The Sun.
London, England, 1859-06-18 00:00:00

'IDE IN ST.

GREECE.
A private letter from Athens, of the 9th, con
tains the following :
" The Legislative session closed on the sth inst. The
King, who generally does not attend the closing of the
Chambers, apparently thought it incumbent on him to be
present on this occasion, to trace out to the nation in a
manner not to be mistaken the line which Greeee should
follow in the present circumstances. lie gave it to be un-
derstood that it is the same which the Powers prescribed
to him to adopt; while at the same time he did not con-
sider their counsels as incompatible with the honour and
the true interests of the country.
" In the meantime, under the pretext of arousing nation-
alities, intriguers are busy. Like those who, in 1854, re-
presented the King and his Government as Russian, they
are now proclaimed as sympathising with Austria. Every
prudent advice given to the populations is interpreted as
treason to France, and to the sacred interests of the coun-
try. These people, though very few in number, make a
great deal of noise. They excite the credulous and the
students. There was on the 7th a tumultuous manifesta-
tion when the news came of the victory of Magenta. They
assembled under the windows of the French Minister's
residence with cries of ' Italy for ever I' `France for
ever 1" The emancipation of nationalities for ever 1' As
France insists that Greece shall be calm, these mani-
festations have no other result than to excite the public
mind, and bring about in the East a crisis which England,
France, and Russia wish to avoid—and this is the only un-
pleasant view of the question."
The following is the speech of the King on clos-
ing the third session of the fifth Parliament :
" Gentlemen Deputies—Gentlemen Senators,—
" The Legislative Session having reached its conclusion,
I thank the Chambers for the aid they have afforded my
Government in endowing the country with useful laws. 25
years have revolved in the course of this Parliament since
my arrival in Greece. I resolved to appear in person among
you, in order that at the moment of taking leave of you, I
may repeat my thanks to tie representatives of the nation,
and through them to my well-beloved people for the senti-
ments of devotedness and fidelity which they manifested on
the solemn day when the jubilee of this quarter of a century
was celebrated.
" During that period of time, having completely devoted
myself to Greece, I identified myself with her feelings, her
wants, and her interests, and for her I have never receded,
nor will I recede, before any sacrifice. In this interval I
have happily seen Greece march rapidly in the path of in •
tellectual and material progress. Every time the country
has been engaged in difficulties they have been overcome,
thanks to the love and confidence which unite the Sovereign
and the people, and which are the best guarantees of her
prosperity for the future.
" Let this bond of mutual confidence remain indissoluble
during the present complications in Europe, during which
my Government follows the line of conduct traced to it by
the councils of the Powers who have particularly contri-
buted to establish the independence of Greece. My Go-
vernment will ever proceed in the course prescribed by the
great interests and honour of the country. I, for my own
part, know of no happiness but that of Greece. In declar-
ing the third session of the fifth Legislature closed, Ice."-
yoke the blessing of the Almighty on you and on Greesth
Another private letter from Athens of the

inst. says :
" The summer in which the Grand Duke has been re-
0-GrLatiLetinople confirms all that I wrote to you
some short time since.
" The Sultan had expressed the desire of taking part in
the grand diplomatic dinner which was to be offered to the
Duke, but yielding to the earnest opposition of his advisers,
he declared that no one should prevent him from break-
fasting en
.famille with the brother of the Emperor Alex-
ander. I learn from an excellent source that all facilities
will be given to Russia—all that the Grand Duke Constan-
tine may demand will be granted to him. Rus
•
sia may be
said to be already mistress of Constantinople."

GUN VESSELS FOR HER MAJESTY'S SERVICE.—
Mr.o Miller, shipbuilder, Toxteth-park, Liverpool,
iTas dust received an order from Government to construct
two espatch gun-vessels of upwards of 450 tons burthen.
It is affirmed that during the last month a con-
tinental contract has been in execution in this country for
60,000 bags of ships' bread. This would suffice for 30 sail
of the line for six months. Looking, also, at the purchases
of horses, coal, and other material, the flow of money to
England, which has been one of the first consequences of
the war, is easily explained.
The Peninsular and Oriental steamer Colombo,
to sail on Monday, will take £282,306 for the East, of
which £1,200 is in gold for Ceylon, £2,814 in gold and
£134,150 in silver for India, and £144,142 in si:ver for
China and the Straits. The whole is on private account.
THE CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.—On the Ist of
July next and thenceforward the provisions of the colonial
book post will be extended to book packets addressed to the
seaports of Port Elizabeth (Algoa Bay) and Mossel Bay
(Aliwall), Cape of Good Hope, and such book packets may
be sent under the same rules and regulations as those for
Cape Town. The postage will also be the same—that is,
3d. for a packet not exceeding four ounces in weight, and
so on. In the case of books addressed to persons residins
in inland districts of the Cape colony the public are.recom-t
mended to address' them to the care of an agent either a
Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, or Mossell Bay.
THE CLIOURA.—We regret to learn,
vices from India brought by the last mail, that
app
with troops
ears that
has
made its appearance in the Calcutta river.
the Pomona, Benson, proceededhclearedtaot Cal tbcybooleurra
on the 27th April, and
17deaths, sviz., 15 of the troops
raging on board, and that -ea,CillitlatcT the cholera
dwithin four days before the
and two of the erew-7—occurre 399 ersona on board,
f her Majesty's 84th and 32d Foot, and
including drafts 0.
Train, nine women, and 14 children
pilot left her. r 01310119, left with P
2d battalion of Military
32d
Regiraent,—Shipping Gaze
of Major Etdemin.ston, of her Majesty's
under command

SUI

CORONER'S INQUEST—(THIS DAY).
This morning Mr. IVakley resumed the inquiry which
he commenced on Thursday at the King's Head, Swinton-
street, relative to the deaths of Mrs. Elizabeth Cruft and
her two children. It will be recollected that the unfortu-
nate woman killed her two children by cutting their throats
with a razor, and then destroyed her own life in a similar

manner.
The first witness called was Susan Clark, of 76, Judd-
street, who said—l found the bodies of the deceased in the
parlour at eleven o'clock on Wednesday morning. I had
been washing in the back kitchen. Having knocked at the
door and receiving no answer, I put a ladder to the window
and saw what had been done. I instantly raised an alarm,
and a policeman was sent for, who broke open the door and
went into the parlour. Mrs. Cruft always behaved well
to her children. Sho never laid a hand on them. On
Tuesday she appeared somewhat strange in her con-
duct. She said, " I'm gone I feel my head
gone." I said, " You ought to go into the
country." Deceased said she " could not go into the coun-
try as her head was gone—it felt so light." She was a very
temperate woman. She appeared to me enciente, and she
said "it was wicked of God to allow her to be in that way
so soon again." It was that which appeared to prey on her
mind.
Police-constable, 451 A, said—l was called to 52, Swin-
ton-street on Wednesday morning. On going into the
room I found the mother lying across the bed, her feet on
the floor, with her throat cut. I then saw two children
with their throats cut. A white sheet covered the mouth
of the woman. I then looked under the bed in the adjoin-
ing room to see whether any one was there. I found a
razor at the feet of the woman on the floor. There was a
large pool of blood on the floor ; it appeared to have run
from the bed, which was saturated with blood.
Mary Thompson, a little. girl about 12 years of age, was
next called, she said—l was servant to Mrs. Cruft. I went
to 52, Swinton-street, about half-past nine last Wednesday
morning. Mrs. Cruft was in the back parlour—her bed-
room—taking her breakfast. The children were in the
room. The baby was in bed ; the other was sitting in a
chair in her night clothes. Mrs. Cruft spoke as usual.
She directed me to sweep the front room. I remained there
about half an hour. She then told me to go to the shoe-
makers to get some shoes she had left to be repaired. She
told me not to run, as it might make me ill, the day was.
so hot. She told me to make haste, as she wanted to dress
the children. I returned in 20 minutes, but could not get
into
childrenth e
. room.rh a
vAelr Mrs.
never Cruftseseen
her wasbeat alwaysth verym. She
atowathyes
took them with her when she went out. Mrs. Cruft some-
times would be singing about the room at one minute and
e
crying the next. She said nobody seemed to care about
her. On Tuesday she said she felt better than she had
done for a long time. Mr. Selwood, a surgeon, was at-
tending her. He did not come on the Sunday or Monday,
and Mrs. Craft did not appear to like it. I never saw a
razor in the room. I never saw Mr. Cruft shave himself
at home.
Mr. George Cruft, husband of the deceased, said her
Christian name was Ann. She was 25 years of age. The
eldest child was three !years and a half old, and the
youngest three months. I last saw them alive at half-
past eight on Wednesday morning. I left them in bed.
I observed nothing unusual in her conduct. She
was generally very ;reserved. She on one occasion said
she wished she could get rid of her own life to relieve
me. I tried to thee, her up. She seemed for the last two
weeks to be very desponding. She told mebefore marriage
that three or four of her uncles had committed suicide.
She told me, as well as I can remember, that one jumped
out of the window, one hung himself, and the other cut
his throat. She was not of a communicative turn of mind.
She was very kind and affectionate to her children, I
don't know where she got the razor. I had not used it for
two or three years, and I cannot recollect where I put it
when I last used it. Last Sunday morning she asked ma
which was the best way to commit suicide. I told her not
to think about such a thing. I tried to cheer her up, and
told her she would get over it in a short time.
By the Coroner—lf she laboured under any delusion she
tried to conceal it from me.
Rebecca Freeman, landlady of 52, Swinton-street, said
the Crafts havelodged in my house about eight months. Of
late I have seen a great deal of Mrs. Cruft; she was a kind
and affectionate mother. I never knew her to threaten or
use violence towards her children. She was of very tem-
perate habits, and lived very happily with her husband.
Last Friday week Mrs. Craft complained of her head, and
said she could not sleep of a night. She had done so since
that time.
Mr. Selwood, surgeon, of Great Percy-street, Clerken-
well, said—l have been in attendance on Mrs. Craft. Last
Wednesday morning I was sent for and I found the three
bodies as has been already described. The wounds were
the most desperate I had ever seen. They were all double
cuts. The cuts in the throats of the children penetrated to
the back-bone. I have made a post mortem examination of
the body of deceased. The brain was dry and firm.
skull was particularly thick for a female. The stomach
was healthy, and from the hearty breakfast she bad
taken she appeared to be a good feeder. She was not
pregnant. The heart was perfectly healthy. There was
nothing excitable about her. She was as quiet, Mild, and
gentle a little creature as ever lived. Death must have
been instantaeous, as she had severed all the arteries. The
children were killed as they laid. They could not have
moved a finger after the wounds had been made. She
appeared to be dispirited at the thought of having another
child so soon.
The Coroner—lt is one of the most melancholy cases
within my knowledge.
Mr. Selwood—l never saw such cut throats before in all
my life.
The Coroner—You, Mr. Selwood, have heard the evi-
dence ; what is your opinion as to the state of deceased's

mind?
Mr. Selwood—That she was decidedly insane.
The Coroner—lt appears to me clear that the dreadful
acts were those committed by a maniac, and it is impossible
that so mild, good, and kind a mother could have com-
mitted such an act while in her right senses.
The jury found that Mrs. Cruft committed the wounds
on her children and herself, not being in a sound state of
mind at the time.
Mr. Wakley said it was one of the most melancholy cases
be had ever presided over. It showed clearly that lunacy
was hereditary, and descended from one generation to
another. It was to be regretted that persons, on being
made acquainted with such a circumstance, should marry
into a family so afflicted. It would be much more de-
sirable to forego the strong feeling of love for a particular
person, in whose family there was unsoundness of mind,
and if such was more generally the case a great deal of
suffering and misery would be avoided.
A Juror—l don't think such a thought occurs to one in

a thousand.
The proceedings then terminated.

WILLS AND BEQUESTS,.

4

The will of the Right Hon. Frances Countess of
Harrowby was administered to in the London
Court of Probate, and special letters of administra-
tion, with the will annexed, granted on the 4th of
June to the Right Thin. Dudley Earl of Harrowby,
the husband and sole executor. The countess had
made her will on the 28th of October, 1856, and a
codicil on the 3d of August, 1858, disposing of her
remaining interest in the sum of £20,000, under
the will of the late Marchioness of Bute, her mother,
and which the countess has bequeathed to the earl,
her husband, to dispose of as his lordship
.nlai
become the think proper ; otherwise, at his decease, it Is t°
property of the sons not holding the
title of Earl of Harrowby ; and bequeaths an eme-
rald locket set in diamonds, which belonged to her
gether with a. service of
grandmother, Lady Mary Wortle Montague, t°'
plate, called the camp tor- ."
vice, to be held as heirlooms with the earldom un-
til 20 years have expired after the decease of her
children, grandchildren, or remoter issue, nevi
living, when the same shall become the absolute
property of the then Earl of Harrowby. All the
rest of the jewellery and effects are bequeathed to
the earl absolutely.
The will of Mr. George Hadden, of HighburY-
terrace, and of Copthall-court, London, merchant!
was proved in the principal registry of the Court o.t
Probate, on the 4th of June, by Elizabeth Blaeia
Hadden, his daughter, aid Mr. James Alexander
Hadden, his son, two of the executors, power being
reserved to Mrs. Hadden, the relict, to prove here-
after. The personal estate was sworn under
£BO,OOO. The will is dated the 21st of July, 1852'
and a codicil the 13th of August, 1856. He has
bequeathed to his wife the interest of £12,000 for
her life, and has left her a legacy of £3,000; and
he has bequeathed to each unmarried daughter a
legacy of £l,OOO. The residue to be divided d
into,
seven equal parts amongst his son an sib,
daugters.
The will and codicil of Mr. Geoge Cary Elwes,
formerly of Eaton-Place, Belgrave-square, but late
of Cadogan.place, were proved in the London Court
of Probate by Sir Joseph 'William Copley, Bart.,
and Charles Thomas Heneage, the joint execu-
tors. The personalty sworn under £45,000. T°
his wife he leaves a residence, and bequeaths to her
the furniture absolutely, except the books and plate,
which at her decease are to go to the eldest son ;
and leaves to his wife the interest of £lO,OOO, the
principal at her decease to be divided amongst his
unmarried daughters. He bequeaths the resi-
due of his property to his children in equal
proportions. To his executors he leaves £lOO each;
and to his cousin, Mr. C. T. Heneage, a further
.
sum of £lOO. He made a codicil on the 15th a
April, 1859, on which day he died, bequeathing toe
Emma Key, who was the nurse to his children, th_
interest of £4OO for her life, and the principal et°
her children, having by the will left her a les
of £2OO. The will was dated the 31st of JulY'
1852.—Illustrated London News.

I