The Sun.
London, England, 1851-07-11 00:00:00

fa artb-gbition

SUN OFFICE, Seven o

CRIMINAL COURT.-(THIS DAY )

OLD COURT.
( Before Mr. Justice Wtorrrimart.)
THE TRIAL OF JAMES HUGGINS FOR
F ARSON.
(Continued from our Afternoon Edition.)
behalf of
Mr. BiDKIN then addressed the jury on
the pri-one:. He recapitulated the main facts de-
tailed in evidence, and said it was impossible to con-
ceive that a man in his senses who intended to com-
mit such a crime would have said and done so many
things which could not but excite suspicion against
him
and lead to his detection. In fact he had invited attention
to all his acts, and after the
fire took place, instead of ab-
sconding like a criminal con_ scions of his guilt,
at his house, though, if of sane mind, he must have been
perfectly aware that he could not escape from suspicion.
There could be no doubt that his mind was affected in such
a way as to preclude him from being master of his own
actions. The prisoner, who was an attorney and solicitor,
west formerly in the employ of an eminent firm ,of great
business, and while there he was tailed upon to make
very great exertions in railway matters, and he so
evrrtaxed his brain. that the most dangerous consequences
were apprehended. He was always a nervous and exciteable
person, and bad two brothers who died early in life from
diseases of the brain. Ten years ago he married a
lady of irreproachable character and status, by whom
he had five children, and a more fond, affectionate, and
attentive husband and father was nowhere to be found.
In 1848, however, a great change came over his mind and his
conduct; the kind and devoted husband became a perfect
tyrant-his wife, whom at different times he abused,
attacked, and promised to destroy, became the object
of his most virulent hatred. At other times he rushed
about like a mad person, and made howling noises like those
coming from a dog, or wild beast. Upon proving these and
other facts to the jury, lae was confident they would he of
opinion that the prisoner 'had for some time been of unsound
mind, and not responsible for his actions.
The following evidence was then adduced :
Ann Huggins, the eldest sister of the accused, said previous
to his marriage they lived together, and after that event she
was frequently in the habit of visiting his house and staying
there sometimes for months. She had two brothers who
died from disease of the brain. The prisoner was exceedingly
excitable from his childhood, often starting up .in
his sleep. The least noise greatly affected him.
He was always extremely kind, and lived on terms of af-
fection with his father and family,. He was a very dutiful
son, and the death of his father had a great effect on his
mind. He would not- attend the funerals
and refused to go
hate mourning. His father died in 1849.
He was de-
votedly attentive to his wife and children. During
the last
tel nt.
three or four years his manner had been strange and .
Witness attributed this to the pressure of business daring
the railway mania. She had only dined once at his house in
the last three years; on that occasion she noticed nothing
particular in his manner. The prisoner was about 38 years
of age.
Harriet Weymouth examined, said—l am a married
'woman. when single I lived as general servant with the
I left in July,
prisoner at Syde.am._ and
. Brixton.
m his service three years. He was
1848, after being
very affectionate and devoted to his wife. On a Saturday in
e home after tea and ordered tea to be
May, 1848,rhe_mcam,
hat, rushed
when it was brought into the room he
prepared flos
hat,
rushed out of the house, and did not return
took up
is.untilh the following Thursday. Mis wife went after
aga not succeed in bringing him back; she was
him, but did
then in the family-way, and was very much distressed. He
came home as usual on Thursday, but made no inquiry about
his wife or children.
crOas-examined by Mr. BALLANTINZ—Letters passed be-
tween him and his wife while he was absent. She did not
kndw whether he went to Brighton on that occasion.
Mary Crozier, also a servant in the prisoner's em-
ploy, deposed as to the general irritability of his temper,
and as 'to his sudden absence in May, 1848. She
had often heard him walking , about the room at
nights, stamping, raving, and groaning. The family
afterwards went to Grays, in Essex, and from that time a
'change took place iu his conduct to his wile; he frequently
beat her violently, and used threats to her. When at home
he would sometimes go out and sleep in an empty house next
door, and return and knock up the servants in the middle of
the night. There was one furnished room in the house.
Cross-examined by Mr. CLAIR sow—ilewaskindtobiswife
in the presence of strangers, and at other times he treated
- her very cruelly. One morning at breakfast, when a cutlet
was laid before him, he twisted himself rotiptd, in the chair,
and groaned, and then jumped up and struhreds wife several
times on the back with his fist.
Jane Robinson, a nurse, now in the service of the prisoner,
gave similar testimony as to repeated acts of cruelty. He
usually became violent once a month, and witness was in
' the habit of jocularly saying to his wife that he was affected
With 'the change of the moon. She had frequently seen him
pump cold 'W'ater on his head in the morning.
Mr. J. Sawyer, physician, examined by Mr. BODKIN, said
, be was consulted in 1848 about the health of the prisoner.
He *as then in a highly nervous, excited state, and corn-
• plained much of his head. He said he passed bad nights,
• and could not bear the noise of the children. He also said
he was troubled with the *4 horrors," and felt a wish to com-
mit suicide. Witness recommended cold applications to the
head, and change of scene, and sea air. He subsequently
received a note from Mrs. Huggins, and again visited the
' prisoner, when the symptoms were aggravated; he was on
that occasion suffering from congestion of the liver
and brain. Witness advised him to leave home, to
dispense with business, and to submit himself to the
- care of a medical man. Assuming the circumstances to be
• true which had been deposed to, he should decidedly &Uri-
, bute them to the conduct of au insane person.
Cross-examined by Mr. CLARKSON— lie should say, at
tunes the prisoner did not know right from wrong. A con-
gested liver would irritate and excite the brain. When
he visited him on the second occasion, he considered he was
r suffering fiom temporary madness.
Dr. Connolly, physician to Hanwell Lunatic Asylum, said
he had visited the prisoner during his imprisonment, and
from the conversation he had had with him, he was of opi-
nion that his mind was not perfectly sound, and that his
ju igment was impaired. The facts :dated in evidence showed
. that the prisoner was of a very nervous and irritable tem-
perament, and was bordering on the verge of insanity. Strong
affection followed by great hatred and dislike, and acts of yin-
lence, was a frequent sign of insanity. insane persona often
exhibited great cunning and artifice. It was difficult to say
whether the pyisonq could diquiguish right from wrong
when he beat hie wile. He had many insane patients under
his care at Ilene ell wilo knew when they did wrong,
yet committed acts with that consciousness, and then
said, " you cannot punish me because I am insane."
He w of opinion that the prisoner could not distinguish be-
tween right and wrong iil the same way as a person of sound
mind.
Sir AlexanJet Morrison, physician, said he had heard the
' evidence to-day, and did not feel himself entitled to say that
the prisoner was of sound mind. He knew many cases of
persona of impaired and diseased minds who could attend to
their ordinary busipcss, and who sometimes knew what they
were About, and at other periods had no control over their
aetions.
After some further evidence had been given,
Mr. CusnKsox briefly replied, and contended that the de-
fence set up on the ground of insanity had altogether failed.
(The trial had no; concluded when we went to press.)

THE- LONDON GAZETTE.
(THIS EVENING.)

WAR-OFFICE, Juer 11, 1851.
3d Regiment of Dragoon Guards—Lieut. Jobn Miller, from
the 39th Foot, to be Lieutenant, vice Pedder, who exchanges,
. July 11.
701 Dragoon Guards—Hugh O'Reilly, Gent„ to be Cornet,
by purchase, vice Dowbiggin, promoted, July 11.
. 4th Light Dragoons—William Affleck King, Gent., to be;
Cornet, by purchase, vice Jollifle, promoted, July 11; George
Warwick Hunt, Gent., to be Corner, by purchase, vice Fair-
lie, promoted, July 12.
Bth Light Dragoons—Edwar,l Phillips, Gent., to be Cor-'
net, by purchase, vice FitzGibbor' promoted, July 11.
12th Light Dragoons—Ralph Sbelton Bond, Gent., to be
Cornet, by purchase, vice Jary promoted, July 11.
Coldstream Regiment of Foot Guards—Second Lieutenant
Frederick Henry Rarnaden, from the Rifle Brigade, to be En-
sign and Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Deribg, who retires,
July 11.
•
2d Foot—John Croome, Gent. to be Ensign. by purchase,
vice Gibbs promoted, July 11; William Webber Martin, Gent., 1
to be. Ensign, by purchase, vice Grimston, promoted, July 12;
Herbert Beltield, Gent., to be Ensign, by purchase, vice
Thompson, promoted, July 13.
Bth Foot—Surgeon Francis Charles Annesley, from the
21st Foot, to be burgeon, vice Tice, who exchanges, July 11,
18th Foot - Gentleman Cadet Hugh Grogan Davidson,
• from the Royal Military College, to be Ensign, vice Lynch,
appointed to the 87th Foot, July 11.
21st Foot—Edward Lennox Jervis, Gent., to be 'Second
Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Goodlake, appointed to the
coidst ream Regiment of Foot Guards; Surgeon John Charles
. Graham Tice, M.D., from the tith Foot, to be Surgeon, vice
exchanges, July IL
A1'371e61 170'ot—Lientenant Charles Denison Pedder, from the
3a „von Guards, to be Lieutenant, vice miller, who ex_
changes, July I I •
43,1-Foot—Jam" Atty, Gent., to be Ensign, by purchase,
1-F
vice the Hon. L. Males, promoted, July 11.
48th Foot—major
Joseph' Robert Raines, from the 95th
to be Major, vice Smith, ho exchang g, July 11.
• 51. St Foot—Captain Donald George Angus Darroeh, from
halt-pay Unattached,.to be Captain, vice Richard D. Baker,
J
who exchanges, receiving the difference, uly 11.
pukireb,,, pot--James Arthur Maude, Gent,to be Ensign, by
Dike Taylor pronioted, July 11.
Wth Foot-,Send Lieutenant. William Mure to be First
Lieutenant, by e°3
vice Warburton, who retires;
Charl,,, NlTpurchase,
purchase, vioelNiVon' Gent , to be Second Lieutenant, by
I.
64th Foot—^hure' July 1
be Ensign, vice:v-4 pn, who
men William Knox, from the 78th Foot, to
%rat
b' 1' retires, Ja
pu6rcshthasel.novti—eeFSrterdaenrelek, %emoted, July .
Weouyss Gent., to be Ensign, by
- -67th. Foot—Captain
India Regiment, to be exchanges,
July LI.. aptain, vice Taylor, who
enrY Crofton, I rom the 3d West
18th
78th Foot FoOt
to be—Eneignsig u h
, En
ug Grogan Davidson, from the
Foor, July 11. • n, vice Knox, appointed to the 64th
• Blet -Foot—Sir Peter Arthur Halkett Bart to be Ensign;
by purchase. vice Betts, promoted, July 11 "
87th Foot—second Lieutenant itebeetCarter
Lieutenant, without. purchase, ekeo to be First
mae
deceased,
Apra ;es; Ensign- Calmer Lynch, from the
Second Lieutenant,.vice Carter, July U.
root, to be
88th Is'oot—Gyorge Thomas Ramsden, Gent., ec, be v
sign,, by purchase, vice Harrisen, who retires, July
1. "u
ystbeFoot-eMajor James Webber Smith, from the 48 h
Foot, to be Major, vice Raines, who exchanges, July 11. t
Re e Brigade—Second Lieutenant Charles Cholmeley Hide,
from the 60th Foot, to be Second Lieutenant, vice Rarneden,
appointed to the Coldstream Regiment of Foot Guards,
July 11.
2d West -India Regiment—Oaptain Richard .Elliott to be
without purchase, vice Soden, deceased; Lieutenant
r y Itiurray to be Captain, without pureha.ee
ivic:,ll/,4:lTioltitt:CAlyth- Ensign Rukeby Steele Wilkinson Junes
to lie _Lieutenant, Iw;ihout, purchase, vice Murray, July 11.
West India Regiment—Captain Francis Richard Taylor,
froth the 67th Foot, to be Captain, vice Crofton, who ex-
changes, July 11.
Royal Canadian Rifle Regiment—Lieutenant Spence
Hamilto r Peel
to be captain, by purchase, vuie George Valiancy ne
who retires; Eneigu Alfred John Lane to be Lieutenant, by
purenaie, vice Pee', July 11.
OFFICE Of '''NANCE juLY 8.
, Reyal Regiment of Artillery-Major- General Richard John
Jarnce, L3aey to be Colopel-Commandant, vice lajor-General
Airi4;kce.siO, June 30.
ADMIRALTY; JULY 8.
I ire IMew in g promotions halo this day taken place, con-
arcu t 1 eecease, on the 7th inst., of. Admiral of the
the nom &u 4aua Talbot, G.C.B.