The Sun.
London, England, 1870-05-10 00:00:00

CAN. SUCH A MAN BE MAD ?

A case of disputed lunacy was heard on Saturday at the
Brentford Petty Sessions. John Henry Jenkins, a
gentlemanly-looking man, of about 45 years of age, was
brought up on remand, charged with being found sleeping
in an unfinished house in Cambridge-park, Twickenham,
on Sunday, the Ist of May ; also with being a wandering
lunatic. At the last hearing of the charge prisoner stated
that he was educated at Jesus College Cambridge ; that
his mother was a widow, who possessed an income
of 2600 a year, and his father was for over twenty-
four years chairman of a bench of magistrates at White-
haven. Stephen Bentliff said : lam an attendant of
a private lunatic asylum kept by Dr. Lowry, at West
Mailing. I know the prisoner ;he has been under my
special charge as a patient in the establishment. He
escaped from the asylum Friday morning, April 29. The
chairman (to the prisoner) : You hear what the witness'
states ; have you any objection to go back quietly with
Min? Prisoner : I'll go back quietly, your worship; but
I am not a lunatic, and have been illegally detained at
this asylum these three years. I have been at'the asylum
nearly seven years, but ought to have been discharged
full three years ago. I was first detained on religious
grounds. I took a first class certificate at Jesus College,
Cambridge, and I believe I am capable of discharging
some of the various duties connected with the Church. I
was under a delusion some years ago, and fancied
myself to be Elias or John the Baptist sent in the
latter days. This was some years ago, but the Corn-
trissioners of Lunacy told me three years ago that I
ought to be discharged, and finding they would not dis-
charge me I got over the walls on Friday week, and made
my escape, and when I was apprehended I was on the
road to my friends in Wales. lam a son of the late Rev.
George Jenkins, who was chairman of a bench of magis-
trates in Cumberland for nearly twenty-five years. The
first witness was now recalled, and in reply to the bench
stated that the Commissioners saw the prisoner about
four months ago. Witness further stated that the
magistrates of the county visited the asylum every three
months, and sometimes six times during the year.—Mr.
Thomas Arthur Lowry, M.D., said: I am the principal
of the private lunatic asylum at West Mailing. The
defendant is a patient who escaped on Friday week, at
about half-past seven in the morning. He has been over
six years in the establishment. [Witness here produced
the authority under which he held him, which was signed
by his mother, a lady living in Carmarthen.] The defen-
dant has not been discharged, nor has he been in a fit
state to be. Prisoner; Was I not in a fit state three years
ago? Witness : That was decided by the Commissioners
at the time. Prisoner now repeated the question, and
witness replied—l cannot say that you were. Ido not
think you are at the present time. A magistrate :We
have not observed anything indicative of insanity in his
replies. 'Witness : No, but sometimes he is more rational
than at others. It is quite true that the county magis-
trates visit our establishment six times a year. The Com-
missioners will shortly make another inspection. The
Chairman now told the prisoner that, Dr. Lowry having
produced the authority for detaining him, the bench were
bound to give him up ; but they hoped at no distant date
to learn that he was discharged, and said he would have'
the opportunity of communicating with tho Lunacy Com-
mission and his friends. Prisoner thanked the bench, and
left in charge of the doctor and his attendant.