The Sun.
London, England, 1858-08-26 00:00:00

COMMISSION OF LUNACY ON MR. RUCK.

The proceedings under the commission de lunatics
inquirendo into the state of mind of Mr. Lawrence Ruck,
of Sittingbourne, Kent, !and Montgomeryshire, were conti-
nued yesterday by Mr. Commissioner Winslow and a special
jury, in the hall of St. Clement's-inn, Strand. The interest
awakened by the extraordinary disclosures which this most
painful Inquiry have brought to light was heightened
by the fact that the alleged lunatic was called and
examined at considerable length by the Commissioner.
This further ordeal did not occasion any perceptible differ-
me in the calmness of his demeanour since the commence-
ment of the inquiry, and his whole conduct continued to be
marked by strict propriety. His replies to the rigid exami-
nation of the learned Commissioner were given without
hesitation, but In so low a tone that their effect was almost
wholly lost, except to those who occupied seats in his
immediate vicinity.
Mr. Montagu Chambers, Mr. Sergeant Ballantine, and
Mr. Vaughan appeared as counsel in support of the com-
mission which had been sued out by the wife of the alleged
lunatic.
Mr. Edwin James, Mr. Sergeant Petersdorff, and Mr.
Gordon Allen represented Mr. Ruck.
The proceedings commenced at 10 o'clock with the ex-
amination of
Dr. Stillwell, the proprietor of the Moorecroft Lunatic
Asylum, in whieh establishment Mr. Ruck is confined. He
said—Mr. Ruck was placed in the asylum on the sth Novem-
ber, and is there still. He was admitted because be laboured
under delusions respecting his wife's fidelity. Mr. Ruck
bad accused Mr. Barnet, Mrs. Matthews, and Mrs. Ruck of
conspiring against him. lam of opinion that he is insane,
labouring under delusions. Since this commission has
issued Mr. Ruck has declined to speak on the subject, ex-
cept In the presence of his solicitor. On Sunday evening
last he wished to take his gun sad pistol case to town with
him. I objected to his doing so, and he then said " It is
that Barnet again with my wife." lam 27 years of
age.
Cross-examined by Mr. James—l cannot form an opinion
bow long it will be necessary to keep Mr. Ruck at Moore-
eroft. I have kept Moorecroft for two years; previously I
was superintendent of the Derby County Lunatic Asylum.
I did prevent Mr. Ruck seeing any one except a bar-
rister and his brother-in .law, Mr. Fisher, and that was
in accordance with the instructions of Mr. Barnet,
because he thought there would be an attempt to
get Mr. Ruck to sign some money order. I con-
cluded that Mrs. Ruck had empowered Mr. Barnet
to interfere. On one occasion I interdicted Mr. Ruck
from posting a letter when out walking with the
attendant. If the letter had been given in the usual way, it
would have gone to the post. Ido not read the letters
written by my patients, but I look at the addresses, that I
may know with whom they are communicating. On one
occasion I told Dr. Conolly that Mr. Ruck was improved.
On the 14th of November the Commissioners of Lunacy paid
their ordinary visit to the asylum, and then Mr. Ruck
had an opportunity of stating his case in my presence.
They made the following report :—" We have conversed
with Mr. Ruck, who we understand is much improved, and
will shortly be discharged, but it does not appear to us that
the delusions attributed to him are entirely removed." The
commissioners were Mr. Campbell and Mr. Gaskell. On
that occasion I said he would shortly be discharged, because
I could not retain a sane man. On the 1 tth of December
the commissioners again called, and reported that Mr. Ruck
was out at the time of their visit. Commissioners
Nairn and Lutwidge made another visit on February 2, and
reported that Mr. Ruck was still labouring under the delu-
sions he bad entertained with regard to his wife and others.
On the 13th May Commissioners Campbell and Wilkes
reported he was still labouring under delusions. On the
19,11 of the present month the commissioners reported, "We
have had a separate interview with Mr. Ruck, who declined
to enter into conversaiien, as his ease would be the matter
of an inquiry on Monday next."
Mr. James—Then the commissioners saw Mr. Ruck four
times altogether ?
Witness—They did.
Mr. James—When do you mean to say was the last time
on which Mr. Ruck expressed any delusion
Witness—l made my stfidavit on the 14th of June, and it
was about a wfkk afterwards.
Mr. James—Do you, as in all well-regulated establish
ments, keep a case-book
Witness—l do.
Mr. James—Where is that book
Witness--It is not here.
Mr. James—Then I must trouble you to send for it. Is
there any entry of the lest date in which he expressed ary
delusion which justifies you in saying he is mad ?
Witness—l all not certain.
Mr. James—You are not certain. You have stated on
your oath that the gentleman behind me is mad, and that
he expressed delusions for the last time on the 21st of June.
Where is the entry of this ?
Witnes—l think there will be found such an entry.
Mr. James—Since be has been with you he has been
rather economical I believe ? Ile did not squander his

money.
Witness—As far 23 I can judge he took care of any money
which he had in his pocket.
Mr. James—Have you not said that as regarded money
Le was as sensible as any man could be.
Witness—l might have said so.
Mr. James—But do you not think so, that is the
queition ?

Witness—He takes care of any money he has.
Mr. James—You state in your certificate of the 9th Of
November that " with respect to his mental state he i
insane and labouring under excitement from the abuse 0
ntoxicating liquors."
Witness—l believed at that time he was labouring under
excitement from the abuse of intoxicating liquors.
Mr. James—Have you altered that opinion ?
Witness—l have, in consequence of inquiries which I
made.

Mr. James—Of whom did you make those inquiries?
Witness—Mr. Barnet said his madness was partly here-
ditary and partly arose from intemperance. From the con-
clusions which I drew from the history of the case, I thought
it arose from the abuse of intoxicating liquors.
Mr. James—When did you alter your opinion. He has
been with you 10 months; has he ever been suffering from
an abuse of intoxicating liquors in your house ?
Witness—No.
Mr. James—Did you not say on the 10th of May he was
excited from drink ?
Witness—l do not recollect. He was not excited from
drink then.
Mr. James—No. But did you not then say that when
he was brought to your house he was excited by drink?
Witness—l do not recollect.
Mr. James—When did you change your mind?
Witness—l cannot tell.
Mr. James—Did you not tell Mr. Fisher, his brother-in-
law, that Mr. Ruck had been suffering from delirium
tremens'!
Witness—l heard so from Mrs. Fisher.
Mr. James—Did you not say it was delirium tremens?
Witness—No.
Mr. James—That you swear ?
Witness—l de.
Mr. James—Have you had in your asylum persons suffer-
ing from excitement caused by the abuse of intoxicating
liquors ?
Witness—Yes.
Mr. James—How many such patients have you had ?
Witness—l daresay two or three.
Mr. James—Have you cured them ?
Witness—yes.
Mr. James—How soon ?
Witness—Perhaps in two months.
Mr. James—Have they delusions under excitement from
the abuse of intoxicating liquors?
Witness—Yes.
Mr. James—What was the average time of cure ?
Witness—lt varies from years to months.
Mr. James—Were they all cured of delusions of every
form ?
Witness—yes.
Re-examined—The commissioners visit asylums without
notice. Whenever any case of difficulty presents itself to
my mind, I consult Dr. Conolly. There is besides the
surgeon of the establishment, who visits the patients every
day, and other medical men if required. If a person is
suffering from excitement caused by stimulants taken off
and on, It is more injurious than from a single instance.
In my treatment of Mr. Ruck he is allowed two glasses of
wine after dinner, and beer or wine and water at dinner.
He has not exhibited any symptoms of delirium tremens
since be came to my house. I was aware of Mrs. Ruck'd
desire that some of his relations should take charge of bum,
and did nothing to prevent such an arrangement from being
carried out. My reason for still thinking that lie is under
delusions Is that if he bad been sane be would have said,
"Doctor, I find all these things about my wife are untrue,"
but instead of that he declines speaking on the subject. Sup-
posing a person is under delusions be has sufficient power
over his mind to conceal them.
The Commissioner—ls that an isolated case ?
Witness—Yes. I have frequently met with cases in
which mind could not continue the delusions.
The 'Commissioner—When did you last call Mr. Ruck's
attention to the subject?
Witness—Oa Sunday evening; but he declined to speak
except in the presence of his lawyer.
The Commissioner—Has he done so on other occasions ?
Witness—Yes, on Monday morning.
Mr. Thomas Weller examined—l am superintendent of ,
the Moorecroft Asylum. I have been there for 16 or 17
years. I remember that in March last Dr. Stillwell was
unwell. Some time in March Mr. Ruck desired to have an
interview with me the next day. I went to him accordingly,
and we bad a conversation in a room alone. He began by
telling me of Mrs. Ruck's infidelity—that he had ocular