The Sun.
London, England, 1861-12-17 00:00:00

ME WINDHAM CASE—(7his Day).

COMMISSION OF LUNACY.

(Before Samuel Warren, Esq., Q.C., Master in Lunacy.)
The special jury, of whom Sir George Armitage, Bart.,
is foreman, wore in their places at eleven o'clock, and the
inquiry was resumed.

The Rev. H. J. Cheales, who was examined in chief yes-
terday afternoon, was cross-examined by Sir H. Cairns on
behalf of the alleged lunatic. He said he was engaged by
Mr. Balston to act as private tutor to Mr. W. F. Windham.
Mr. Balston engaged him on behalf of his mother (Lady
Sophia). He was first engaged as his tutor at Eton on the
27th of April, 1857. Mr. 'Windham had been at Eton
about half a year before that time. He had been doing Cassar,
Ovid, .2Esnp, &c. He remained in the fourth form, having
missed his remove. There were very seldom boys of 14 or 15
in the fourth form. Occasionally there were. He complained
to his mother about her son's dirty habits, and she said, "You
must try and cure them." He could not remember what
Mr. Windham said to him when he remonstrated with him
about his gluttony. Usually he did nothing more than grin
when ho was remonstrated with. He had heard persons of
unsound mind laugh, and he compared such a laugh with
Mr. Windham's laugh. Laughter would seize him like a
fit, he would dance about the room, and laugh wildly. He
never reported Mr. 11 indham to the head master for acts of
untruthfulness, He reported him to Mr. Balston on ac-
count of the noises he made Mr. Balston reported him to
the head master, and he was flogged for it. Other boys were
occasionally flogged at Eton. He should not be surprised
at a boy contracting habits of swearing if his father was in
the habit of indulging in such expressions. He saw Mr.
Windham (the father) when he went with the son to Fell-
bryg, and dined with him every day. He never heard him
use profane language, or get into a passion, He did not
think there was anything in a desire to drive a railway en-
gine, taken by itself, as indicative of mental unsoundness.
Mr. Windham would ride very fast with a loose rein over
rough ground. Witness rode with him, and did not dislike
the pace. (Laughter.) He did not ask Mr. Windham for
any explanation of the occurrence at Torquay when he
seized the gentleman by the whiskers. His mother was in
the room at the time, and witness told her that ho was dis-
satisfied with his pupil's conduct. Mr. Windham was very
extravagant in money matters. He got into debt. He ran
up a bill of 18s. at the pastrycook's. (Laughter).
t The Master—That is not a very uncommon occurrence at
Eton, is it? Mr. Cheales—Oh, no.
Tne Rev. Edward Hale, Mathematical Master at Eton,
in his cross-examination said—There might be bullying at
Eton, but he did not think Windham was bullied.

The Master—You have been a master at Eton nearly 12
years, and have seen many hundreds of boys. Have you
seen any boy like Windhnm in his general characteristics ?
Mr. Hale—Never one so bad mentally, or so odd in hie
habits.

A Juryman—How was he treated by the other boys ?
Mr. Hale—He was treated as a buffoon, and was the butt
of the school. He was called " Mad Windham."
The case was proceeding when we went to press.