The Sun.
London, England, 1858-08-25 00:00:00

COMMISSION OF LUNACY ON MR. RUCK.

The inquiry in this case was resumed at Clement's-
inn Hall, yesterday morning.
John Edwards, examined by Mr. M. Chambers—l am a
mason, and have worked about 15 years for Mr. Ruck.
Sometimes his manner has been peculiar. He has of late
years been trying at Pantlldu for copper mines. He has
frequently shown me stones which he has picked up, and
observed that they contained copper. There were small
spots of sulphur is them, but there was no copper. A shaft
was sunk by his order to the depth of 13 or 14 feet about 500
yards from his house, but nothing was found. Two labourers
were employed in the work. I told Mr. Rack that I would
leave hitnif he went on in that way; but that did not stop him.
I recollect him settling with his men on Saturday, the 24th
of October. He owed me on that day £3los. 6d. He first
gave me £3 10s. ; after giving me that he told me my
money was more, and gave me a£s note. I told him that
that amount was not dne to me, but he insisted on my
keeping the £5 note, and took the £3 10s. back. On the
following Monday I gave him £1 9s. 6d., observing,
" Here is the change of the £5 note, sir." He put it
is his book, and made na answer. There was £4 19s.
due to the carpenter. Mr. Ruck gave him £5. He gave
the cowman £5, which was about 2.55. more than was
due to him. I told him that it was too much, but he
said, " Never mind, let him go." I recollect Mary Jones
being locked up at Pantlidn. The carpenter, whose name
was Hughes, was sent for a policeman, and as he did not
return Mr. Ruck sent me after him. I met a policeman
with Hughes on the turnpike road, and I went back with
them towards Pantlldu. The policeman went into the house
and saw Mr. Ruck, I remaining near the door. Mr. Ruck
came out and said to me, "Did you see Daniel, Jack ?" I
said, "He is gone away." " Confound him," he said,
" you must go and get another." I then went to the next
farm and I met Mrs. Matthews, Mrs. Ruck's mother, and
Thomas Jones on the road. I went back with Mrs. Matthews
to Mr. Rack's house. Mrs. Matthews told me that she
must have Mary Jones released. After a few minutes Mr.
Ruck said to me, "Jack, Mrs. Matthews is mad; I'll
have her tied ; you can guess by a person's eyes whether she
Is right or wrong." I said, " Where is Miss Jones ?" He
said, " That's it; she has let her out after I had kept her
two days. If I had a gun I would shoot her this moment."
After that he told me that he would have Mrs. Matthews
before a magistrate, and on any opposing him he threatened
to break my jaw. Half an hour after I went away. He
did not say what he wanted a policeman for.
Cross-examined by Mr. E. James—l worked for Mr.
Ruck for five years continuously up to October last. He
did not pay me my wages every week.
Mr. James—Will you produce your book containing the
entries of payments ?

Witness (doggedly)—Oh no, sir. (Laughter.)
Mr. James—You must show me the book eontaining the
entry of the payment of which you have spoken.
Witness (after some hesitation)—You shan't see my book.
(Loud laughter.)
After some delay the witness handed his book to Mr.
James, who read the entry, which was a simple record of
the payment of the £3, and the subsequent return of
9s, Gd.

Examination continued—l made the entry in this book
last Friday, having bought the book on purpose to make it
in. I copied it from another book. I don't know whether
or not Mary Jones had been drinking before she was locked up.
Re-examined by Mr. M. Chambers—My reason for copy-
ing the entry was that I expected to be questioned about it
I keep a book in which I enter what I do every day, and
the entry referred to was copied from it. Mr. Ruck never
paid me any money in advance.

Mrs. Ruck, examined by Mr. Sergeant Dallaatine—l am
the wife of Mr. Lawrence Ruck, having been married to
him 17 years. For some time after our marriage we lived
very comfortably. I have six children. After the birth of
the eldest child I and my husband occupied separate beds.
He was occasionally in the habit of drinking considerably
Up to April, 18.56, except at the time when he was drinking,
be did not appear to be affected by it. At that time, and
down to August, 1836, I was residing at Paatlldu. He was
then in a very excited state. He used to hire flys and drive
about the country without any apparent object. He used
to take me out with him by my own wish ; I did not like
him to go out alone. I have walked with him in the woods
at one o'clock in the morning. I went to the sea side alone.
t)e my return I found him in a very excited state ; candles
were lighted throughout the house. lle continued excited
from April to August, 1836. He used to tell me that he was
haunted by tunes and voices that he had heard. I got a friend
to play lively tunes to him to banish the tunes and voices he
had heard. In August, 1856, I went to reside with the
children at Aberdovey. it was not in consequence of any
quarrel. He used to come there very frequently, and he often
slept there. Latterly be slept there less frequently. He was
very affectionate to his children. In October last I woe
visiting s.)me friends of Mr. Ituck's in Kent. In August
was with Mr. Ruck and Mr. and Mrs. Barnet at the Man-
chester Exbibitien. I had known Mrs. Barnet from chit
hood. During our stay at Manchester Mr. Rack behave
very affectionately to me. Whilst staying in Kent
in October I received a letter respecting my husband. I
went to Wales and found him at a little inn, some mil-s
from home. He was excited, and seemed to wish to avoid
me. I told him that I would go wherever be went. He did
not like that, but at last I persuaded him, and we got into
the mail-coach together. On the journey he imagined that
be saw people rushing into each other's arms, and point d
to the road. There was nothing of the kind. On our arris a!
at Newtown a gentleman, whom 1 had never seen before,
got into the coach. Nothing improper occurred between me
and that gentleman. I did not say I would come to him ;
lie behaved quite like a gentleman. When we got to Welc,o-
pool Mr. Ruck said he would not come to me, adding that
the boots would do fn• we. He then asked me for money.
I told him that I had ,V2O lent me by ray mother, and he
asked for it. He ordered a fly, and finding that I could
not induce him to go with me, I countermanded the
order. I telegraphed for Mr. Barnet, a surgeon, at Read-
ing. There was no improper intimacy between me and Mr.
Barnet. Nothing ever occurred to justify suspicion. It was
at my husband's wish that Mr. Barnet accompanied us to
Manchester. My husband remained in the fly for an hour
or two, and afterwards went into a bed-room in the inn. I
did not go to him that day ; it was Friday. The next morn-
ing he asked for me, and on my going to him he said I ought
to ask him to forgive me. I asked him what for, and he then
made charges of the grossest kind against me in very dis-
agreeable language in reference to the lowest characters.
He afterwards said that he would forgive me, and I should
come and dine with him. Mr. Barnet came down on Saturday
Nothing of an immoral character occurred between myself
and any one else on the night of Friday. I have heard some
affidavits of Dr. Winslow and Dr. Sutherland read; there is
no foundation for what is referred to in them. I accom-
panied Mr. Ruck with Mr. Barnet to Reading. On tl.e
way I slept in Mr. Ruck's bed-room at Birmingham. Ob-
serving me saying my prayers, Mr. Ruck remarked that
"might well say them." We arrived at Reading on
Sunday, and stayed there till the following Thursday. On
the Sunday Mr. Ruck ran away at Reading, having done
so twice previously. Od returning with a :policeman he
appeared very happy and merry, shook hands with
Mr. Barnet, and promised not to do it again. I slept
with him at Reading, and he was constantly talking
to me about improper conduct :on my part. He said
.
the electric telegraphs were going east, west, north, and
south about me. He accused me of general prostitution.
After he came back on Sunday he imagined he had forgiven
me, and said he would give me a large bonnet and shawl,
and take me to a place in London which people of my sup-
posed class frequented ; he said he would give me a
large bonnet because my countenance being conspicuous
people would recognise my character at once. He also
said that be would take me where I should not be re-
cognised, and where I could walk out with people of my
class. I have never in my life been at any place which
could connect me in his mind with such associations. Up to
October I was not aware of his having had two children by
Mary Jones. lie then told me so, and stated that Mary
Jones had been talking to him all night about them, and had
murdered them. At Reading, I found in his portmanteau
oatmeal, candle, walnuts, rags, and bits of paper. There
was a letter to a governess, and a memorandum-book.
[They were both produced and identified by the witness.]
It was only while I was nursing the children that I ever
occupied a different bedroom from my husband. My hus-
band's property in Kent yields about £1,200 a year; it is
now being taken care of by his brother-in-law. I have let
the farm in Wales. Before doing so I sold the stock, &c.
The sale realised about £1,300. I paid £579 for
debts, and £220 for housekeeping expenses, retain-
ing about .£5OO for the expense of these proceed-
ings. I have nothing left besides. Since my husband's
removal to Moorecroft (the asylum) I saw him there,
in January last. His delusions continued. He told
me that be had not forgotten a single thing that
occurred at Welchpool, and also referred to Mary Jones.
On my asking himwhat lie referred to as improper in my
conduct, he replied that lie would rather not tell me, as I
should only say it was delusion.
The learned counsel then read the following letter, ad_
dressed by Mr. Ruck to the governess of his children
" Welchpool, Oct. 30, 1837.
" Dear Miss Barton,—Will you be so goo as tolcmonutsl;
nue at your pest till you further bear from me
that
tell you that it has grieved me more than I can express
Mary Ann and myself have separated for
P ever—such
the fact, and for O common cause. Her infidelity is
a stroke I had never for a moment looked forwsrd to. What
can you think of that ? I myself was an eye-witness
is
certain overtures, most unmistakeable, on my
way up to thisplace, and certain facts, indescribable, asked—p positive
proof of her having been completely lost to society for some
time past. From her manner she was thoroughly prac-
tised, and no doubt gained while in London and else-
where. What a death blow. I might almost be dead to
the world; but then, she must sooner or later await the
consequences of her folly and wilful way. She bad clearly
become tired of her cares, for she said it was much pleasanter
travelling by herself than in my company and the children.
Of course, now, I cannot allow her to be with my children, or
in my house. I hope never to see her again, and tons