The Sun.
London, England, 1824-12-06 00:00:00

IN RE MILLSON, A SUPPOSED LUNATIC.

During the last week a commission de lunatico
inastirentio was held at the Royal Mortar public.house,in Wool.
A:01, the proceedings of which excited the utmost curiosity._
The subject of the inquiry was one of the oldest farmers in
Kent, who is possessed of property to the value of between
30,000/. and 40,000/. Doctor PHILLIMORE, Mr. EvaxcE,
and Mr. IVIIITIVIORE, presided as Commissioners, and a
highly respectable Jury were sworn to decide upon the merits
of the case.

Mr. STOKES conducted the proceedings in behalf of the pe-
titionet during the first day's inquiry, but Mr. BEitatts at-
tended in the latter stage and performed that duty in behalf of
the heir of the supposed funatic. [t appears, as well from what
was stated in the course of the proceedings as from what is
a matter of notoriety in the neighbourhood, that the sup-
posed.lunatic, Thomas sen. is a wealthy farmer and
grazier, who, for the last forty years, has tarried on business
with great succesx at Plumstead, in Kent, where be rents
several farms, and is the owner of considerable property.
He was considered to have been as shrewd and clever a man
in his way of life as any in the country. He is now in his
88th year. He has one son, Thomas Million, the petitioner,
son petitioner.at tr a
and one daughter, the wife of Richard Clements, the respondent
al
in the case. This daughter is about six years older than the
ctSilolneshaasnd had
thel"ibsufotrft.euwn es
suitors
tobres totally :V10'11:381!
et destitute
approved.of per
There appeared,
, however, about the year 1805, a person
whom she thought calculated to make her happy, although
his condition in life was rather humble. Her father happened to
hire, at Croydon fair, one Richard Clements, a labourer, to
work upon his farm, anti brought him into the house.—
This man was extremely industrious, and although noeblessed
with an education above the sphere in which be inovixl, he
thought proper to fall in love with his master's daughter, dis-
pensing with ". the throne on her back," which had completely
.removed all fear of competitors. The young lady listened,
and at length yielded to his prayer, that he might become her
husbaod. They
,eloped, and were married. Thomas Mill-
man, his brother, used his good offices with the old man, to obtain
forgiveness for the tender error of the girl, and succeeded.
—The fond pair were admitted to Mr. Millson's house and
affections, anti an allowance was liberally made. Clemente
situation was now greatly improved; he neither worked so hard
nor fared so roughly us he had been accustomed, but he exerted
himself wonderfully to gain the good will of his father-in-law,
was frugal and attentive to the interests of the farm. Ile has
now several children by his wife. The farmer's son Thomas
took a form called White Hart Farm, from his father, whose
roof he quitted, leaving him under the care of Clemente and his
wife. Clements, after this departure, persevered in his assidui-
ties, his care, and industry, and rose in the opinion of the old
man, whilst the son, who was at a distance, was observed to
decline in his father's favour. About five years ago the old
farmer had a fit of apoplexy and an attack of paralysis, which
of 'his speech, and, as it was alleged, his reason. From
the time of this change in the condition of the old man's health,
Clement began to assume the active management of the farm,
superintended the labourers, and was always by the side of hi
father-in-law, advising and obeying him. About the year 1022 s
the nen, wholual sustained some lasses, and felt the pressure o,
agri the cultural distress which then prevailed, found his farm
very unprofitable, and applied for assistance, but his father
behaved with harshness. to him, and took away the farm,
allowing him, however, 1/. a week for the maintenance of
his faro y. Clements assumed openly more and more the active
controul of all the property. Ile or his wife regulary received
the rents. and paid the men. The son, on the contrary, sunk
into deeper distress, and about seven months ago he was com-
pelled to apply to Mr. Cleaves, one of the pariah officers, for pa..
rochial relief. Mr. Cleaves, upon hearing the case, went to
see the supposednlunatic' but Clements absolutely refused to
permit an interview. Having stated thus much in explanation
of the relative situation of the parties, it is only necessary fur-
ther to state, that by sonic means or other the son succeeded in
getting a petition before the Lord Chancellor, and a Commission
issued, on which the present proceedings were founded.. .
Several witnesses deposed to the strange conduct of the al-
leged lunatic, and gave it as their opinion that he had been
insane since the year 1820.
the
eTlgtietvioidnr
wcehegnivtiein2 uareigictdhelsuenafjectshic4lioseselfd
wast case
broughtfor
forward for examination. The old man rode through the
town on horseback. When lie was ushered into the presence
of the jury, he looked round him with a vacant stare, but
believed himself with perfect propriety. He is a remark-
ably stout, healthy.looking old man. His hand were evi-
.siently affected with paralysis. pie sat down, and the following
examination took place by Doctor Phillimore:—" How are you,
Sir ?" " Pretty well, pretty well." " How goes on farm-
ing ?!' " Pretty well, pretty well." " They are now then good
times for you ?" " Oh, yes." " Then you find them good ?"
" Oh, no, they are had. " how old are you ?" " Thirty-
six." " \\Mat is your name ?" "So and so." Doctor Mi-
llirm° repeated the question, and the same answer was returned.
" Why I thought your name wasAlillson ? " Oh, (recollect-
ing himself) 80 it is—yes it is."
The examination was continued; but the above is a fair
specimen of the whole, and in the end not the slightest doubt
was felt by any one as to the present state of the old man's
mind.
Mr. PEP Es addressed the Jury for the defendant, and called
Witnesses to show that up to the beginning of last year M r.Millson
was comps meniit, and that anything of a suspicious nature
that bud taken place latterly, was to be considered as the tem-
porary effeet of disease, rather than as confirmed lunacy..
returned a verdict, finding that Thomas Millson, :ten., had not
Dr. Piirwsrourtt summed up the evidence, and the Jury
been of sound mind since the 25th September, 1020.
The managemen
usual course, now devolve upon the son.
t of the estates of the lunatic in the

There is a pear tree now growing in the garden,
in the occupation of Mr. WM. SALKELD, of Dissington, near
Whitehaven, which has produced this season "bar distinct
crops : it has blossomed each time, and at present Is bearing the
fourth crop. The pears have averaged one pound each.