The Sun.
London, England, 1848-07-28 00:00:00

SOUTHWARK.

James Cooper, a keeper in a private innatio asylum,
was brought before ➢lr. Seeker, charged with forcibly
attempting to convey Mr. William Henry Reynolds, a
licensed victualler, to Doddington Retreat Asylum, and
taking possession of his watch; and Robert Hore was
charged with assisting in the illegal arrest of the same
individual. _ _

William Henry Reynolds stated that he is landlord of
the Paviours' Arms, in Margaret's-court, Southwark,
and that on the preceding morning, while he was lying
in bed at his house, Cooper entered the room, and having
awoke him, told him that his mother was dying, and
that if he did not get up and make haste to accompany
him Kennington, he would not see her before her dis-
sol .He (complainant) accordingly hurried on his
clot ; and went down stairs to the bar-parlour, where
Cooper asked to see his watch, and the moment he gave
it into his hands he placed it in his pocket, and then
desired complainant to put on his hat, that a cab wa'
waiting at the end of the court for them, and they would
go at once to see the dying woman before she expired.
By this time, however, complainant began to suspect
that there was no truth in the statement respecting his
mother, and that it was a trick to get possession of his
property; and this suspicion was confirmed when,
on his refusal to quit the house, the other prisoner
entered, and a carpet bag was then produced,
from which was taken a strait-jacket and leathern straps,
and he was then informed that if he did not submit
quietly, and go with them, he would be compelled. He,
however, peremptorily refused to quit his house, and on
finding the prisoners were making preparations to put the
strait-jacket on him, he called out for help, and his pot-
man, some of the customers, and the neighbours, came
forward end prevented it, and the prisoners then went
away, saying they had authority for what, they were
doing, and exhibited a printed document, under which
they asserted they were acting. The complainant added,.
that he subsequently found that it was the intention of
the prisoners to remove him to a lunatic asylum, if they
had not been prevented in the way described, and he de-
clared that there was no pretence for such a step being
taken against him, as he was in his perfect senses—that
Cooper still kept possession of his watch, and that the
same person also succeeded in obtaining 30s. from his
wife for the expenses incurred in the attempt to place
him (complainant) in a lunatic asylum. He further said
that his mother was in the house during the time the
whole proceedings were taking place.
Patrick Mahony said that he was in the Paviours'
Arms when the prisoners came there, and heard Cooper
tell the complainant that his mother was dying, and that
he mast go and see her before she expired. Witness
afterwards saw the carpet-bag containing the strait-
jacket and straps, and heard both prisoners assert that
they had authority to convey the landlord to a madhouse.
Witness, with others, interposed, knowing the com-
plainant was not insane, and having heard that Cooper
had previously taken possession of his watch, he desired
that person to restore it, but he refused, saying he was
acting under authority, and that he took the watch to
take care of for the owner. Witness saw the printed
document under which the prisoners asserted they were
acting in the business, but they both withdrew on finding
that the neighbours were all up in arms, and that they
were likely to receive rough usage if they remained.
The witness added that he never perceived that the com-
plainant exhibited any symptoms of insanity, and that
was the reason he and others interposed to save him
from having a strait-jacket put on and taken to a lu-
natic asylum.
Thomas Only, potman in the complainant's service,
confirmed the above statement with respect to hearing
Cooper :,ay that complainant's mother was dying, and
afterwards mention that he had authority for taking him
to a mad-house. Witness saw the strait-jacket which
they were about to put on his master, until measures
were taken to prevent it. That he know complainant
was not mad. He added that he heard Cooper refuse to
deliver up the possession of his master's watch, and saw
that person produce the authority for taking him to the
mad-house.

Mrs. Ann Reynolds said she was complainant's wife,
and that as he was very ill, and she had reason
believe his illness was produced from drinking, she
sent a message over to his mother, describing shis
situation, and requesting her to procure such assistance
as a man in his condition required, us she was anxious
that he should have some person in attendance to
make him take his physic. That soon afterwards
the prisoners came to the house and informed her
that they came there by the direction of her husband's
relations, and told her who they were, and that their
duty was to prevent him from doing himself or any other
person injury, by conveying him to their employer's
asylum, at Doddington-grove. She was surprised at
finding what their business was, and had no idea that
her mother-in-law would have sent such pk rsons there
and when 'the neighbours and others interfered, the
prisoner Cooper, before leaving the house demanded 30s.
for expenses, which she paid him, and they went away ;
that her husband's watch bad not been since restored to
him.
In reply to Mr. SECKER, she said that Cooper gave
her a receipt for the money ho received from her.
Cooper, a very powerful looking man, with a blouse,
said he belonged to a private lunatic asylum, and that
application was made at his employer's asylum to re-
move the complainant, and the necessary documents
having been procured for his removal, he went to
his house for that purpose, accompanied by his fol-
low-prisoner, if he should require his assistance.
That he did take possession of the watch, and in
order to throw the patient off his guard, and get him
along quietly, he did pretend that his mother was dying,
_but that, on finding he was resisted by several persons,
he quitted the house, after having made and received the
d
noweraand of the expenses incurred on the occasion, He
i removal pro dueed the written authority for the complainant's
on the ground of temporary insanity, and added

that his employer had the complainant's watch, which he
had delivered to him.
The prisoner's employer said he was the proprietor of
the Doddington-grove asylum for lunatics, and that tho
necessary application having been made for the com-
plainant's removal there, the prisoners were sent to his
house for that purpose. They, however, came without
him, and Cooper gave the watch into witness's charge,
upon the supposition that he was to be sent back again
for the patient, who was described by his friends as in-
sane. He, witness, had the watch, and was prepared to
deliver it up under the magistrate's authority. He added
that the 30s. received of the complainant's wife were the
expenses incurred for the proceedings adopted to place
him under proper restraint by his own relatives.
Mr. SEeKER having perused the document, and heard
the statements pro and con., said there was no pretence
for charging the accused parties with stealing the com-
plainant's watch. That the facts were the complainant
had reduced himself to a condition which some of his re-
lations had reason to suppose brought on temporary in-
sanity, and that with a view to his own preservation, as
well as those about him, considered that he ought to be
placed under such constraint as would avert the conse-
quences. That for that purpose they applied for his ad-
mission into a place where he would be put under the
Aecessary constraint, and the prisoners were onl em-
loyet: P 3, execute that intention, and, therefore, had only
acted under' instructions they had received. He
should, therefore, Clituirargt, the prisoners, and give
• directions that the watch belonging to the corepWnWite
should be delivered up to him, which was immediately
done, and the accused were liberated.

RAILWAY COMMITTEES.
(YESTERDAY.)

GROUP No. 9.—PsisEEr, BARRHEAD, AND HURLET
RAILWAY.—Clauses further considered.
CALEDONIAN RAILWAY (Glasgow Station, and Branch
across the Clyde).—Case opene and evidence taken in
its favour.
GROUP No. 10.— NEWPORT AND PONTYPOOL RAIL-
WAY *VT A MENDMENT.—PreambIo passed, clauses
agreed to, and Bill ordered to be reported.

ELECTION COMMITTEES.
(YESTERDAY.)
DUBLIN.
The scrutiny into the validity of Mr. Reynolds' ma-
jority was resumed, but the petitioners did not succeed
in striking off any additional ♦otes to-day. A good
deal of time was taken up in proving the legality of the
supplemental building-rate for the parish of St. Mark's,
Dublin ; but eventually the Committee decided that the
evidence was not sufficient to establish the validity of
the rate,

NORTH CHESHIRE.
The ovideneo of treating was further proceeded with
this morning.
Mr. Joseph Higginson, proprietor of the Warren
Bulkeley Arms, at Stockport, proved that he supplied a
number of Mr. Legh's voters with dinners, drink, wine
and refreshments, to the extent of 2241. 17s. 10d.
The orders were given by one of Mr.
Leigh's committee, which tat at his house, but
ho had since not been able to obtain the
amount of his bill.—Mr. George Massey, the landlord:of
the Union Inn at Altrincham, proved that another of
Mr. Leigh's committees held their meetings at his house,
and by their directions he supplied a number of electors
with drink and refreshments. He did not know
amount of his bill, but it was under 200/. This
witnOS gave his evidence in a very unsatisfactory
manner, which brought down upon him the re-
prehension of the Committee. The Speaker's war-
rant required him to produce his books, but he
failed to do so; while in a private communication with
Mr. Coppock, the petitioners agent, he had represented,
as it would now seem falsely, that he had no books. It
turned out, however, that his bar-maid kept books, in
which entries were made of the business transacted at
the Union, but it was agreed on both sides that to send
for the books would not compensate for the waste of time
and expense it would lead to.
This being all the evidence the petitioners bad to ad-
duce,
Mr. PHINN summed up at great length, insisting that
sufficient treating had been established to justify the
unseating of Mr. Leigh. After which the Committee
adjourned till tomorrow at eleven o'clock.