The Sun.
London, England, 1862-01-09 00:00:00

7HE WINDHAM CASE.

The adjourned inquiry into the state of mind of
Mr. W. F. Windham, of Felbrigg-hall, Norfolk,
was resumed yesterday, in the Court of Exchequer,
Westminster, before Mr. Warren, Q.C., one of the
Masters in Lunacy, and a special jury.
Mr. M. Chambers, Q.C., Mr. Field, and Mr. H.
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. Kerslake, Q.C., and Mr. Milward for
Mr. William Frederick Windham; and Mr. Cole-
ridge, Q.C., for Mrs. Windham.
The Rev. Mr. Bickmore, rector of Cranwich and
Tiddington, in Norfolk, said he knew the late Mr.
Windham; he also knew the Barings of Cromer-
hall. In 1847 he went with Mr. Baring to Fel-
brigg to dinner. In 1848 Mr. Windham applied
to him to take his son as a pupil. Some of the
young Barings were pupils of his at that time. He
was then living at Eagle-hall, near Norwich, and
prepared boys for public schools. He had a con-
versation at Felbrigg with Mr. Windham and Lady
Sophia about their son, and he also talked with the
boy himself. He understood that young Mr. Wind-
ham was to be prepared for Eton. He ascertained
his character from his parents, and likewise judged
for himself. The boy came to him in September,
1848, and stayed till Christmas, 1850. During that
time he said his lessons sometimes to witness and
sometimes to Mrs.Bickmore. His studies were those
pursued by boys of his age, He was certainly not
studious; but if he chose to apply himself he had not
the slightest difficulty in learning his lessons.
When he came to witness he could read, write, do
some arithmetic, and had commenced Latin. He
was known as " Gla," which was the name of his
childhood. Witness prepared him in the usual sys-
tem for Eton, and had every reason to believe that he
did Greek and Latin, There was no mental incapacity
whatever about him. He was rude and boisterous
in manner, and not very tidy in his dress, but he
was amenable to authority. IVitness observed a
peculiarity about his mouth. During one vacation
young Windham was taken to a dentist, and had an
ivory plate introduced into his mouth. At the end
of 1850 witness suggested to old Mr. Windham that
his son should be sent somewhere else, in order that
he might have the society of bigger boys. When
about eight years of age young Mr. Windham wrote
the following letter to his mother :
"My dear Mama,—l am very much. pleased with what
papa has given me, and I hope he will receive this simple
present in return for his great one, and as I have told him
I am so thankful to him I really cannot express myself for
his kindness to me, and I hope you are stronger than you
were. But I can almost guess by what Sir John Boileau
told Mr. Bickmore, who dined there on Friday night, and
I am sorry to say, very, indeed, that Sir John fell down, I
think, and has hurt himself very much indeed, and is very
ill indeed, the day before to dine there, and Lady Catherine
was very kind to us indeed to us, and played with us as if
she was a little girl. Tom and Mina era quite well, except
that Mina has a little cold, and send their love to you. Dear
Mama, I shall soon be home now; it is only a week now
and Mr. Bickmore has written to papa to say I am to come
home on the 14th, but do ess to have ins home or the 13t11;
bT-the;by I never received that little present I asked you k,
give me for Mr. Bickmore.
"Good bye, dear Mama, your most affectionate son,
" GLA.."
Witness recollected Sir John Boileau meeting with
an accident.

Cross-examined by Mr. Chambers—The present
he sent to his father was a valentine inscribed with
the following lines :

"Accept this token of my love,
And let your heart incline
To chase away all doubts and fears,
And be my -Valentine."
He was not more than eight years of age at that
time. Witness had no doubt that Windham did
Greek while under his care, and he might go fur-
ther and say that the book he used was " Arnold's
Introduction." He had nine pupils—all young gen-
tlemen—when Windham came to him. The number
fluctuated while he was there. Two boys slept in
one room. Windham had no particular chum—
they were all as one family. The boys came to
witness young, and left when they were about 13
or 14. Windham left when he was about 10. Some
of the new boys who came when Windham left
might be 10, 11, or 12 years of age, but he thought
they were younger than Windham. Windham had
the ivory plate in his mouth when he left school.
Witness endeavoured to check his habit of slaver-
ing, but he did not succeed altogether. At times,
when the boy was speaking fast, there was a cer-
tain amount of moisture about his mouth. It did
not " dribble."

By the Jury—Witness did not " dismiss" young
Windham; he simply advised his father to remove
him to some school where he would have the society
of bigger boys. Another reason for his wishing
the boy to be removed was, that he had heard
young Windham had used violent language and
oaths, and he did not think it would be desirable
to expose other boys, fresh from home, to
the influence of such an example. Witness
himself never heard Windham swearing. He
pursued the same studies as the other boys
of his age, and witness did not pay any particular
attention to him. Instances of violent passion on
the part of Windham were not brought .to his know-
ledge. Windham regnired to be treated with firm-
ness, for he was a spoilt child, and witness was
occasionally obliged to punish him rather severely.
When he left witness he was not sufficiently ad-
vanced for Eton, but witness refused to keep him
any longer.
Mrs. Bickmore corroborated the evidence of her
husband, and stated that Windham did his lessons
in the same way as the other boys. She had no
trouble in managing him, and never heard him use
bad language. He was not neat in his dress, and
sometimes, owing to the slavering caused by the
defect in his mouth, his face was rather dirty.
Otherwise she never had reason to complain of his
habits. It never entered her head that he was not
as sound in mind as other boys.
Cross-examined by Mr. Chambers—ln play he
sometimes made his face dirtier than other boys,
but witness attributed that to the escape of saliva
from his mouth.

Cross-examined—The boys often played at sol-
diers, and Windham acted as a leader among them.
Some boys were tidier than others.
Sir Edmund Lacon—l am colonel of the East
Norfolk Militia. I remember receiving a letter
from Mr. Windham applying for a commission. It
was written somewhere in Belgiuni, and was dated
December, 1859. The letter was forwarded to the
lord lieutenant, and the application was granted.
Mr. Windham joined the regiment in 1860. He
wrote a letter to the adjutant from Sandgate, Kent,
on the 29th of March, in which he said .
" I have to inform you that I have just received a letter
from Sir Edmund Lacon, in which he says it rests with
myself entirely whether I come or not. Since I desire it, I
certainly shall join on the 9th, and perhaps you will be
kind enough to write and infot rn me whether I am to appear
in undress uniform or not. I should feel obliged also if
you could inform me where I can get good lodgings near
the sea, as it will be cheaper for me to live there than at an
hotel."

When Mr. Windham joined, the regiment was out
for a month's training. As soon as he joined he
commenced to learn his drill, and took his part in
all the business of the regiment. He got on very
well with his drill—more quickly, indeed, than
others, because he told me he had learnt his drill at
Shorncliffe. He was in all respects as competent
as the other young officers, and did all the duties
required of a lieutenant. There was a regimental
mess at the hotel. I dined at the mess every day.
Mr. Windham was generally present, and many of
the other officers. I saw nothing in his conduct to
attract my attention. He behaved like an officer
and a gentleman. In my conversations with him I
never noticed any deficiency of intellect. lie talked
like the other officers, and was always rational and
sensible in everything he said or did.
Cross-examined by Mr. Chambers—He left Yar-
mouth when the training was over. I saw Mr.
Horrocks in Yarmouth, Mr. Windham never told
me how he had managed to come and join the regi-
ment. Officers on joining have to learn the sword
and musket exercise and marching. Mr. Windham
could do the manual and platoon exercise. I never
had any complaints made to me about his conduct
in Yarmouth. One day, while the regiment was
marching on to the parade ground, Mr. Windham
called out, " Shall I double up P" I thought that
expression so strange coming from a recruit that I
spoke to him on the subject, and it was then he told
me that he had learned his drill at Shorncliffe. He
was not reported to me for riding about with a
woman during the training.
Re-examined—lt was after the training was over
that I saw Mr. Horrocks in Yarmouth. I had then
no authority over Mr. Windham.
By the Jury—l never saw Mr. Windham at a ball
or in the society of ladies at Yarmouth. He con-
ducted himself like a gentleman at mess. He applied
in the first instance fer an ensigncy, but there were

several lieutenancies vacant at the time, and he got
one of them.
Anthony Hanlon, sergeant-major of tile East
Norfolk Militia, said that Mr. Windham' when he
joined, came into Ilia hands to be drilled. He at-
tended regularly to his drill, and learned it faster
than others—so fast, indeed, that witness often al-
lowed him to stand at ease while the rest were going
on with their drill. He was very attentive, and
gave not the slightest trouble. Witness thought
him a very smart officer, and was sorry when he
left the regiment.
Cross-examined by Mr. Chambers—Mr.Windham
commenced the drill from the beginning, but he
coed march well when he joined the regiment, and
he was cpnSequenilly put into an advanced squad.
1 He wenrthreugh both the manual and the platoon
exercise, but witness could not say whether lie liked
it or not. lie was at drill five hours a day. He
held a lieutenancy in No. 3 Company, Capt. Ensor;
there were no other officers in the company. He
was eitherjunior lieutenant or junior but one. Capt,
Ensor was generally with his company. None of
the lieutenants had been long,in the service.
Re-examined—At an inspection of the regiment
Mr. Windham carried the colours, and did all, his
work properly on the occasion.
By the Jury—Witness never saw him command
the company in the absence of the captain.
Mr. Holmes—l was formerly in the Hussars, and
served in India and the Crimea. I am adjutant of
the East Norfolk Militia, and remember Mr. Wind-
ham joining in 1860. I saw him the whole time he
was with the regiment. He drilled under my direc-
tions, and was quicker at it than most other officers.
I occasionally dined at the mess ; Mr. Windham was
always present when I was there, and his conduct
was that of an officer and a gentleman. his address
and conversation was that of a sensible man. As
paymaster I had to settle his accounts with him ; he
appeared to understand them, and he conducted the
business the same as the other officers.
Cross-examined by Mr. Chambers—He always
told me the truth. I have expressed an opinion
about him, as other people have done, and I may
have used the words, " He is an awful liar." I live
at Yarmouth, and have a family. The officers of the
regiment used to visit me. I do net think Mr. Wind-
ham ever called at my house. The Yarmouth people
are very hospitable. I know that Mr. Windham
was in society at Yarmouth, but I was much en-
gaged at the time, and never met him in the social
circle. Under the commanding officer I had the
superintendence of the whole of the drill. The whole
of the regimental business passed through myhands.
I do not remember any report being made of young
Windham going about in his regimentals with im-
proper characters. It was his duty as one of the
junior lieutenants to carry the colours on parade.
I heard that he had joined the regiment without the
knowledge of his tutor, Mr. Horrocks, but I do not
remember whether he told me so himself or not. I
was not aware that he was in the habit of driving
railway engines.
Re-examined—Mr. Windham was a good officer.
During the training I never went into society. Mr.
Windham always told me the truth, and I said he
was an awful liar on hearsay.
Mr. Smith, surgeon of the East Norfolk Militia
—I dined at the mess several times during the
training in 1860. Mr. Windham was always there,
and conducted himself very well indeed. I have
had conversations with him. He was uniformly
gentlemanly in his behaviour, and appeared to be
a man of sense, quite aware of what he was about.
I saw no difference between him and the other
officers.
Cross-examined by Mr. Chambers—l have met
Mr. Windham in society. I recollect seeing him
at a musical party in Yarmouth. He conducted
himself with propriety in the drawing-room. I
never had occasion to make any complaint about
him. We were not on very intimate terms. The
musical party was given by Mr. Harcourt, who at
one time was member for Bucks.
By the Jury—l did not see a great deal of Mr.
Windham.
Nicholas Cawston, carpenter, said he had lived at
Felbrigg pretty nearly all his life, and he was now
77 years of age. He knew the great Mr. Wind-
ham. The late Mr. Windham was a clever sort of
a man, but hasty sometimes, and when in a passion
he would swear a little. He had great confidence
in witness, and left him £5 when he died. Wit-
ness had known the present squire since his child-
hood. He was clerk of the parish, and had no
hesitation in saying that no man in England could
conduct himself better in church than Mr. Wind-
ham did. Mr. Windham had always behaved well
to him. He was perfectly sound in his mind,
"and," said the witness to Mr. Karslake, "if he
had your wig on his head he would make a very
good counsellor." lA laugh.)
Cross-examined by Mr. Chambers—Four or five
weeks ago Mr. Windham sent his servant to church
to invite witness to dinner: Witness accepted the
invitation, and had dined once or twice at Felbrigg-
hall since. He dined with the servants. Mr.
Windham did not sit down at table with them.
Witness was discharged by Captain Windham, the
receiver, when the estate was put into Chancery,
but he did not make a song about the gallant gen-
tleman in consequence, or sing it at the hall at
Christmas in 1860.
Re-examined—Captain Windham told me that
the workhouse was the best place for me. He is a
good sort; he is, I don't think ! (A laugh.) I have
managed to keep out of the workhouse.
Jane Morris, chambermaid at the Victoria Hotel,
Yarmouth, said she remembered Mr. Windham
staying at the Victoria Hotel when the militia were
out for training. It was her duty to attend to his
bedroom. She never noticed anything out of the
usual way about his clothes or his bed. He always
behaved like a gentleman, and it never struck her
that there was anything wrong in his head.
Cross-examined by Mr. Chambers—She had
nothing to do with Mr. Windham except in the
way of her business, and never received a farthing
from him in her life- She had not much conversa-
tion with him at any time.
James Reynolds, a waggoner at Felbrigg, had
known Mr. Windham all his lifetime, had often
talked with him about ploughing and farming
operations generally, and had never heard or seen
him do anything which was unusual, or which would
lead him to suppose that he was not right in his
mind.
Cross-examined—Mr. Windham was very fond of
horses, and drove a team pretty well. There was
nothing peculiar in his laugh, and witness never
heard him shouting. He was always very quiet
when with witness.
Anne Thurston said she was in the service of old
Mr. Windham at Felbrigg at the time of his death.
The household was then reduced, but she returned
to Felbrigg about three years ago. Since then had
seen young Mr. Windham from time to time. She
left with Mrs. Martin. Mr. Windham was always
gentlemanly and clean in his habits ; there was no
aifference between him and other gentlemen.
Cross, examined by Mr. Chambers—She had often
seen him in the pantry, but never wiping glasses.
He would sometimes go into the kitchen, but ho
would not stop long. His object was to speak to
Mrs. Martin. His hands and face were always re-
markably clean, and his clothes were neat and tidy,
while in his linen ho was as particular as a lady.
Witness had seen a little slaver at his mouth,
but he always used his pocket handkerchief.
She never noticed anything peculiar about his
voice or his laugh. He laughed loudly, but n )t very
much—just like other young men. She never heard
him swear. He was fond of joking with the ser-
vants, but he was not particularly rough or noisy.
Thomas Scott, a labourer at Felbrigg, had often
talked with Mr. Windham about the dairy business
and believed him to be of perfectly sound mind.
Allan Shepherd, blacksmith on the estate, gave
similar evidence. He denied in cross-examination
that, after making an affidavit, he had said, " I'm
not going to lose my bread." He did all the iron
work on the Felbrigg estate.
By the Jury—Had heard old Mr. Windham holloa
when he was alone in the park. The son sometimes
did the same.
Jonathan Lines, who attended Mr. Windham when
out shooting, said ho was very careful with his gun
and always conducted himself like other gentlemen.
Cross-examined—Mr. Windbam had cautioned
other gentlemen to be careful with their guns, and
he had given a similar warning to the gamekeeper.
When I have been at his side I have heard him cry
out to the other gentlemen not to fire or they would
shoot me.
James Knowles, butler at Felbrigg, said he en-
tered the'service in 1843, and stayed till 1847. He
went again a few months ago, and was there now.
Iu the interval he served in the Bristol family and
in the Army and Navy Club. Mr. Windham told
him years ago that when he came of age he would
have him for his butler. He had carried out his
promise. Mr. Windham when a boy was very high
spirited, and was indulged by his parents. He now
gave all the orders in his house, and presided at
table. His conduct towards the servants was very
kind. lie was passionate at times, but his father
was the same, and worse. The fits did not last long.
Witness believed him to be a man of sound mind.
Cross-examined by Mr. Chambers—Everything
in the house was left to witness. Mr. Windham
never told him, though he was a confidential ser-
vant, that he was going to be married. Did not know
whether Lady Sophia had a whip to keep her son in
order; if she had, witness never saw it. Witness
was not present when Mr. Windham tucked up
his sleeves and helped the servants to clear tLe
table at the Marquis of Bristol's, in St. James's-
square. Mr. Windham when in a passion ,:vas not
more violent than other young gentlemen. Witness
had observed a little saliva about his mouth, but no-
thingyery particular; he had certainly never seen it

running down upon his clothes. He was engaged to
go down as butler to Felbrigg by Mr. Lowellin,
wh'o over and over again told him he would find Mr.
Windham a good master. Ile was present at the
Christmas drink. There were 45 perz3ous present.
The dinner consisted of wine and beer. There were
half-a dozen of champagne, half-a-dozen of claret,
and some port and sherry. In the evening the car-
pet was taken up in the dining-room, and the com-
pany engaged in dancing. He heard Mr. Windham
in the room, but did not notice that his face was
blacked, and that he was dressed something like a
clown. Mr. Windham did not kick thecandlestick
out of his hands. He dropped a candlestick, and
Mr. Windham kicked it—perhaps accidentally—in
passing, and told him to bring another. He did not
see Mr. Windham throw himself on the floor and
imitate the action of swimming. There were some
people at the dinner who were not tenants cf Mr.
Windham. Many of the witnesses were present.
When witness saw Mr. Windham the following
morning he did not speak to him about what he bad
heard of his conduct the night before. Mr. Wind-
ham was at Felbrigg for several days at Christmas.
He dined at home every day. Once or twice he bad
a guest, but witness did not remember the name,
though he had seen the same gentleman some years
ago. He did not know whether Mr. Windham was
away on the Monday before Christmas, but he was
away on the Tuesday.
Re-examined—ln his boyhood Mr. Windham was
allowed to wait at table from the soup to the dessert.
He used to go through the work with the utmost
gravity, and his parents never interfered with him.
In old Mr. Windham's time all the servants about
the house, and the principal people employed on the
estate, dined at the hall on Christmas-day, and had
a dance in the evening. Witness had no idea in
the world who had given all the information about
the dinner last Christmas.

By the Jury—Mr. Windham was merry on
Christmas night, but he was not "fresh." Witness
was never told anything about Mr. Windham having
his face blackened. There was a regular wine ac-
count kept in the house. Mr. Windham allowed
witness to keep the key of the wine-cellar.
Edward Smith, travelling clerk to Mr. Buckmas-
ter, tailor, New Burlington-street, said that in
March, 1861, he was staying at the Yacht Hotel,
Guernsey, and saw Mr. Windham there. Mr. Wind-
ham told him that he expected in May to get a
commission in the 2d Life Guards, and gave him an
order for some clothes, He conducted himself like
a gentleman, and witness had not the slightest sus-
picion that there was anything wrong in his mind.
He talked sensibly enough.
Cross-examined—There were many young officers
who were not particularly wise in conversation.
Mr. Buckmaster's bill had not been paid.
The inquiry was again adjourned.