
was opened in the Crown Court, Reading, on the mental

condition of Mr. Jason Smith, a gentleman of great wealth,
58 years of age, residing in this town, whose conduct for
some time past hag been the subject of considerable excite-
ment in the neighbourhood. The unfortunate gentleman
is the sou of a Mr. William Smith, of Kensington-gore--
who, it is believed, was a large job-master in Curzon-street
—and practised for some time as an attorney until the
death of his father, when he came into possession of about
£lOO.OOO. The petitioners are his wife and four of his elder
children.

The court opened at twelve o'clock, and was very
crowded.

Mr. Montagu Chambers, Q.C., Mr. Huddleston,
and Mr. Surrage appeared for the petitioners ; Mr. Sergeant
Ballantine, Mr. Fooks, and Mr. Talfourd Salter for the
alleged lunatic.
It is said that Sir Hugh Cairns, Q.C., was offered 300
guineas to lead Mr. Smith's case, but declined,
A special jury of 21 gentlemen, chiefly magistrates, of
whom the Hon. Spencer Dudley Montagu was foreman,
having been sworn, the Master made a few remarks to
them defining the law of lunacy, quoting some of the pas-
ages on that subject from his charge in Mr. Windham's
case.

Mr. M. Chambers, Q.C., then addressed the jury. He
said that the petioners had obtained the inquiry with
serious and deep reluctance; but unless they had inter-
posed Mr. Smith would have been a ruined man. He had
£3,000 a year, but if he were to exercise undiminished con-
trol over it he would soon be a beggar. On his father's
death he inherited £lOO,OOO, and in 1833 married a Miss

TEE MYSTERIOUS MURDER IN
GLASGOW.

SUPPOSED DISCOVERY OF THE STOLEN
WEARING APPAREL.

To-day, it is fondly hoped, and on good grounds,
that a chief missing link has been discovered in the
murder case, which has engrossed much attention
for some time past, and that a gleam of light will
be shed on this mysterious affair. Jas. M'Lachlan,
the husband of the fe male prisoner, called at the
police-office, and informed them that he had some-
thing important to tell the detectives in charge of
this mysterious case. After hearing what he had
to say, a sheriff officer proceeded to the South-
Western Railway Station, in Bridge-street, where
he received a small tin box, which had been sent
from Greenock, addressed—" Mr. Thomson, County
Buildings, Glasgow." This box contained what is
believed to have been the clothing of the deceased
woman Macpherson, which was stolen from Sandy-
ford-place on the night of the murder. There is at
present something inexplicable about the trans-
mission of this box. On Wednesday last, a box
exactly like it, if not the same, was sent to Ayr by
the 4.30 p.m. train, addressed, " Mrs. Darnley, Ayr
—to lie till called for." It was returned on Friday,
and was received and taken away by a man in the
garb of a sailor. When or how it got to Greenock
we have not at present discovered. Meanwhile the
authorities are investigating the matter, and we
have no doubt will soon clear it up.

Both prisoners are now in the County Buildings,
and the old man has been under examination before
the sheriff for several hours.

THE WEATHER AND CROPS.

‘‘-/
I,* 4, •

~,___ ,
e,

Z- c

I",}i

PRICE.....—.Ad.
STAMPED ....sd.

ravages of snails and other vermin. The early sown
turnips brairded well, and a large portion of the crop
has been thinned; out the fly Ilea-blade serious ravages
on the young plants in many instances. The late-
sown kinds are springing rapidly. The weather has
been pretty favourable for hay-mowing, and a large
portion of the crop has been cut and secured in the
tramp rick on low farms, and the yield is heavy.
Cutting will not commence in the meadows and
glens for some time. Pasture lands are not nearly
so good as they were a month ago, owing, to the
excess of moisture, and both sheep and cattle have
not thriven nearly so well as they usually do in
June and July. Prices, however, for sneep. good
condition are still high, but cattle have fallen in
price a little the last few weeks. —July 15.
DUNBAR.—During the past week there has been
more of a summer mildness in the atmosphere than
has been hitherto experienced, and though there
has been no particularly strong sunshine, yet the
temperature has risen considerably. Monday and
Tuesday were both fine days. A good deal of rain
fell on Wednesday, but Thursday and Friday were
fine. Saturday was damp and drizzling, and the
wind having veered about to the east, the tempa-
rature became colder. The barometer points
at " change." There has been a marked progress
in the growth of vegetation of all kinds. Wheat
has shot out, considerably in length, and though its
appearance varies in different localities, the im-
pression here is that it will not be much, if any-
thing, below the average. Barley and oats have
come gradually into ear, and both are showing a
good head. In heavy fields, patches here and
there have been lodged by the recent rains;
but, unless in one instance where it was "kneed'
in one direction, and then lodged or broken
in the other, little damage has resulted from
this cause. The green crops are generally looking
well. Potatoes have still a healthy appearance,
and, where they have been hoed and set up, they
are looking extremely well. The singling of
turnips has gone on under favourable auspices, and
the latter-sown portion has benefited by the occa-
sional showers. Pastures, also, which in some
cases were looking a little brownish, have felt the
benefit of the rain, and have improved consider-
ably. In gardens and orchards the fruit prospects
have gradually diminished until there is now little
or no fruit to be seen. Other garden produce
has turned out tolerably well, although somewhat
later than usual.