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

insist upon her going elsewhere. I think now the country
is tarnished beyond redemption, and I shall say good bye
for ever. I believe I shall not appear at any rate for a long
time. It now remains for me to make my own arrange-
ments. The children I should like to school in London.
Arthur Dickie might go to that school near Birkenhead, Amy
and the little ones to London, where I trust we may give
them the attention they stand in need of. -Will you write
to me at the post restant, General Post-office, stating what
money you require, and collect the bills in? I must tell you
beside all this that I have cut, and shall never see Mrs.
Matthews again, owing to her most violent conduct to me
at Pantlldu, while Mary Jones was there, who has most
insolently and shockingly betrayed me to the whole world."

Cross-examined by Mr. E. James—The memorandum
book produced was written at Welcbpool, the letter on the
31st of October. I knew Mr. Ruck's father. I suppose he
was a country gentleman. I never saw him before the
marriage. He resided near Sittingbourne. My husband
inherited the sum of £1,200 a year from an uncle or a cousin.
He never proposed that we sheuld separate. Miss Jones
lived principally with my mother, Mrs. Matthews, and
when the latter went to Pantildu Miss Jones accompanied
her. Miss Jones is my cousin. My mother is not now in
London. She is ill. For two months before the events
of which I have spoken in October last, I was away
from my husband. I was visiting in various places—Bed-
fordshire, Yorkshire, Lancashire, Kent, and Reading.
During the last two or three years he was in the habit of
drinking occasionally to excess. He was not perfectly well
when he left home in August. He had rheumatic pains. 1
started from home on the 28th of October. It was in con- '
sequence of a letter from Mrs. Matthews. [This letter was
produced. It stated that Mr. Ruck was far from well, and
advised Mrs. Ruck to come home without delay. The
writer said, " Mind, there is nothing serious."] I suppose
the object of saying there was nothing serious was to allay
my anxiety. [The certificate authorising the reception of
Mr. Ruck at the asylum was here preduced and read
by Mr. James. It stated that the attack was the
first, and extended over two years, and as to the supposed
cause the words used were, "Probably partly hereditary,
and partly from intemperance."] Mr. Barnett, a surgeon
at Reading, filled in the words " Probably partly hereditary,
and partly from intemperance." I did not read the order.
I don't know that Mr. Ruck's family had ever shown in-
sanity. I kad always understood that there was great ec-
centricity in them. I had seen his father. His manner was
very extraordinary, but I can't describe it. Mr. Barnet's
name is not on his door as asurgeon. I do not know that he has
any place for dispensing medicines. When I saw my husband
in January he told me that he was perfectly well, and ought to
be released. I do not remember directing Dr. Stillwell
never to allow any person to see him. In May I directed
that gentleman not to allow Mr. Wainwright, Mr. Ruck's
professional adviser, to see him. I asked Dr. Stillwell not
to allow Mr. Ruck to have money for any purpese. I knew
that he wanted money to try the question of his insanity.
Mr. E. James—Did you not refuse to let him have any
money, and was net an application made in consequence to
the Lords Justices, who ordered £230 to be allowed to have
the question of insanity tried before a jury?
Witness—l asked Dr. Stillwell not to allow a money-
order to be signed for any purpose.
Cross-examination continued— Mr. Wainwright never
told me that if I did not allow money for this purpose of
trying the question he would apply to the Court. I heard
of the petition to the Lords Justices in June. I have paid
Dr. Stillwell £lOO. The charge for residence in the asylum
is to he £4OO a-year. I gave my husband £2B when he
went into the asylum ; I have not supplied him with any
I money since. I have had no income myself. I have kept
,E3OO to conduct this case.

Mr. James—Having kept £5OO to conduct this case, have
you not refused to let your husband have one farthing?
Witness—l refused to let Mr. Wainwright have any
money.
Cross-examination continued—Mr. Goord receives the
rents in Kent. Dr. Stillwell told me that an order for
money had been asked for by Mr. Wainwright. I always
refused to consent to any order. Mr. Wainwright never
asked me for money at Dr. Stillwell's. I bad no power to
give an order on Mr. Goord.
Mr. James—Did you not refuse to allow your husband
to sign an order on Mr. Goord fur money to conduct his
defence ?
Witness—l asked Dr. Stillwell not to allow Mr. Wain-
wright to obtain any money-order.
Mr. James—For the conduct of your husband's case ?

Witness—To Mr. Wainwright.
Mr. James—Who advised you to commence these pro.
ceeding3?
Witness—Mr. Goord.

Cross-examined—Dr. Conolly was sent for to Reading. I
slept with my husband on the very night before he wag taken
to the asylum. I was alarmed. I also slept with him at
Birmingham. On that occasion he went to the portman-
teau, where he kept his razors, and that also alarmed me.
I have let the farm in Wales for V2O a-year. The tenancy
began in June. I saw Dr. Sutherland in May, before this
commission was contemplated. I bad not seen my husband
since January.
Re-examined by Mr. M. Chambers—l am takir g care of
my six children. I pay rent for the house at Aberdovey.
The house at Pantlldu is my mother's for her life. Mr.
Goord has always managed the property in Kent. During
my husband's confinement, he (Mr. Gourd) has not given me
any money. My husband has a brother and sister who
are, I believe, well oil, and might have supplied hick
with funds. Mr. Ackworth, my husband's solicitor at
Rochester, never made any arplication to me for money on
account of my husband. I asked several of my husband's
family to take care of him, and they refused to do so. I have
always been willing that he should be in their charge. I
believe he is insane, because be is under delusions,
and also because the highest medical authorities have
declared that be is insane. I have had conversations with
his brother on the subject, and he told the that he himself
had.been in the same state. I have visited my husband's
relatives in Kent, and been on friendly terms with them
since lie was placed in the asylum. I had no power to sanc-
tion any order on Mr. Goord for money. I knew that the
proper course was to apply to the Lords Justices fur money
to conduct the defence, and I did not oppose that proceed-
ing. lam not aware whether or not my husband still has
in his possession some of the VS which he took with him
into the asylum. I have from time to time written to the
asylum to make inquiries about him. In February be re-
fused to see me at the asylum. He wrote a very rational
letter to me in January.
This letter was then read. It was dated the Ist ofJanuary.
The writer complained of having been left so bang in the
asylum, and asked Mrs. Ruck to come and see him. It
was, he said, cruel to confine him there, as be had never
deserved such treatment, and he awaited her coming with
much impatience.
Witness continued—l went to the asylum without delay.
His first look was of anger, and he said he had not for-
gotten what occurred at Welchpool. It was then arranged
between us that I should come again in February. I went
then, and be refused to see me.
By the Commissioner-4 have been repeatedly to Moore-
crott (the asylum) since February, and he has always re-
fused to see me. Dr. Stillwell told me that it was best not
to press him to see me, as he had expressed an unwillingness
to do so.
Edward Harrison examined—l am a surgeon residing at

Welchpool. On the 29th of October last I was summoned
to see Mr. Ruck at the Oak Inn. Mrs. Ruck stated to me
what had occurred an the journey to WelchFol. I found
Mr. Ruck walking in the entrance passage of the inn, and
he seemed excited. I was told that he had ordered a fly, and

I found him sitting in one with no horses attached io it.
His remaining in that position attracted attention, and I
endeavoured to persuade him to leave, but he refused. He
said he would not go into any house where Mrs. Ruck was, as
she had coaducted herself in an improper way with a gentle-
man, a fellow-traveller in a coach. On my questioning him
on this subject, he said he saw a glance of recognition
between Mrs. Ruck and the gentleman, and knew from
that that there had been something improper. Ultimately
be left the fly and got into auother, which was under a shed
in the yard. He remained in the two flys probably fir some
hours. Not being able to give up the whole of my own time
to him I proposed that he should he watched. Mrs. Ruck
appeared in great distress of mind. Two respectable per-
sons were employed to watch him. I arrived at the con-
clusion that he was under delusions, imagining things which
could not possibly have taken place in that house. Oa every
visit I paid to him, and I visited him every day, he stated
to me that she had had gonnexion with all in and about the
beteri knew
possibly kMrws
hera any time. t
ti'hoattel,thanatd ts
bt
aa,tottlateenyt ecootzoiild hnaovte
Ruck's conduct at Welchpool was, as far as I observed it,
that of a most virtuous person. Mr. Ruck's behaviour did
the first interview that
Mrs. Ruck gave me to understand at
not appear to me to be the result- of immediate drinking.
he had been leading a very irregular Lind of life, and had
occasionally drunk to great excess; but
notwithstanding
-
this I arrived at the conclusion that his conduct was not the
result of immediate drinking. I did not consider him to
have delirium tremens; I thought it was acute mania.
Mr. Ruck gave a £lO note to each of the two assistants
who watched him, and who were sergeants of the Montgo-
meryshire militia. They afterwards handed them over to
me.
Cross-examined by Mr. E. Janes—The sergeants did not
tell me that the £lO notes were given to them by Mr. Ruck
to let him go. The excitement in which I found him might
have arisen from the excessive use of intoxicating liquors.
Re-examined by Mr. .11. Chambers—Habits of intem-
perance tend to produce permanent insanity. The ser-
geants employed to watch were not in regimentals. I knew
them to be respectable men.
inDsivid Arnold, a Welsh postman—l have been a servant
the employ of Mr. Rack. My wife washed for the family.
Some time before I left he made a proposition to me respect-
ing ray wife. He offered me £3OO if I would comply. I
did not say much to him. There was nobody in the house
but myself, and I dared not say much to a man like that.
I did not consider him in a proper state of mind. No man
in a right state of mind would have made such a proposition
to a poor man like me.
Cross-examined by Mr. James—l left Mr. Ruck's service
a twelvemonth ago last March. He had made this Morrao-
nite proposition to me about six weeks before. I told my
wife at the time. (A laugh.) I told nobody else till I told
Mr. Williams a for night ago, when he came to ask me
whether I had lived with Mr. Ruck.
Mr. Bailey said that until he rode in the coach with Mr.
and Mrs. Ruck they were perfect strangers to him. `there
had never been the slightest impropriety between him and
Mrs. Ruck.

Rowland Evans, postboy at the Wynnstay Arms—l have
driven Mr. Ruck the country. Last October I drove
horses, but to kee.utLlmOinmtihlees
noyff..
him to a He told me to feed my
the fly for threelab
Be got out several °I!1.8.
good three miles.l did so, and left them in
It was nearly 12 'oetore we left.
times,.e on the way back. He walked a
dropped the grease. Yie usedw to carry candles about and
Cross-examined by Mr. was at length shut out.
hint out twice. Did not consideerTierff—Had only driven
i
remark-
ablet
that a gentleman should walk part
very
r. Ruck only walked in the dark. vrt of the way ; but
M
e ought not to have
made me keep my horses in the fly.
Mr. M. Chambers—What was there in him that struck
you ?
Witness—He did not strike me at all. (Laughter.)
Mr. Chanakers--But what was there strange about his
conduct?
Witness—There was nothing part'cular, except keeping
the hcms in the carriage.
Mr. Barnet deposed that he was a member of the College