The Sun.
London, England, 1858-05-25 00:00:00

ing villa, proved that 'his tionse was attempted to bo
robb ed, and that Mr. Leach's wai broken into. He saw
Mr. Leach almost every day up to the time of his being
taken a way, and he al ways considered him a very sensible,
sane man, and quite competent to manage his affairs.
His mother lived with him a great portion of the time,
wid she never made any complaint of the condition of
his znind, or of any necessity that existed for his being
placed under control.
Dr. Connolly, the consulting physician at Han well for
20 years, was then examined, and he stated that in his
opinion Mr. Leach was quite competent to manage his
affairs. He said he had had very long conversations with
bin, and he allowed him to go on talking for a long time,
and he never exhibited the least incoherence. He did not
appear to desire to conceal anything, but candidly ad •
mitted that upon two occasions he bad been properly
placed under restraint.
Cross-examined—He had advised at one time that Mr.
Leach should be under surveillance, and that he should
travel, accompanied by a medical gentleman ; but his
opinion now was that any surveillance would be irksome
to him, and that it was quite unnecessary.
Re-examined—He distinctly stated on the former occa-
sion that, in his opinion, the best thing that soul I be done
was to release Mr. Leach from restraint.
By the Jury—lf there had been any trace of insanity in
the mind of Mr. Leach, the severe test that had been ap-
plied to him of confining him in a lunatic asylum for so
long a period was most calculated to bring it ont.
The following letter, addressed by Mr. Leach to his
brother-in-law, Mr. Sidden, while in confinement at Dr.
Winslow's, was then put in and read :

" Why, .Sidden, what a man you are to act as you have
done towards me I lam really annoyed at you and hardly
know how to write from impatience and disgust. To
cause me to 'be put under restraint - taking such a
cowardly advantage of my isolated position—a marvel
lous thing indeed that you should have such power in
this free country. But for my projected marriage such a
proceeding could never have entered your head. Why it
was only on the Sunday previously that I had the long
conversation with Laura, when I waited for you till half-
past five that we might talk the matter over. What was
there in my manner or language that would indicate the
shadow of a taint of insanity. I can confidently assort,
nothing, and so would Laura. But it seams she thinks
it less disgrace to live with a woman without marriage,
or to visit houses where men are in the habit of gratify-
ing their passions, than to contract a lawful marriage
with a person of different station from myself. I hold an
opposite opinion, and for that I am deprived of my liberty
—a most cruel and wicked step on your part, for which
you will some day have to answer, to your shame.
There is a Power above who will, sooner or later, right
the oppressed ; and on that righteous power I put my
implicit trust. Tnis house is not intended to hold persons
like myself, who happened togive offence to their mother
and sisters, but for those unfortunate ones who, under
delusion, think their right hand their left, or fancy them-
selves emperors or kings, &c., &c. Nobody ever triought
of imprisoning Charles Mathews when he married Ma-
.dame Vestrie, or Alfred Montague when he united him-
self to one of the same sort of women. And though
there is a religious motive assnciated with mine, if that
would indicate insanity, you might as well imprison the
whole body of Quakers, of Methodists, of Swedenbor-
gians, of Mormonitee, and I know not how many
more, who act according to their consciences, and be-
lieve that they act more or less under divine influence
in their everyday proceedings. Think of the Quakers,
who believe in what they call the inward spirit, and
never speak at their public meetings unless they
are, or think they are, moved by the Holy
Spirit. Women are allowed thus to speak as well
as men. How ridiculed they are, and have been, and
persecuted, everybody knows ; but we have lived to see
the day when they, and all religious sects, are freely
tolerated. It is grievous to think that but for my tem-
per on the Friday previous, and my divulging my in-
tended marriage, which by the way, if I had chosen, I
could have contracted secretly, neither you, nor any ore
else, would have cared, mars than you have over cared,
for my religious opinion; or conduct; that is to say, not
a twopenny-piece. I do hope and pray that both Win-
slow and Bartlett will be very soon convinced of my
perfect sanity, and that, as Englishmen and Christians,
they will hasten to wash their hands of this matter. If
not, and it were possible that you could succeed in keep•
ing me here, why then I might as well be in Rome, and
imprisoned in the inquisition, for denying the supremacy
of the Pope, or traesubstantiation, save and except that
there is no rack or torture, but on the contrary much
comfort, and every one trying to do the best they can
far us. Sidden, cease, I beseech you, from this unmanly
conduct, and show yourself a man, and somewhat wor-
thy to live in such a country as this, where Sabbaths,
and clergy, and bibles compel almost every man to know
right from wrong, where responsibility is, therefore,
greater, and retribution in cases of injury must be ter-
rible."

Mr. Garth then proceeded to sum up the case of the
alleged lunatic, and he urged that it had been most
clearly established that there was not the slghtest pre-
tence for saying that he was of an unsound mind, and
that he was entitled at once to be set at liberty.
Mr. Bovill then made a most able reply upon the
whole case. He particularly commented upon the ser•
vants, who were with Mr. Leach from the period of his
mother leaving the house until he was removed to Dr.
Witi>low's Asylum, not having bean cal'el a 4 witnesses
to show what his conduct really was during that period,
and he said that the only inference that could be
drawn from their absence was, that if they had
been called they would have been compelled to
admit that he was in a state of insanity. The
learned counsel commented upon the evidence
that had been adduced on both sides, and concluded by
expresAog his opinion that there could be no re,onable
doubt of the insanity f this unfortunate gentLman, and
that the jury would have no alternative but to return a
verdict to teat effect.

The Commi,sioner addressed a very few observations
to the jury, and at half-past seven o'clock the room was
cleared, and they proceeded to deliberate upon their
verdiec.

In a very few minutes the C)urt was re-opened, when
the f rernan announced that, by a majority of 19 to 4,
they were of opmion that Mr. Leach was of sound mind,
and perfectly competent to manage his affairs.
There was a burst of applause when the verdict was
prJnounced.

THE BITE _VSITTIO PLATE ROBBERY AT

LOR D FOLEY'S.

Henry Whetstone, Thomas De Puzsy, Geo. Cherry,
Thos. Partridge, and Margaret Picket, were yesterday
again brought up before Mr. Bingham, at the Marl-
borough-street Police-court, charged with the above rob-
bery, and Samuel Baujunia with receiving a portion of
the plate, knowing it to be stolen.
The bo 'y of the court, as on each preceding occasion,
was excessively crowda.l, and Col. Foley and several dis-
tinguished friends of Lerd Foley's family occupied seats
en the b-nch.
Mr. Humphreys, jan., conducted the cage for the pro-
secution, and the defence, as before, was placed in the
hands of Messrs. Edward Lewis, nf Marlborough-street,
Gilliam, a Bedford-row, and Lewis and Son, of Ely-
place.
Mr. Superintendent Hannant attended on the part of
the police.
The self-same bravado was shown by most of the pri•
Boners during this examination as has been already
noticed, particularly by the woman Picket, and, as re-
lates to the latter, to so great au extent that the magis-
trate was under the necessity of frequently checking her
noisy cavils, finding that it incommoded the business in
hand.

Mr. llumplirees opened the case by observing that at
the laAt remand hopes were entertained that certain in-
foreeation would have r?ached him by to-day, which would
have enabled him to conclude the evidence for the prose-
cution ; he bond, however, that he should be compelled
to ask for a further remand before the case could be com-
pleter!. It would be remembered that one of the
witnesses had deposed to a remark made by one of the
prisoners seen at the railings of Lord Foley's house, that
they had been working lete there, and had been to reset
a grate, and he should now produce evidence to show
that no such work had been done.
Will am Cork sworn, said, I am ball-porter at Lord
Fol-y's house. I wee away during the absence of the
family from town, from the let to the Bth April. I re-
member the night of the 90, when Suthers, the footman,
went to the theatre. He left at half-past six, and did not
return till half past one. In Suthere' absence there were
no workmen whatever on the premises, and no grate heed
been set or repaired. There had boon workmen in the
house during the day, but they left before Sutbers went
out. I also recollect Inspector Park ex unining the ser-
vants after the robbery, The prisoner Whetstone said
to me, "A 1), the robbery was too cleve:ly done to be
found out."
Cross-examined by Mr. E. Leis—The subject of the
robbery bad been general matter of conversation amorg
the servants,

John Tonkin re-examined—On the 28th of March
there were three green baize wrappers in the plate-room
exactly similar to the one produc.el. On the 14th of
April, oa opening the plate room, there were only two,
one being missing. The previous morning, when going
out, I saw
.Mrs. Beardrnov, the charwoman, cleaning
the passage. Teis was at half-pa-t seven, and there were
no male servants down stairs at that time.
Daniel John Steward—l live at 23, Manning-street,
Limn-grove. I was last month in the service of Mr.
Baker, a clothier, at 18, Chapel-street, Edgware-road.
Oa Friday, the 9th, Partridge paid ins for a coat and
other articles 2/. 53. I afterwards saw De Puzey, arid
he paid me 2/. 53., the balance of a coat. This was on
the 10qi. Partridge bought an overo iat for 1/. 7s. It
was on the 10th that I first raw Partridge and De
Puzey together. I know Cherry by sight, but have not
seen him in company with the others.
Mr. Humphreys said he hal no further evidence to
offer to-lay.
Mr. Lewis, sen.—This is a most unfair proceeling, as
far as Benjamin is concerned. Without saying a word
about his innocence or guilt, I must comp'ain of the
great number of remands he has been sujected to.
Benjamin was taken into custody in the early part
of April, since which ho has been remanded no less
than six time-i,
,without any additional evidence hav-
ing been brought against him, and bail has been alway 4
refused. It is in your discretion, sir, to refirie bail,
but without desiring in the remotest degree to
make any reference to what has passed in this court,

would-beg to remind you of the saying that the
discretion of judges is the law of tyrants. My appli-
cation again is, that Benjamin should be admitted to
bail, or at once committed.

Mr. Bingham—Notwithstanding the emphatic lan-
guage in which you have exhorted me, 1 mu t take
upon myself the responsibility of refusing your applica-

Mr. Lewis—l have yet another application to make.
When my client was apprehended, articles of plate, bis