The Sun.
London, England, 1853-12-02 00:00:00

MARLBOROUGH-STREET. - (THIS DAY.)

EXTRAORDINARY DELUSION.—Captain James Goold,
a tall gentlemanly-looking man, with a most melancholy
expression of countenance, was brought before Mr. Hard-
wick, charged with being a wandering lunatic, dangerous
to the public at large, wandering in Regent-circus, in the
parish of Saint James's.
The accused, who is evidently of unsound mind, and
who for some time has been labouring under very strange
delusions, was formerly in the 11th Regiment of Foot,
and in order to test the state of his mind, two detective
officers were deputed to watch him, and, if necessary, to
take him into custody, and bring him before the magis-
trate, so that evidence might be produced by persons
who were well acquainted with the defendant as to the
soundness or unsoundness of his mind.
Sir Michael Craigh and Colonel Champorey were in
attendance in the magistrate's room.
Sergeant Lockyer, of the detective force, on being
sworn, said—About 7 o'clock last night, I saw Captain
Goold in Regent-circus, Piccadilly, and from his manner
saw that he was very excited ; he twisted his umbrella
about, and struck it on the ground in a very excited
state. I followed him with Sergeant Smith up Regent-
street. He kept on looking about him as if to observe if
any one was following him. I then missed him, and
at about half-past seven o'clock I saw him come out of
No. 2, Suffolk-place, Pall-mall. He wandered about
till he came to Waterloo-place, when he went and stood
in a doorway. I then took him into custody and con-
veyed him to the station. He said people were per-
secuting him and endeavouring to ruin him.
Mr. George Hillas Armstrong, surgeon, 39, Duke-
street, St. James's, said defendant lodged in the same
house with me in March, 1851. I met him on the stairs,
and he charged me with being-in his room. I told him
I had not. He said I had been looking over his shoulder,
and that a number of people were annoying him, and
putting combustibles into the fire. I assured him it
was not the case, and he became calm. At that time I
took him to be not capable of managing his own affairs.
Mrs. Beverley—l live at 2, Suffolk-place, Pall-mall.
Capt. Goold came to lodge with me in February last.
While he was in my house, he said a monstrous system
of persecution had been dealt out to him in my house—
that be had spies over him, and that the Queen, Prince
Albert, the Duke of Cambridge, and Lord Bentinck
were pursuing that system of persecution in order to get
possession -of his writings. He also said persons were
placed in the house to steal his papers—that the salt bad
ground glass in it, and had a most fearful effect on his
health. His conversation was rambling and uncon-
nected. I had several otherconversations w►th him always
to the same effect. He broke the panel of the door, and
knocked a hole in the wall. On the first of November
last be left. I since decided that he was a lunatic in two
points-- religion and politics.
Mr. A. T. Balderson, surgeon, Poland-street, said—
I am of opinion from what I have heard and seen, that
defendant is of unsound mind.
Defendant said—l am in a very peculiar position, and
was not aware so many persons would be produced
against me. Last night I was coming out of an hotel
in Piccadilly, when I was arrested. I asked by what
authority I was arrested, when I was taken to the
station-house. It was a singular thing my perception
was so strong that I recognised who the officers were at
the first glance.
Mr. Hardwick said the course he intended to pursue
was out of a kindly feeling towards the unfortunate gen-
tleman. He had good reason to think that his (Capt.
Goold's) mind was not in a fit state for him to be at
large, and he (Mr. Hardwick) proposed to remand him
till to-morrow.
The defendant, in great excitement, protested strongly
against such a course being pursued, contending that
the magistrate had no power to detain him.. He oven•
tually became more calm, and was removed.