The Sun.
London, England, 1844-05-20 00:00:00

HORRIBLE CASE.

On Saturday, after the disposal of the night cases,
at Queen-square Police-office' Mr. Ryder, chairman to
the Board of Guardians of St. Luke's Chelsea, re-
quested the advice and assistance of the magistrate
under the following very extraordinary circumstances:
—Mr. Charles Morris a person who had lately come
to reside in-Chelsea, had his attention called to groans
which proceeded, night after night, from No. 4,
Princes-street. He accordingly brought the matter
before the Rev. R. Burgess, rector of the parish, who
having frequently received intimation that other par-
ties heard the same sounds, had written him (Mr.
Ryder) to take some steps to see whether the groans
and cries did not proceed from some human being
being confined in a room of the house. He instituted
inquiries, and fbund that the information given to the
Rev. Mr. Burgess in the letter, and confirmed by his
own, was too correct. Some dark and horrifying
scene was being acted in that house ; and the groans
and cries of a human being, chained as it was sup-
posed to a wall or bed, for he was never seen near the
window, appalled the ears of the neighbours almost
nightly.
Mr. Burrell inquired whether the neighbours had
ever heard any articulate sounds Mr. Ryder re-
plied they had not. Mr. North and Mr. Hall, two
immediate neighbours, could confirm this account ;
and whoever this poor suffering creature in human
form was, he had been immured in that room for
eleven or twelve years.
Mr. Burrell expressed his astonishment that it
could have existed for so long a period without the
interference of the neighbours.
Mr. Ryder said that the door of the house, as they
could best learn, had not been opened for years, and,
unable as they were to obtain any evidence on the
subject, and fearful of getting into some difficulty, it
had been suffered to go on until the present moment.
Mr. Burrell asked if they had ascertained who
were the inmates ?
Mr. Ryder replied, that as far as they could learn,
it was occupied by a woman named Pelham, who had
been the kept mistress of some noble lord, and who
had had two natural children by him, for which
she received an allowance. It had been rumoured
that one of these children, a son, was of unsound
mind.

It was then agreed that an entrance should he
made into the house without any previous intimation
being given, lest that should frustrate their object in
learning the real state of matters. Mr. Forbes, in-
spector of the B division, was accordingly desired to
take a party of police with him and proceed to the
house in question. Mr. Ryder, and the chief usher
of the court, accompanied the police. On the return
of the latter, at about half-past four, he communi-
cated to Mr. Burrell the result of their visit to the
house. He said, that they had effected an entrance
by getting over a side wall, and in at the back door,
and, after much hesitation, the back room on the first
floor was opened by a female, when the most revolting
scene that had ever come within his view during a
very lengthened experience burst upon them. On a
small straw bed lay a poor human creature of the
male sex, without one morsel of clothing more than
an old and filthy rag, which might be termed a shirt,
and a small piece of flannel or blanket. Beneath him
was a hole rotted through the filthy straw of the
bed, evidently by his own excrements, and maggots and
loathsome vermin of every description were crawling on
his frame, which was so obscured by filth, that it was al-
most difficult to discern in him a human being. His
beard reached nearly flown to his middle, and his nails
protruded some inches beyond his toes. In a few
minutes afterwards the police returned to the office,
bringing with them a fashionably-dressed female,
from 50 to 60 years of age, and a heavy working
man about thirty. On being placed at the bar, the
female gave her name as Harriet Eleanor Pelham,
and the man was described as her son, Wilson
Pelham. Mr. Ryder, who was deeply affected, said
that such a spectacle as that they had just witnessed
had very rarely been seen. He proceeded to describe
it in substantially the same terms as those already
given. He added, that after their admission, the
poor creature, who was evidently a lunatic, was
dressed, a portmanteau full of clean wearing apparel
being brought from some other part of the house, and
he was then put in a cab and conveyed to the work-
house. The female at the bar said that the unfor-
tunate man was her son, and that he and his brother
(Wilson Pelham) were natural children of General
Spencer. In concluding his statement, Mr. Ryder
expressed his surprise that the filth in the room had
not engendered same fatal disease.

Inspector Forbes stated that the female defendant
had said that her sons were the natural children of
Sir Brent Spencer (some years- deceased), and that
she had some allowance for the one deranged.
Mr. Burrell asked the female what she had to
say ? She replied that, with respect to the clothes,
his always had been kept separate, and his brother
never was allowed to wear them. Although he had
been for many years a lunatic, everything was done
for him that could be ; but he was very filthy, and if
anybody interfered with him he became very violent,
and beat himself. He was not perhaps quite so clean
as he ought to be, but he was sometimes cleaner a
great deal than at the moment the police entered the
house. She was sure his shirt was not ragged, be-
cause it had only been washed twice, and it could not
be dirty, because it had not been on him three days.
There was a convenience in the room, but he would
not use it, and it was his own fault that the bed was
in such a state. There was a mattress in the
passage, but he would not have it, and his nails were
long, which was in consequence of his not letting her
cut them. lie had got fat lately, and was as happy
as any man could be ; and to prove that she used him
well, he would not get into the cab without her.
The policeman denied this, and said that the poor
man seemed quite pleased at going into the cab, and
that he was exceedingly quiet, and waited some
minutes while she was dressing.
Mr. Burrell inquired why she had not put him in
some asylum ? The male defendant said it was no
use ; he was incurable. Dr. Sutherland and another
medical gentleman had said so.
Mr. Burrell said that this was a most horrible and
deplorable case. The treatment o the mother and son
who controlled the unfortunate man, had gone on until
they were callous to all feeling. The poor creature was
now rescued and placed where every attention would
be paid him. Defendants must stand committed in de-
fault of finding heavy bail until Thursday, when they
might produce any evidence they thought fit.

The prisoners, who appeared surprisad, said the
was nobody to look after their house.
Mr. Burrell• said he could not help.that.

CORONERS' INQUESTS.
On Saturday forenoon Mr. Baker, the Coroner for
East Middlesex, held a lengthened investigation ,
the Lord Nelson, John's-row, St. Luke's, touchig
the death of Mrs. Caroline Crum aged 31, the 'iv
of the painter and decorator of the Grecian
e Grecian Saloon i 0
ed
the City-road, who was supposed to have comrehi
suicide, owing to the extreme suddenness of her disss:
lution, and having once before attempted her life, s'
also frequently threatening to do so. St.
Mary Ann Cooper, of 20, Ratcliffe-greres 0
Luke's, stated that she resided in the same house A
the deceased, who had left four young children, An:.
generally lived very comfortable with her husbas
She had latterly, however, been frequently addict
to acts of intemperance, which caused them to gnar,
at times. On Thursday evening, about 11 ed 110,"
witness last saw her alive ; she had been during
day very lively, and appeared to retire to rest in Yee'l,
good spirits. On the following morning, about seY
o'clock, she was alarmed by deceased's husbso
ee.
knocking at her bed room wall, as if for assisti.Al/0.
She immediately proceeded, and found the wild
nate woman lying on a bed dressed, with her eyes
or
closed, and her face becoming black. To all tip?
since she was quite dead.
James Crump, the husband of the deceaseill
that she went to bed on Thursday night in col
health, and shortly before seven o'clock he got 111)j,
began to dress himself. Whilst so employed she, :el
denly caught hold of one of his legs and vioe:ot,
shook it. He instantly looked up and saw berro
ing to her throat, and thinking that she wished 0
to introduce ono of his fingers into her throat, soatt
to make her vomit, he did so accordingly. Sell /0
a few seconds, however, had elapsed before eb_e..eji
down stairs to the water-butt, and having preer,,
cup, she attempted to swallow some water. .4"lor
time she appoared suffocating, and witness
ping her back in the hope of restoring her.
,M,ed,
last fell into his arms, and he removed her to t.P°
when he found her to have perished. dr
CORONER—Had you any idea that she 7104
stroyed herself by taking poison ? Witness: core
from the circumstance of her having attempt?
„e
to commit suicide, and threatening to do the sil%rtr
veral times since. For some time past, un
nately for him, she drank very freely, and voe-ter
used to complain of her conduct and attempt !,e,well,
son with her about her fully, she would reply, or
take care of the children, and I will take care she
self. You shall not have long to complaia• or
would go on a stroll for a week at a stretch, then of
duct herself very properly for the next tortoni' JO
so, when she would break out again. On
previous to her death she was sober, but on
day she was in liquor.
Mr. Henry Paul Ree, a surgeon of the Citt..;lllll
deposed that he was called to the deceased on
morning, about seven o'clock, whom he feline tott
on a bed, black in the face, and life appeared t°
fled several minutes. On making a post mortal!, ty
inination of the body, he found a large scar aetooo
throat or windpipe, which induced him to make toil
inquiries about it, and he ascertained that ahelitt4
years ago she attempted to destroy herself ,by tio4
her throat, through some ill treatment she red
from her parents. The wound was, however, peat
but it materially affected her speech, so much See 00
she could only give vent to a mere whisper' aoo
opening the throat he took out the larynx, *Sot,'
examining it he discovered a corresponding it!. el
tion to the scar, and it was so narrowed at trd,
that a small sized probe could not be passed tft.ty
it. Between the opening there was a citiP.4 to
mucous, which so choked up the air vessels 100
cause death, and an examination of the hetitios'
showed that death had been occasioned by 30700
; Could not discover any trace of poisonous Os'
the stomach. the of
The CORONER having addressed the juryeJ
traordinary nature of the case, a discussion at; 30'to the propriety of returning a verdict that tP Vo.
ceased had died from an attempt upon her 01i,.11/
The Coroner thought they could not consistelltilla4
. so, and after some time they recorded the folleos
special verdict :—" That the deceased had died
ooto
suffocation, produced by a congregation ef113,441°,/
in her larynx, and which was caused by a .w°ll,,'"are
made in her throat in attempting to destraY
ten years ago."
FATAL CART ACCIDENT.—An inquest wash tbt
Mr. Higgs, at the Black Horse, Bedfordbury, o
body of Dennis Dwyer, aged 47. Deceased.
Newer
street, O
vender of oranges, and on the afternoon of S
the 27th ult., he was standing in Little Nel'O°
street, with a basket full of that fruit slung oil'
him, when a cart belonging to Messrs. Parker, log
way carriers, New Inn, Old Bailey, came s;
The driver called to the deceased to get out e'‘,ol
way, when he moved on to the pavement, but
persons at that moment passingby, pushed against
and in trying to save his oranges he slipped AP-010
under the cart, the wheel of which went oreratil
broke his left leg. He was conveyed by the drivi:joi
his cart to Charing-cross Hospital, where he ref
till Saturday last, when erysipelas induced by in%,/
perate habits, came on, and lie died on Thum,.
Verdict, " Accidental death.
"
SOUTH LANCASHIRE ELECAnixO7I re
Opinion seems much to be divided as to what Teti
sults of this most important election will be. TI.,011"
have begun to throw out insinuations that thefb
the League are to be profusely lavished. T,n401:,
however, nothing more untrue was ever utterea.ed
shilling of its funds will be thus expended—iripti „ill re;
is no occasion, not the least, to draw on any lOrWilel:,
sources to carry out the intentions of the fre,oo/.1,".
In less than a couple of hours, upwards of 6.6 011'1_1
subscribed by fewer than a score of individuals' of
guarantee fund will, from present appearan 000,,„
20,0001. In the Manchester district alone it now so no
to upwards of 10,000/. Liverpool is expected 00
as much ! Talk of want of funds, indeed ! wai'ut se
former occasion was there ever half the ant°'
scribed. '
A rather more particular scrutiny into the reg_.,jsl;eairer,i;
given additional confidence to the free trade Thy l',lo
It is a matter of perfect notoriety, and admitteu joy
Tories, that they have grossly neglected their friesallo
non-attendance to the registration of their ,ust ;Pi
whilst it is on the contrary equally notoriou.! rtrti
Liberals have paid unceasing attention to that '11341e;
matter. Thanks to the League for this, at Old w )11,4
this respect, the League may certainly be 6al kero
expended some cash ; but evidently not to be E
for the present election, which has come upon s'
by surprise. or '1(
;fit Y 1
The free trade committee are now fairly at we
-of
only in Manchester, but throughout South tf
arsor
and, as there is no doubt that their arrangevse-t fate
the best and most effective description, the toes ,
able results are anticipated. .
OW .100
00
In consequence of the poll being fixed for hot it
day and Tuesday, the 27th and 28th, and as tilo
is also the race week, the time will be one Of toy, OA
est possible bustle and tormoil. No work of
can reasonably be expected to be proceeded
et°oll
Mercury.
131
Since our last publication this contest has 400 it 4
appearance of somewhat greater animation t"-tleri;o3
previously exhibited ; and we believe thal:th dej,,
active canvass is carried on by both parties, b
are, as usual, very confident ; but we are quitesPos3,
that neither has yet received returns on which ites7.
sonable judgment as to the chance of ultimat's,sopesi
can be founded. Both seem laudably cautious sped
ing money ; and there is consequently a mf.irke ,Devi
(with one exception, to which we shall briefly' :toolV
those squibbing placards which aregenerallf s 0 e 1 ifd
in contested elections. Altogether, it seems, li
that lw
one of the quietest and least exciting struggles • .4,
been known in the annals of electioneering. it(
It will be seen from reports which we give eke` i'er
that both the candidates have begun their viiisigoiag/ot.
different towns in the division ; Mr. Brown d
terday visited Wigan, Bolton, and Bury ;
wisle having made his appearance at LiverpouL 01$
day, and at Rochdale and Oldham Yesterdvi4o
.„
have not yet heard when either of them wyt
respects to the electors residing in this town- lectorsop
It will be seen, that, in addressing the • 401
Rochdale yesterday, Mr. Entwislo made e°o-111:1141)
s.
to a placard which had appeared on
Manchester Guardian of Saturday. Ce'
the
Dispatches were sent off on Saturdiftc°l
lonial-office, for the Governor of South-Ansl4"

c 00p
en, tolfl eals3otnh. inst . , at illaßabTelif-pSla.ce, Kenniagt°ll' '
_ ------7---- A,
pion,Oi tie Mr"
iteli
Esq.,l43ll.lDi.n,sotiaadtalnlgairrlteorg.ate, the lady of G.—'n-rge. 1
On the 15th inst., the lady of the Rer; I • •
r J. Scislth
Ingfield, near Settle, of a son. ii.to otriSrst
n the 17th inst., in Southampton-place, "'" fl.
4
the Esq., wife of E. J. Weston, of a daughter. , wife co '
On the 17th inst., at Camden-road Villa', t. 0;
Speed, Esq., of Lincoln's Inn, barrister-at-law, of AS°
Ware
MARRIED. .
On the 14th inst., at Plymetock, Deron, NicholOtio
Esq., solicitor, Plymouth, rri
to Sophia Has, second d$
ter
' ICBtr
of C. Harris, Esq., of Plymouth, banker.
On the 16th ist., at East Tisted, Hants, Mr. J°l3/10.f Yr'
ber, of Halberton, Devon, to Martha, only daughter'. •
George Dyer, of the former place. , tiler
DIED.
On the 16th inst., suddenly, at the residence ofthheervirtiodel
Mr. Henry Baines, Faversham, Kent, Fanny,
wife of Mr. T. Marsden, jun., of Nelson-W*l%os
Few passed through life more deservedly beloved ans_lant CO'
On the Ist of February, at Hong-Kong, A-960
missary-General John Irvine.
On the 13th inst.; at St. Helier's, Jersey, the
116/' lirilw-pows•
Garnett, aged 85. 6tip'
On the 14th inst., at Morden Rectory, Surreir• ilicginnij
eldest daughter of Robert Ilepburne, Esq., of '' . • ese,
North Britain, aged 42. ~,,,, ,1110 p.
On the 15t1; inst., at Upper 3lerrion-street, Dw—fr, vOO
the wife of Edward Mayne, Esq., of Norfolkeresesll” 110°-
On the 16th inst., at Blackheath, John Willialu
Lorne, Esq., aged 48. , ,

9(
London:
N.. 112, Strand, Printed and
Pri Pntuber, lishat The I±Led by MI:RD
Otlic logoti 240. of
Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy, In 01.•
Middlesex, Monday, May 20, 1844.