The Sun.
London, England, 1844-08-19 00:00:00

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COMMISSION OP LUNACY,
THE EXTRAORDINARY CASE OF MR.
BRENT SPENCER.
A Commission dc lunatico inquirendo was opened orb
Saturday in the Board-room of St. Luke's Work.
house, Arthur-street, Chelsea, before Mr. Com-
missioner Barlow and fifteen special jurors, or
whom Captain Bague, R.N., was foreman, to
inquire into the state of mind of Sir Brent
Spencer, Esq., aged 37, son of the late Gene.
ral Sir Brent Spencer, described in the Commission as
of No. 4, Prince's-street, Marlborough-road, Chelsea,
bachelor, but now an inmate of the workhouse of St.
Luke's Chelsea.
The Commission was taken out at the instance of
the parochial authorities of St. Luke's, Chelsea, who
were represented by Mr. Thomas, the barrister. The
Commission was unopposed ; but Mr. Head, from Afr.
Steele, solicitor, of Lincoln's Inn-fields, attended to
watch the proceedings on behalf of Mrs. Pelham.
The Court was much crowded in consequence of
the interest the subject of this inquiry has excited by
the examinations which hue taken place at Queen.
square.
Mrs. Harriet Eleanor Pelham, the mother of the
unfortunate gentleman, came into the room, and took
her seat by the side of the Learned Commissioner,
and she was shortly after followed by Mr. Wilson
Pelham, her other son.

Mr. Commissioner BAutow said the jury had
nothing to do with the matters which had appeared
in the public prints, and which would come before an-
other tribunal. The object was, to ascertain whether
Mr. Spencer was of unsound mind; and, if so, to take
the necessary control over his property.
Mr. Thomas then addressed the jury, saying that
he appeared for the parochial authorities of Chelsea.
On the 18th of May, in consequence of information
from the Rev. Mr. Burgess, the magistrates sent the
police to the house, No. 4, Princes-street, Chelsea,
where Mr. Spencer was found, under circumstances
which have been detailed at the police-office. Mr.
Spencer was natural son of General Sir Robert
Spencer, who had left him by his will 2001., to be
paid at his death, which took place in 1829, besides
3,2001., and 3,0001. to his mother, which would revert
to him at her death. The disease commenced with
some 'eccentricities of the mind in 1828, when some
disappointment in love caused him to take to drink-
ing, which produced brain fever, and ultimately un-
soundness of mind. He might be restored by proper
treatment, but until then it was necessary that his
property should be protected.
The Learned COMMISSIONER left the Court to as-
certain if Mr. Spencer would wish to be present, but
the latter intimated he would rather decline.
The following evidence was then adduced :
Alfred William Warder, examined by Mr. Thomas
—I am a surgeon, of York-place, Queen's Elm, Chel-
sea. lam medical officer to the workhouse of this
parish. I know Brent Spencer, who became an in-
mate on the 18th of May last. Saw him the same
evening, and spoke to him. His mind, in my opi-
nion, is decidedly insane. He did not appear to un-
derstand what he was talking about.
By the CONIMISSIONER—When he is asked any
question he only says "Ahl" or " yes." He does not
know the value of coins, though he may know their
names. He knew nothing about his family. He did
not understand the sovereign when I showed him the
coins, and said he would prefer the half-crown. Said
he had been Will Watch, the bold smuggler. I
asked him what he did ? and he said, " That's peo-
ple's heritage." I don't know what he meant by
that. I asked him where he lived ? and he said,
" Oh, yes, in the world." When I saw him yester-
day,
and asked him how he was, he said, " Very
well," but he does not always answer. I have seen
him with a book, and he said, " That is a pretty -
book." I said "Is it ?" and he said, " Oh, yes,
about robbers, perhaps about clergymen, eh ?
(Laughter.) He has been much the same since he
has been in the workhouse. He is not fit to take care
of himself or property.
By Captain Bogue—He has not been under any
restraint since he has been in the workhouse.

Mrs. Pelham here made some observations. The
Commissioner intimated that he could not officially
recognise any person being heard, whether for or op.
posed to the Commission, but would put any proper
question which she or her adviser might suggest.
By the COMMISSIONER, at the suggestion of Mrs.
Pelham—When he saw his mother his manner was
different, he seemed pleased, and showed her great
attention. This made no alteration in the state of his
mind.

Thomas Keene examined---I am medical officer of
one division of this parish. I first saw Brent Spencer
on the 7th of June last. lie said ;be employed him-
self in reading and writing, though he had then access
to no books. He said he had not left school, but had
been at Oxford, Cambridge, and Dublin, and had
taken a degree at Oxford. He said he was in the
habit of riding on a donkey, that his property was in
the Bank of England, and he had received the last
dividend many years ago; that his father and mother
are both living, and that he has several brothers and
sisters living. He told me he lost his eye at school
or at play in Hyde Park. He answered correctly
several questions in arithmetic. My impression then
was that he was of unsound mind, and at all subse-
quent visits my opinion has been more strongly
confirmed.

During part of this witness's evidence Mr. Pelham
made some interruption, which drew forth a remark
from the Commissioner, that Mrs. P. must discon-
tinue such a course if she wished to remain.

Louis Edward Enghleback, clerk in Messrs.
Coutts' bank, said the payment on behalf of Brent
Spencer, amounting to 1961. a year, had been pail
hitherto to Mrs. Pelham, but 961. was now taken off.
The money was paid by an order of Lady Garvagh,
who was the executrix of Lord Garvah, brother to
the late Sir Brent Spencer. The receipts, in Mrs.
Pelham's hand-writing, stated the money to be re-
ceived on behalf of herself and son.
Ephraim Simmons said he was an inmate of the
workhouse; when Mr. Spencer came into this house
his beard was four or five inches long, and his nails
very long; he was under witness's care ; he did not
use a knife and fork when eating; he never washed
or dressed himself; he was not violent, but on the
contrary, very quiet ; if ever witness turned his back
to him, he would throw his food at him ; witness
heard him call out for brandy and ',sherry ; he was
fond of raspberry jam.
Thomas Cheeseman, another inmate of Chelsea,
workhouse, who had also had the charge of Mr. Spen-
cer, corroborated the chief portion of the testimony
of the previous witness.
Thomas Tunstall, police-constable 96 B, was exa-
mined. His evidence was precisely the same as that
given at Queen-square.
John Thomas Ryder, Chairman of the Board of
Guardians, corroborated the statement of the officer
(Tunstall).
Thomas Johnson, surgeon, attended Mr. Brent
Spencer in July, 1830, for a brain fever. He was
then sent to a lunatic asylum. He was of opinion
that he was then, and still continued, of unsound
mind.

The jury having expressed a wish to see the unfor-
tunate gentleman, left the room for that purpose. He
had retired to his room, and was walking up and
down. To sundry questions put by the Commis-
sioners and jurors he merely answered by monosylla-
bles and confused sounds. He said he wanted to go
back again, and he wanted to eat his dinner. In fact,
his remarks were generally incomprehensible.
On the return of the jury, the following witnesshs
were examined:—
George Ledbitter—Knew him from 1824 to 1830,
during which perid he had been a gay young man.
He had had a brain fever previous to about August,
1830, and he then appeared much altered.
Henry Tembs, hairdresser —Was employed by Mrs.
Pelham to shave and cut the hair of Mr. Brent Spen-
cer for some time, till about four and a half years
ago. No one has attended upon him since.
Mr. Wilson Pelham, brother of the unfortunate
gentleman—My age is twenty-two. I have lived in
Princes-street eleven years. I have nloatshtladattNo.eeentdohedd.
doctor
no
woanis
Sir George Brent Spencer during four or five years. lie has not
been out dunrianlfgloyrttahsaket\e_etninmheyi—nelanrhsoi.ts out of f his roomrr
have
eoc
t occasionally
himagseio Tuthill. He was kept in the
oo
fo ma
mind,
be-
cause he was violent, and in an unsound state
and has been in that state for about fourteen years.
Sir Brent Spencer always treated me as though I was
money.
r
us
se' o noN
his
Bsyont.heHceoli‘cfmt
. Johnson was ttere
thirteen years ago. _ Brent Spencer was then out of
his mind. He has been in that state ever sinoe. He
has, two or three times, attempted to throw Mrs.
Pelham out of the window, and also to throw himself
out. This was in 1835. Since he had been shut up
in the room he has talked about fighting, and wished.
to get out to fight somebody.
Mary Chalford—l have seen Brent Spencer this
day. I have known him seventeen years. I used to
live servant with General Sir Brent Spencer, and the
young gentleman used to live at home with him. His
father was very kind to him.
Here several of the jury expressed themselves satis-
fied, upon which the Learned Commissioner recapi-
tulated a portion of the evidence, and the jury imme-
diately came to the unanimous conclusion " That
Brent Spencer was of unsound mind, and had been
so from 3d July, 1840."
A woman here came forward and declared that
Mrs. Pelham had kidnapped her child. Mrs. Pelham,
looking much flushed, said, " Oh, no." The other
woman was ordered out of the room. She then de-
clared that the younger son (Wilson Pelham) was
kidnapped from her by Mrs. Pelham about twenty-
two years since. She went on at some considerable
length to the same effect, and ultimately proceeded
to Queen-square to make a formal complaint.
[lt will be seen from our police report that the
complaint was made and entertained by the ma-
gistrate.