The Sun.
London, England, 1858-06-09 00:00:00

COMMISSION OF LUNACY.

(THIS D,A Y.)
(Before Mr. Commissioner Barlow.)
The commission of lunacy, ordered by the Lords Jus-
tices, to inquire into the state of mind of Sir H. Meux, the
head of the large brewing firm, was resumed this morning,
at the Thatched House Tavern, St. James's-street.
Mr. Montagu Chambers, Q. 0., Mr. Bovill, Q.C., and
Mr. Bodkin, appeared for the petitioners, Lerd and Lady
Malden and Mrs. Arobin ; Mr. Montague Smijth, Q.C.,
and Mr. Quain for Sir William and Lady Bowyer Smijth
in support of the petition ; and the Attorney-General,
Mr. James Wilde, Q.C., Mr. Edwin James, Q.C., and
Mr. Hawkins, for Lady Meux.
From the account published in The Sum yesterday, it

would seem that the main object of the commission was
to ascertain whether, when Sir Henry Motu executed a
certain deed, supposed to be in the July of last year, he
was in a state of mind competent to the management of
his own affairs. The deed in question is supposed to be
in favour of his wife and infant son, and as sueh a pro-
ceeding is of the greatest importance to all parties con-
cerned, the present steps have been taken to fix the date
of the commencement of the lunacy, and so determine the
value of the document alluded to.
A number of witnesses were examined, amongst whom
was Dr. Connolly, who deposed that at the time he saw
Sir H. Meux, in the early part of the year 1837, he con-
e sidered him to be in a state of mind capable of managing
his own affairs.

The case was proceeding when we went to press.

LAW INTELLIGENCE—(This Day.)

COURT OF CHANCERY.
(Before the Lord Chancellor.)
JUDGMENT-ArPEAL-THE SOMERSET COAL CANAL COI(

PANT V. HARCOURT.

This me has been previously reported during the
hearing. It will be recollected that the company filed
their bill, chiming, under the act of Parliament a con-
v-yance to 6 acres, 2 roods, and 34 perches of land at
Baigravey, belonging to Lord Ba'grave, for 2461., being
at the rate of 30 years' purchase of the rent of the land.
....aigrave pleaded minority—objected to the
sale, and alleged the company possessed the lands in
question as tenants, for payment of rent only,
and that he was entitled to erect a bridge over
their railway or canal. The Lord Chancellor,
after delivering a very long, learned, and elaborate
judgment in this case this morning, came to the conclu-
sion that the company had not made out their claim to a
conveyance of the land in question, and dismissed their
bill with costs, but continued their possession of the
said lands as tenants, declaring that the company were
still intitled to apply to the commissioners of the county
for an award of these lands in terms of their Act of
Parliament. The company undertaking to apply to the
commissioners within three months, continue the in-
junction against the use of the bridge to the injury of
the canal or railway, with liberty to apply to his lord*
ship or any other judge of the Chancery Courts.

ROLLS COURT.
(Before the Ma3ter of the Rolle, Sir John RomillY.)

JUDGMENT-ADAMS Y. ADAMS.

His Honour the Master of the Roll, in delivering
judgment, said that the only point reserved for his con-
sideration in this case was whether, under the will Of
the late Sir W. Adams, Mr. W. C. Adams, the second
son of Sir W. Adams, took a vested interest in the 50111
of 6,0001. legacy left by the will. He considered that.
the second son of the testator took a vested interest in
the legacy at the time when he became of age, 21, and
was entitled to claim it, and that he was not bound to
wait till a final distribution of the family's claims or
legacies.

His Honour decreed accordingly.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.—(This

MARLBOROUGH-STREET.
ROBBERY BY A PORTER.—Ed ward Ames, 17, °sill
charged with stealing the sum of 61. tbe money of Fro-.
derick Strong, tailor, of 39 and 40, Haymarket.
_IA
Joseph Matthew Mart, clerk to the prosecutor, "7
the prisoner was in the service of the prosecutor as purter'
and it was his duty of a night after the shop was claw.
to take the keys into the next house and deliver theta
to either Mr. or Mrs. Strong. On Thursday last be
gave him the keys as usual and also a bag containing
51. note, a sovereio, and a few halfpence. Instead
delivering the keys as he should have done, he left
them in tbe passage, and went away, and vial
not seen again till last night. The prisoner, who hell
entered the service with a good character, had only beep
in the prosecutor's service a few weeks.
Inspector Comb said the prisoner gave himself up at
the statiou-house. Prisoner said he would admit taking
the money, all but the• 51. not, which was not 41 tho
bag. He would plead guilty.
Mr. Bingham said he must be committed. At the
same time it was sad that a lad with good prospects be-
fo e him should yield to a temptation that would kr ever
ruin him.
Committed for three months.

THAMES.
THE DANGER OF LOOKING AT PUNCH AND JODY''....
Charles Jones, a well-known and dexterous thief, p.'ll
brought before Mr. Yardley, charged with rtealing •
silver watch, value 41., from the person of Antonio Cor:
dose, an Italian seaman, whose evidence was delivered
through the msdiutn of Mr. Abraham Me'dole, an ine
terpreer, of No. 90, Leman-street, Whitechapel.
The prosecutor stated that yesterday afternoon be 10''
looking at the performance of Punoh and Judy in Iler
tune-street, Wellclosc-'quare, and at that part of the
performance where Shalaballa and Punch were Sg
be was laughing Leartily, when he felt a tug at his wiktobssi
and saw prisoner with it in his band. He instantly mei° A.
the prisoner, who threw tho watch upon the groundL.o
man picked it up, and the prisoner snatched it from a.
and ran away. He followed the prisoner and never loov
sight of him until he was stopped.
Richard Noble, a seaman, stated that he picked 1.13d1
watch from the ground in front of the punch and) 1,11
show at which he was looking. The prisoner had e
foot' partly over tbe watch. The prisoner snatched I'L.
watch from him and ran away.
John Manning, a police constable, No. 50 A saiv
tb
prisoner running at full speed, and many persons rtlnnivg
r.
after him calling out "stop thief." He seised the P'
goner and detained him. The prisoner raid a man be.
hind gave him the watch.
Former convictions against the prisoner were prole
He was a notorious thief.

Mr. Yardley committed the prisoner for trial.

10 THE EDITOR OF THE SUN•

t
SlR,—Any other man than Mr. Hayward, Ir'l4ian
informed that I never had any conversation
the late Mr. James Smith or his brother, on ti've
subject of the title of my Miscellany, Would hate
expressed regret at having published an anecdo
wholly devoid of foundation in fact.
Instead of this, he has raised an issue on its trutl'af
and adduced, on his own authority, the name,,of is
deceased gentleman, to contradict me. Thy c,
easily done, but is not satisfactory. Our roll!
tive reputation for veracity is before the Pll_b'::
I will not appeal to the dead, but to the living
and refer him, for his satisfaction, to the meow%
of his own profession, the Benchers of the Ten3P'''
whose estimate of him is well known.
Mr. Hayward is pleased to call this groundlegg
anecdote, which is calculated to throw ridieu.le
~.
upon me, " a harmless pleasantry." If I were to
publish Theodore Hook's story of his affecting aP,-,
peal to him to " Spare dear Caroline for his sakes
es
he might understand how an absurd story huts
to be harmless when it becomes personal.—Yo"
faithfully,
(Signed) RICHARD BENTLEY
N©w Burlingtou-street, June 5, 1858.