The Sun.
London, England, 1846-11-14 00:00:00

Annum. Share.

East London.... ....

I tn.

Grand Junction •• •• •

Kent ................

Vauxhall • • • • • • • • • • •

31. 10s.

21. 103.

£ s. d.
100 0 0

41 13

100 0

51. per cent. 1100 0

West Middlesex . • • 51. ss. pr cut. I 63 12

COMMISSION OF LUNACY

EXTRAORDINARY DELUSIONS.-EFFECTS OF

PROSPERITY.

On Thursday a commission de lunatico inquirendo was
opened before Mr. Commissioner Winslow and nineteen
special jurors, at the Manor House, Stoke Newington,
to inquire into the state of mind of Mr. Thomas Teague,
aged 37, described in the commission as of Birmingham,
but now an inmate of Mr. Birkctt's asylum, Nortnum-
berland House, Stoke Newington.
The unfortunate gentleman is a wealthy tradesman at
Birmingham, possessed of property to the amount of
about 40,0001., having no relations who can at present
be found. The commission, which was unopposed, was
taken out by a friend, Mr. A. S. Stocker, of Bartholo-
mew-close. In supperrt of the commission, Mr. H.
Weeks, of Clifford's Inn, appeared as solicitor ; and Mr.
Rupert Kettle, of the Chancery bar, as counsel.
From the Learned Counsel's statement, the evidence of
Mr. Birkett, of Northumberland House, Henry Croft,
an attendant ; Mr. A. T. Spencer, surgeon ; Mr. H. P,
Bee, surgeon ; and other testimony, it appeared that
Mr. Teague was a native of Wales, that he had been
apprenticed to a painter and glazier, at Birmingham,
where he became very industrious and frugal—even
penurious. He afterwards established himself in busi-
ness, and continuing penurious as well as industrious,
he became successful, and amassed property, the posses•
sion of which seemed first to have impaired his mind,
which seemed to have more decidedly given way on his
inheriting freehold property in Wales. It was in the
month of July last that his state of mind became appa-
rent, and his strange and incoherent conduct at the
house of Mr. Stocker, gunmaker, of the Strand, ren-
dered it necessary that he should be placed under re-
straint, and he was subsequently removed to Northum-
berland House, where he laboured under the delusion
that he was Christ, and also that the Saviour was in the
room with him, several hours at a time; that he was im-
mensely rich, possessed of millions, offering to advance
thousands to many persons; that Northumberland House
belonged to him, for which he was (as he said) paying
5001. a year; that he (himself) was God Almignty, and
so was Mr. Birkett; that he had killed somebody; that
he was Buonaparte, and Buonaparte's son; that their at-
tendants were all Wellingtons, and that he turned into
devils of all shapes, being satarised, as he termed it by
a large quantity of mercury, which had been given to
him by a country doctor, &c. As a further proof of
the state of his mind, he was accustomed to anoint his
person with filth, and even to mix it with his food.
The unfortunate gentleman, a tall, slim, but wild-look-
ing man, was introduced and seated by the side of the
L arned Commissioner. He said, in answer to questions,
that he knew the nature of the inquiry ; that all his re-
latives lived at Mr. Birkett's ; that his property was
worth 25,0001. a year, &c.
Ajuror—Do you still carry on business at Birming-
ham. Mr. Teague (putting himself into a fighting atti-
tude)—Yes, I'll paint your portrait whenever you please.
Having answered two or three other questions, he said,
" It's all right—if you want to know any more, speak
to Mr. Birkett, for I want my dinner."
Here be rose abruptly, and left the room.
The jury immediately expressed themselves satisfied,
and returned a verdict, dating the unsoundness of his
mind from the 29th July, 1846.