The Sun.
London, England, 1826-07-10 00:00:00

almost 'to see the nearest object. He used also to keep dinner
waiting for hours after it was ready at the usual time.
'On cross-examination, the witness stated that he had sold
drawings to Sir Gregory to the amount of 1,0001. ok* 2,0001. ;
and that he was new indebted, to him for UpWards of 1,0001.
Thomas Stephens deposed, that he, had had the care of insane
parsons for 20 years, and Sir Gregory Turner was decidedly insane.
Witness described his indecent conduct. Shaving was always
done by main force, and when it was over he would fall on his
k

At six &clock the Court adjourned to nine o'clock on Saturday.

The Court having resumed this morning,
Wm. Jones, Marshal or Ilia King's Bench prison, stated, that
from the otiportlinities he had had of witnessing the deineanour of
the tletendant in the prison, he considered him wholly unfit to
be intrusted with the management of his own affairs. That was
witness's impression from the first time he saw him in November,
1823, down to the present moment.. In his general appearance
he was quite deranged. Witness was present when the jury (the
inquisition) examined him ; he said to one of them, whom he
kite*, "this is all a conspiracy ; I haVe no chance here." Mr.
Maberly, he said, svasat the head of it.
-Jeremiah Herbert, keeper of the King's Bench coffee-house,
frequently saw Sir Gregory there ; he was deranged.
, • Francis Whitmarsh, Esq. was the chief commissioner upon the
inquisition►, and accompanied the jury to Battlesden-house, which
he sound in the greatest confusion, rese►nbling a broker's ware-
house more than any thing else. The principal rooms were filled
with packages piled away almost up to the ceiling. In the draw-
ing room and dining parlours were packages and pictures in the
greatest confusion ; and in one of the large rooms there was barely
space for one person to pass to the window at the other end of it.
The packages were broken open ; some contained children'sbooks
and toys of trifling value. Mixed up with the refuse were things
of value. His bed-room► was in a most filthy state, Nyith au accu-
mulation of empty lavender bottles in it. An out-building, ap-
parently a couch-house, was fitted up as a music-room, having a
beautiful massive marble chimney-piece, hut the old coach-house
windows unaltered. In an adjoining room was a numerous col-
lection of musical instruments, piled away like rubbish. In a
small adjoining building were some specimens of sculpture, si-
milar to the Elgin marbles. In his sitting-room were scattered
about letters, horse-shoes, pieces of iron, &c. Nearly every room
in the house was in the same state of confusion. Witness has at-
tended a great many inquisitions, and in his opinion Sir Gregory
is decidedly of unsound mind. He did not consider hie disorder
lunacy, but unsoundness of mind.

The Learned JUDGE suggested that it would be a most inconve-
nient precedent to set, if commissioners were subjected to be
examined as witnesses for the purpose of proving what had
occurred at trials over which they had presided. Upon the same
principle a judge might be called away, when on circuit, to a dif-
ferent town, to state all that had passed at some trial which had
taken place before him,
Thomas Oldham had been clerk in the office of Mr. Maberly's
father and himself for 40 years. Mr. Maberly had always been agent
to Sir Gregory, and was executor under his father's will. Sir Gre-
gory came of age in September,lBo6, and was then in possession of a
clear rental of 17,0001. per ann. It would not now, after incum-
brances were paid off, amount to 1,0001. a-year. The witness corro-
borated the preceding evidence respecting the black and white sheep,
and proved a letter from Sir Gregory to Mr.Mabcrly, dated 4th No-
vember, 1822, authorizing him (Mr. Moberly), in the event of his
(Sir Gregory's) becoming ill again, to call in certain persons
whom he mentioned to take care of him, and not allow his wife
or mother to have any control over his person or property.
—He also proved a letter, dated the 27th of September,
1825, in which Sir Gregory directed Mr. Maberly to pay no
more money to " Dr. Jerry and Old Tommy," because, by the
result of the traverse, their attendance would turn out to have
been unnecessary. By " Dr. Jerry and Old Tommy," Sir Gre-
gory meant Sir George Tuthill and Mr. Warburton. The de-
tainers against Sir Gregory in the King's Bench amount to
10,029/. and his debts in the Master's Office amount to 85,5001.
There was an inquisition against him in 1814.
In cross-examination witness said, that the inquisition in 1814
had been sued out by Sir Gregory's mother. In May, 1823, Mr.
Maberly raised a loan of 45,0001. for Sir Gregory from Mr. Sturch.
Lely Turner's mother was the wife of Captain Mayfield, of the
militia. The 43,000/. was borrowed at 5 per cent., to pay off
annuities at 121. or 141. per cent.; and Mr. Maberly did not
receive a shilling as commission, or otherwise, for raising the
money.
John Flint, clerk to an auctioneer, stated, that from 20 to 25
clocks, anti 60 Or 70 watches, bud been sold by the Sheriff.
Paxton, brother 4o the former witness of this name, had
been gardener at Battlesden-house, and remembered Sir Gregory
having a fiwn-pie dressed for himself, which he kept for several
weeks. It was then given to the servants, by whom it was thrown
to the yard-dog, which refused to eat it for nine days ; at the end
of which period Sir Gregory ordered witness to eat it. Sir Gre-
gory has ordered witness to get up 1501, worth of trees from a
nursery In frosty weather, when it was impossible that they could
he dug up. He also ordered witness, after a heavy fall of snow,
to wheel all the suorywip of the pleasure ground on Christmas
morning, a task thathlrtbe men in the county could not perform.
He gave witness various 'Other inconsistent directions, but never a
rational one. lie once saw young Burgess flogging a cat which
was tied by the tail to a table in the picture gallery, while Sir
Gregory stood by laughing.
_

Jamie WMalier has been one of the keepers placed over Sir
Gregory ever since the 22d of September, 1822. Sir Gregory
never undresses to go to bed, and sleeps between the blankets.—
The first think he does in the morning is to rub his drawers,
stockings, &c. with whity-brown paper. He also rubs his face
and hands with it, and sometimes his watch, chain, and seals.—
He objects to being shaved, but not now so much as before, be-
cause he finds it is of no use. When he gets new clothes, he asks
for a week's holiday before he puts them on, and when that is
expired, he asks for another. He mends his own clothes, and if
there is a spot on them he rubs it with " whity-brown." He
never has a good wash. He never goes to the proper place on
certain occasions. Whenever he rises from a chair, he looks
round on the ground as if he had lost something. He makes a
noise in imitation of a bugle when calling for his " whity-
brown." When he opens the door he puts the skirt of his coat
between his hand and the lock. When witness gives him what
be calls a holiday, he gives him notes. (Witness here produced
several of, time], which were read by the officer of the Court.—
One ran thus—" Sir C. P. Turner promisee to accommodate
Mr. APlllaher with 504 upon his liberation, in consideration of
his not shaving him to-day. In the next he promised to accom-
modate the witness with 800/. " for hie services," In another he
promises him 1001. not to mention, his peculiarities. Again he
promises him 1001. not to mention that he had torn his coat.—
He promised him similar sums in consideration of not asking him
to take medicine, &c.)—Sir Gregory was not allowed to have
wine or spirits. If he saw a hearse, or persons who were ill, he
would take hold of his nose and run away. He avoids dogs and
cats. He makes peculiar faces. Witness could not make such
ugly faces.—(A laugh.)—He easily believei absurd things. He
has gone down on his keees to witness to beg he would return
him an old pair of gaiters which he had taken from him. When
out, he hue exposed himself in a disgusting manner. He talks to
himself. Witness has been in the constant habit of attending in-
sane persons for six or seven years, and is satisfied that the state
of Sir Gregory's mind is unsound.
Cross-examined.---Sir Gregory has always complained of being
in confinement, and expressed hithself with indignation of those
who put him there. He has always stated his determination to
get rid of the finding of the jury. He complained that his case
hail not been heard. _ . . .

By a Juror.—Sir Gregory was in a state of great irritation on
leaving the Court last night. All the notes produced were given
to witness in MI.
By the COUAT.—fusane persons are constantly complaining of
those placed over them, as their bitterest enemies.
Mrs. J. Davies let rooms in the King's Bench to Sir Gregory.
He used to say he was partial to her little girl, yet always slapped
and pinched her. When she wanted to get away from him, she
used to touch his coat-pocket, and he would immediately jump
off from her. He was very eager to take porter, and would put
the pint-pot under his arni, and keep it there, walking about the
room at the same time. He pulled out the front flap of his shirt
to show witness how he made holes in it with a key. Eight of
witness's chairs were broken in trying to shave him. When
witness swept the carpet, he would pick up the flue, and put it
in whity-brown paper.
Sir George Tuthill thought Sir Gregory decidedly a lunatic,
with no lucid intervals. Liquor was a great exciting cause to a
mind predisposed to excitement, and so was distress of mind ;
and thawmore
drat, witness thought Sir Gregory was particu-
larly excited by drinking. When he was better he was more
temperate, but when his malady was worse he was
more dispos-
ed to take liquor. Drink affected the brain, and excitement of
mind from mental distress had a similar effect. He never saw
Sir Gregory's mind, even M his better state, free from the disease.
Dr. Powell said, that his ease was not idiotcy. Mr. Lock's
definition of ,s reasoning rightly from wrong principles," would,
in part, apply to Sir Gregory: He had a good memory.
W Mr. Warhortou AS of opinion, that Sir Gregory was per-
fectly incompetent to manage himself or his affairs from unsound-
ness of mind. He was decidedly a lunatic. He had a correct
memory, and was far from being an idiot ; his habits, coupled
with delusion on certain points, were those of a lunatic. Tens-

city of trifles, the preservation of the things which had been men-
tioned in his bed-room, &c. were characteristics of insane persons
who had been long so. .
Dr. Sutherland is of opinion that he is of unsound mind.

, - •
Dr. Mimic) censidered that his di was Was chronic
Here the case for the Crown elosia;
Mr. WILLIAMS then addresied the jury on behalf ()Nit' dti-
fendant, contending, principally, that the evidence on the other
side only proved that Sir Gregory was a man of eccentric habits,
but not insane. The question fur the jury was, had Sir Gregory
Page Turner sufficient understanding to know his own interests ?
because, if so, ho matte': hoW lie neglected them, he was
no more insane for wasting his property in purchasing curiosities
or any thing else, than those persons were who were equally des-
tructive of their fortunes by gaming or picture dealing, or being
habitually drunk, or living beyond their income. He would
prove to them that Sir Gregory was a man capable of very con-
siderable study ; that he went to college; that he possessed very
fair powers of composition, and could write letters as well as any
of his learned friends'on the other side. What would thty say if
they had seen Lard Erskine, when in grave consultation upon
some question of the most vital importance to his client, make his
spaniel sit up, and put his wig and gown on him to make him
look as learned as the lawyers ? If they had not known him to
be a man of the first class of intellect, would they not say that
there was a little ballast wanting in the skull ? Again, what
would they say of Sergeant Hill, an exquisite black letter lawyer,
if eof his marriage he forgot that cir-
cumstance, went toe day
bed to the year hooks, instead of Mrs.
? heard
an thatd oi i the
hill

Lord Chief Justice BEST observed, that that was said of Mr.
Curran.

Mr. WILLIAMS dared say they both did it. If they did not
know that both of these gentlemen were men of the first intellect,
would they not say that they were as mad as March hares? Af-
ter commenting on the other parts of the evidence, the Learned
Counsel proceeded to state that which he intended to produce.
Let them not form their judgment from other men's opinions, but
from the facts that would be laid before them. When Sophocles
had, similar proceedings instituted against him by his children, be-
cause he had neglected his affairs, he answered the case against him
by merely reading the (Edipus, his last and best play, and asked
his judges if that were the work of a madman ? To which they an-
swered, by instantly acquitting him of insanity. He concluded
by reminding the jury, that the fate of this irrevocably wretched
man was in their hands ; and he was therefore sure that the case
would receive that deliberate consideration which would enable
them to arrive at that determination to which they could come
with safety, from their own impressions. Their verdict, he was
satisfied, would be their own, and not that of any body else.
Dr. John Deane stated, that he was President of St. Mary's-
' hall Oxford. In 1805, and a part of the following year, Sir
G. P. Turner was his pupil. lie seemed well-disposed to pur-
sue any course of study which witness pointed out, and he was
capable of doing so with advantage and effect. An attack of rheu-
matic gout which Sir Gregory experienced about two months
after his admission made him somewhat irritable, and he then
showed a greater degree of waywardness and self-will than he had
done before. Witness remembered his using a harsh expression
to his mother, who was then with hint in college. Witness
told him it must not be repeated. He seemed anxious to excuse
himself fur what he had said. His habits were singular. He re-
tired from society, and was slovenly in his dress ; but witness
never saw any thing bordering on insanity about him, and was,
therefore, astounded at what he heard in Court yesterday. Wit-
ness has known him down to tbo present time, and never saw any
thing like it in his manner.
Cross-examined.—On many occasions his appearance was some-
what squalid and neglected. His beard used to be of a week's or
two or three days' growth, and his clothes very shabby and mean.
He was so when at Oxford.

Thomas Robinson, the town clerk of Oxford, first 'saw Sir
Gregory in 1816. There was nothing particular in his manner,
except that he was not dressed as became his rank. He corre-
sponded with witness, and his letters were those of a rational
man.

Smith, keeper of ,the prints in the British Museum,
knew Sir Gregory, who often visited the print-room. He
seemed very deep in the knowledge of books, which he was then
illustrating.
John Booth, a bookseller in London, knew Sir Gregory from
his childhood. Witness occasionally forwarded papers from him
to periodical publications. The manuscript produced was sent by
Sir Gregory to witness for insertion either in the Morning Re.
raid or the Ruropean Magazine, in 11523. Witness could not
tell if it been inserted.
Ite-examined.—Distress of mind and irregular living occasioned
these attacks. When be took to drinking, he then became mad ;
when be gave over that drinking he became is sound as any man.
He used to compare his case with that of Lord Portsmouth, and
say, "Mine, is very different; I admit Lord Portsmouth ought to
be taken care of." In witness's opinion be is of sound mind.
The manuscript was then read by Mr. WILLIAMS, aided by
Sir Gregory, the writing being so difficult to make out that the
officer and the witnesses were both unable to do so. It was a
long article, written connectedly and with considerable ability, in
which the writer criticised and condemned the bad taste of the
present day in not getting up more of the old comedies, and in
curtailing and spoiling those which were used.
A series of letters, addressed by Sir Gregory to Mr. Maberly,
commencing the 10th of, June, Ma, and running down to the
23d of November in the same year, were then put in and read.
They related to business of various kinds, and were all written,
not only with groat propriety of language, but they evinced an
unusual degree of intelligence.
John G. Hewitt, a dissenting
,minister in Berkshire, knew Sir
Gregory from September, 1822, to October, 1823, and consi-
dered him exceedingly eccentric, but not insane.
The defendant's rase having cloSed here,
• Mr. &malts replied, and observed upon the circumstance of
not one of the gang of persons who had been about Sir Gregory's
person, and preying upon his fortune, until they had reduced it
from 17,0001. to 1,0001. a-year, or one member of the College of
Physicians, having been called.
Lord Chief Justice BEST, in summing up observed, that it was
contended by the learnsol counsel (Mr. Williams) that every man
who wasted his fortune was alike insane. That was not true.—
The distinction was this—where persons knew they were doing
vrrang but had not a disposition to control their pasions ; and where
a party did wrong from want of intellect to guide him. That was
the real question. His Lordship then commented upon the evidence,
observing that the letters were very dangerous evidence to rely upon,
since no person had been called who had seen Sir Gregory write
them, particularly when it was recollected who were at Battlesden at
the time when they were written. But even if genuine, they
were not inconsistent with lunacy; and weighing them against
the notes to the keepers, which scale kicked the beam ? It was
for thejUry to say, upon the whole of the case, on Which side lay
the weight 'of evidence.
The jury retired at nearly eight o'clock, and in a few minutes
returned with a verdict, finding the defendant, Sir Gregory Page
Turner, to have been of unsound mind, and so unable to manage
himself or his affairs at the date of the inquisition in 1823.
Sir Gregory was in Court each day, and sat behind the Coun-
sel, immediately opposite to the jury. He paid the greatest at-
tention to the whole of the proceedings, and conducted himself
with considerable propriety,
although he occasionally manifested
no small degree of irritation of mind whilst the case in support of
the inquisition was going forward.

WINCHESTER, JULY 7.
The Crown business was concluded yesteiday evening.
CVIG SZPZ.

ATTOR.NEY-GENERAL V. ?ARSONS.

This cause was entered for trial at the last Assizes, but went
oft' for want of a fulls Special jury. The case was now conducted
by Mr. Sergeant Wilde, Mr. R. Bayley, and Mr. Erskine, for
the Crown ; and Mr. Taunton (who was brought down by a
special retainer), Mr. Lewes, and Mr. Manning for the defendant.
This was an information filed by the Attorney General, on the
part of his Majesty, against the defendant (a gamekeeper of Lord
Sherborne, and defended by his Lordship), for trespasses by him
committed in the Royal forests of Alice Holt and Wooliner, which
belong to his Majesty.
Mr. Justice LITTLIDALIE observed, that as there appeared to
be no facts in dispute, and as the questions of law were numerous
lortahnet,
writ
eedmiguhptonbe:
and
turned into a special verdict,
to all parties that the
faancdt s iimportant,
should
upon which the Courts of Law might dtellvarde deliver their
judgment. . .

and
- special verdict taken ac-
cordingly.

an action of local interest,
CLiix v. limma.--This was
brought to ascertain the bounded" of the port of Southampton
which boundaries, when ascertained, would affect the port and
harbour dues. There was scarcely any fact in dispute; and
after the hearing of home evidence, a special verdict, as in the last
rase, was agreed to.

GOLD v. FLIO,DT.--This was an action brought to recover
compensation in damages for the injury done to a pony, the pro-
perty of the plaintiff.
Henry Gold, the brother of the plaintiff, said, the parties to
this action resided at Winchester. On the 16th January, his
brother let the defendant a pony for two days, to go to Andover.
It was worth 17/. when the defendant took it out, and only 61.