The Sun.
London, England, 1844-10-31 00:00:00

CLERKEIV WELL.

Yesterday Mr. W. B. Diamond, proprietor of a
private lunatic asylum, Weston-house, Western-
street, King's-cross, sought the advice and assistance
of the magistrate, stating that a few days ago a gen-
tleman came to him, and requested him to receive
into his asylum his sister, who was insane, and whom
he had just brought from Brighton. He stated that
her husband was a man of property residing in York-
shire, and that whatever the demand for her main-
tenance was should be satisfied. Applicant refused
to receive the patient, unless there were two medical
certificates testifying her insanity. These the brother
obtained, and he received the woman, who was
labouring under insanity of a very aggravated kind ;
in fact, she was so violent that she disturbed all the
other patients, and on this account he was most
anxious to be freed from her. Upon inquiry, how•
ever, it turned out that her husband was not worth
a farthing, and finding that she would be a perpetual
burden upon him, he went before the St. Pancras
Board of Guardians, and stating the case to them,
asked them to receive the woman into their house as
a destitute lunatic pauper in their parish; but they
refused to do anything for him.
Mr. COMBE (addressing Mr. Keys, the overseer)—
Here is a destitute lunatic pauper in your parish, will
you refuse her admission ? Mr. Keys—l have no
doubt but some of the authorities at Brighton advised
the brother to take her here, so that they might be
freed from the burden.

Mr. ComnE—Well, if that be so, you can indict
them for a conspiracy, but that forms no excuse for
refusing to admit the woman.
Mr. Keys—The gentleman has got his answer from
the board. I can't interfere.

Mr. COMBE —Does your board mean to say that a
destitute lunatic pauper is to remain in their parish
without taking any steps to relieve her ? Mr. Keys—
He ought to have been more cautious.
Mr. COMBE—Why, it is clear the gentleman hAs
been imposed upon. If he should turn her upon the
streets, dare you refuse to receive her ? Mr. Keys—
Let him do so at his peril.
The Clerk—L-And you refuse to receive her at your
peril.
Mr. Keys—lt is not our doing, but his own.
Mr. COMBE—Not your floing ? Why, what do the
people pay heavy rates for ? Is it that destitute
lunatics may he suffered to roam about the parish, or
burden one of its ratepayers ? The law is, that the
workhouse is open for the reception of destitute per-
sons who may have casually come into the parish. If
the St. Pancras parish permit this unfortunate crea-
ture to wander about the streets, it is my opinion
they will subject themselves to an indictment for ne-
glect of duty.
After some further discussion, during which Mr.
Keys admitted Mr. Diamond to be a highly respect-
able gentleman,
Mr. COMBE advised the applicant again to apply to
the parish, as he felt confident they would not, after
consideration, refuse to receive her.
The gentleman left the Court, went to the work-
house, and made the application ; he returned to the
Magistrate, an i stated that the authorities persisted
in refusing to receive the lunatic.
Mr. COMBE advised him to apply to his solicitor.
UNION-HALL.

Yesterday an elderly man, named Morris, was
convicted of obtaining money under the old deception
of pretended illness and forged signatures to a peti-
tion for relief. His detection was owing to the curious
accident of Horsford, the Mendicity officer, passing
at the time the prisoner was exhibiting his petition,
and displaying all the well-feigned symptoms of se-
vere disease. The moment he caught sight of the
officer he " bolted," leaving his petition behind him ;
the officer gave chase, having for six years known him
as an impostor, and captured him.
_ _

Mr. TRAILL sentenced him to three months' im-
prisonment, with hard labour, telling him that the
next time he was brought up he should be sent to the
sessions.