The Sun.
London, England, 1844-01-30 00:00:00

BROMLEY POLICE.

(Before Lord Sydney, the Rev. Sir C. Farnaby, the Rev.
T. Scott, W. C. Morland, Esq., and J. Ward, Es%)
Richard Benge was brought before the Bench upon a
warrant issued at the instance of the Board of Guardians
of the Bromley Union, charging him with neglecting to
maintain his wife and family, who had in consequence
become chargeable.
Mr. Chittock, the master of the Foot's Cray work-
house, deposed that the prisoner's wife and three chil-
dren were at present in the workhouse, and • the ease
having come before the Board of Guardians, they had
directed him to adopt the present proceeding. •
Lord SYDNEY asked the defendant why he did not
maintain his family?—The defendant said be was quite
willing to do so, but it was out of his power. He had
been a housekeeper for 30 years, but owing to the rail-
way having driven all the coaches off the road, he had
lost his employment, and was unable to get any other
occupation. For the last ten weeks he had got a little
employment, working on the road, and the moment be
received any wages he offered a portion of them to Mr.
Chittock towards the support of his family.
Mr. Chittock admitted that the defendant had.made
an offer to give him some money on Friday last, but at
that time the Board of Guardians had decided upon
adopting proceedings against him. He had repeatedly
promised to take his wife and family out of the work-
house, but always neglected to do so.
The defendant said he had no employment and no
home to take them to, and that was the reason. He had
tried in all directions to get a house or a lodging but
was unable to do so. He added that his wife ling,
ill for seven years, and during the last two.years bad
almost constantly kept her bed.
Lord SYDNEY said if he could not get employment he
should himself have gone into the workhouse, and
worked there towards the support of his wife and family.
The law did not permit men to be out of the workhouse
while their families were in.

The defendant said, that he went every board day to
see the guardians, and told them what steps he bad
taken to get work. He did not want to go into the
workhouse while he was able to work for his living. Ile
had now got employment from some parties who intended
to run a new coach, and he should be able to take his
family out of the workhouse and support them, and he
had that day engaged an apartment for them.
Lord SYDNEY said it was too late now for him to make
the offer. He had broken his promise several times be-
fore, and the law must now be put in force as the Board
of Guardians had placed the matter in the hands of the
bend*

The Rev. Mr. SCCTT suggested that, perhaps under the
circumstances, they might see if he would now keep his
word.

Lord SYDNEY said, he had promised the same thing so
many times that they could not trust him.
The Magistrates then consulted together for a short
time, when the Noble Chairman said that they must put
the law in force, but the sentence would be a Tart
lenient one, viz., one weeks' hard labour in Maidstone pet
The defendant hoped that the Bench would not send
him to gaol. He had lived in the neighbourhood fer,
thirty years, and although his wife, from illness, ha"
been a great charge upon him, he had never before re-
ceived any relief.
The CHAIRMAN asked what expense the parish bail
been put to for the support of the defendant's family
Mr. Chittock replied that there were four persons, the
wife and three children, and the expense was 2s. a
a-head per week. They had been in the house six weeks,
so that the amount would be 3/.

Lord SYDNEY asked the defendant if he would pal
this sum to the parish ? He replied that it was not in
his power to do so. He had only had a little work og
and on for the last fortnight, and during the whole of
the other period he had no employment whatevir•
He had now got a regular place, and was willing, as be
had always done so before, to support his family. 110
had never had a farthing from the parish in all his life
before.

Mr. Chittock having been appealed to by the Bondi;
said he had no reason to believe that the defendant had
been in any work until the last fortnight, and he the'
certainly came to him and offered to give him some of
his wages towards the support of his family. As the
Board of Guardians, however, had given him positive
orders to take out a warrant, and bring the matter before
the Bench, he was compelled to act upon them. oe.
added, that he believed it was true that the detention"
had now got into regular employment, which, peyhg*
he might lose if he were committed to prison.
The defendant again entreated the Bench not to sgaa
him to prison.
The Magistrates again consulted together, and .at
length the CHAIRMAN said, that the conviction mkt
stand for the resent, but the defendant would have *0
opportunity of taking his family out of the workhouse;
The matter would then be represented to the Board, 01
Guardians, and if they were satisfied, and did not ppß
the charge, the sentence of imprisonment would in *
probability not be carried into effect.
The defendant asked how his wife was to be brow&
hence from the workhouse ? She was unable to wai
Mr. Chittock said he would make arrangeanenti for
her conveyance.
The defendant was then discharged.

COMMISSION OF LUNACY.
Yesterday a Commission of Lunacy was opened be-
fore F. Barlow, Esq., at the Sheriff's Court, Red Lion-
square, to inquire into the state of mind of Joshua'
Richard Wilkinson, Esq., formerly Of catfield-hiu,
Lewisham, Kent, a merchant of London, but now' of
Whitmore Asylum, Hackney. The Commission TiTa9
sued out at the instance of his wife, and Mr. Selwin sr
peared as counsel on her behalf.
Mr. SELWYN briefly addressed the jury, after which
the following evidence was adduced :
Mr. Samuel Brain, surgeon, of Lewisham, deposed'
that he had known Mr. Wilkinson fifteen years, during,
which time he attended professionally. He was for
attacked in November, 1841, and on that occasion 111:
fused to be shaved, and for twenty-seven days ritrus6`,"'l
take food, and was supported by forcing liquids doe.
his throat. Witness considered him labouring unWP
organic disease of the brain. Amongst other delneical!„
he fancied he was entitled to Lord Stanlefs estateLt'ia"
the North, that he was cousin to his Lordship, and voz
Mr. Masterman, M.P., intended to lend him 12,0001
raise a regiment. Witness had seen Mr. Wilkiuson:ll
Whitmore House, when he said he was divorced fry
his wife, and had a license to marrry the Duke of-ittw
land's daughter.
Dr. Gordon, of Grosvenor•street, deposed that ho
.
signed the certificate on the 12th of Deeember, ite
Witness found him labouring under a disease of
brain, of a nature that was utterly hopeless, as it g 7,1
rally turned to paralysis. On seeing him on the 2
his opinion was confirmed.

H. Beverley, the proprietor of Whitmore 1100'*
_,„.
deposed to the extraordinary delusions of Mr. WilkinsM
He told witness whilst at Brighton he met with IP:
daughter of the Duke of Rutland. He was in the hobo'
of destroVng his clothes. He fancied he was Prince'
Albert, Sir Walter Raleigh's son, and on one occasion
said the Queen checked Prince Albert for not par*
sufficient attention to him.

Mr. Wilkinson was introduced and examined by thez
CommissioNEn—He said he had a wife and one daur;
ter, and then, turning round to the keepers, said, ttbb
is my father and the other is my son. He then WO,.
on in a very incoherent manner, and jumped upon. SP7
form, and, addressing the Court, said he would challene
the world, and intended to raise an army 10,000 woof
against O'Connell, and that he had a commission under;
Lord Howe, and commenced singing " Rule Britanuil‘,
The jury, addressing the Commissioner, said thei,
were perfectly satisfied, and returned a verdict dallue`
his insanity from December 12, 1841.

SIR FRANCIS BURDETT AND Tun COLD WATNIt
.CURE.—We have copied from The Times a paragraph rebr,
tive to the alleged cause of the death of Sir Franca Burdett.
We may state in addition, that the place to which he went t:
undergo the eold water treatment was Thames Ditton, mere
being an establishment there for the purpose. The individual
to whose hands he confided himself is scarcely known to ill,
profession. It is unnecessary, therefore, to say that that',
no ground for the impression entertained in some quarters *lli
a medical gentleman, enjoying the honour of knighthood, an
who lately wrote a werk in favour of hydropathy, superintende'
the application of the cold water treatment. So firm was th
faith of Sir Francis in the efficacy of the cold water system th
he rose up in his bed when scarcely able for the effort, and w_
uplifted hands declared, the day before Lady Burdett's death
that had she been subjected ti the hydropathic treatment I"'
would have been restored to
*perfect health. We understoo
that the friends of Sir Francis are determined to institute
o
strict inquiry into the whole circumstances connected with im
melancholy case.— Observer.
orx
An extraordinary investigation has been Opp
before the magistrates, at Wolverhampton, during "the
e arwto
, few days, relative to a revolting charge brought again:"'
Caroline Harris, a midwife, who it is alleged has been kefarg.
ing a house for the reception of pregnant females duriniL
time of their confinement, and that for a pecuniary nomd"-d-
-tion the children were destroyed by her. The details
this this case are of a horrible nature. The woman was renitinur-
for further examination.

BIRTHS.
On the 24th inst., at Deene Park, Lady Augusta Baringr
of a son.
On the 25th inst., at Sandling-park, the lady of W. Deedeso
Esq., of a daughter.
.1.0 lade
On the 25th inst., at the Vicarage, Marlborough,
wA
of the Rev. C. W. Edmonstone, of a daughter. nek
•
On the 26th inst., at Dulwich-common, the wife ofFreas
Clarke, Esq., of a son.
On the 26th inst., at Stamford-hill, the lady of Riches C-
Coles, Esq., of a son.
On the 27th inst., the lady of William Ford, Esq., ofGray'll
Inn, of a daughter.

MARRIED.
On the 28th inst., at West Hackney Church, by the BeV*
Edward Birch, A.M., Rector, Mr. Charles Bishop, of "a:
land, to Mary, the eldest daughter of Mr. W. George,
Ingham, Lincolnshire.
ontpo ._
On the 25th ult., the Rev. John Griffiths, chaplain
Bombay Establishment, to Frances, fourth daughter
tain Mortlock (late Captain of the Hon. East India, l'`"-
pany's Naval Service), Brighton.

DIED. oi
On the 27th inst., Ann the amiable and beloved wife
Roger Lee, Esq., Clapham-common. Rector
On the 22d inst., the Rev. Marmaduke Wilkinson, --
of Redgrave-with-Botesdale, and of Nowton, Suffolk.
On the 22d inst., Captain George Robertson, Alkyls % 1"
Great Portland-street, aged 87.
On the 23d inst., Mr. C. F. Grasemann, of Hackney.
On the 26th inst., at Combermere Abbey, Cheshire, Rom
Gibbing, Esq., of Gibbinis-grove, Limerick.
On the 26th inst., at Ealing, the Hon. Lady Carr.
On the 26th inst., Mrs. Ann Atkinson, of Chatham-Pnw"
Walworth, aged 91.
On the 27th inst., Ada Ellen Adelaide Tolderoy, secenal
Re . daughter of Francis Valentine Lee, Esq., Chester-place,
gent's-park.
On the 28th inst., Mrs. Town, of the Commercial-read Eat.'
wife of the late H. W. Town, of Wapping.

London : Printed and Published by MURDO YOUNG,
N 0.112, Strand, at The Sun Office, N 0.112, Strand, Li Oa
County of Midgesex, Tuesday, January 30, 1844.