The Sun.
London, England, 1826-08-03 00:00:00

COMMISSION OF LUNACY.

On Monday, a jury was assembled at the Secondaries'.
Office Coleman-street, upon a Commission of Inquiry
into the lunacy of Sarah Eliason, of 'Hatton-garden. Mr.
Evanee, with Mr., Phillitnore, and another gentleman,
presided.
The first witness called was Dr. Van Oven, who stated
that in March 182.5, he attended upon a Mrs;Eliason, the
lady in question, who was now about 60 years of age. She
had made, as he understood, an attempt to commit suicide.

He found on her person some wounds, made, as he was
informed, with a pair of blunt scissors, and they certainly
appeared to have been inflicted with a weak hand, He
had attended her sulaiequently, and •had not the slightest
doubt that she was at the time, and had continued ever
since, in a state of mental derangement. She was isnbe-
cile, and totally incapable of managing her affairs. '
Dr. Morro stated, that he had been called upon to at-
tend Mrs". Elision, and had found her in a state of mental
derangement. He mentioned several instances. He asked
her what King's reign it was. She said it was the reign
of George VI. He asked her how long it was since he
first visited her. She replied, that it was a year and a
half ago, althoufth it was bat a few days since. In fact,
she had no distinct perception of time, and he could not
entertain a doubt that she was utterly incompetent to
manage any affairs.
A young female, who was engaged from the service of
Dr. Warburton as 'a nurse for Mrs. Eliason, was then ex-
amined. She stated that her mistress, when left alone
sat all day long in a chair, doubling up a handkerchief.
She sometimes refused to take her meals, and witness was
compelled to use force to compel her. She gave no orders
to the servants, and did not in any way interfere in domes-
tic matters. Slw was incapable. She was occasionally
taken out in her carriage, when she would never allow the
blinds to be up, and was very troublesome.
The lady was waiting in a carriage on the outside of
the dice where the inquiry was held.—The Jury having
expressed a desire to see her, they were informed that she
positively refused to quit her carnage, in which she was
attended by two ladies.
Mr, Commissioner Phillimore, and several of the jury,
went out to speak to the lady in her carriage. The cir-
cumstance soon attract/0 a crowd, who began to manifest
some symptoms of a. determination.to know " the rights"
of the matter. On his return, Mr. Phillimore stated that
such a mode of examination was extremely inconvenient.
He had spoken to the lady,
who 'appeared greatly agita-
ted and in tears. The answers she gave to him aped
very rational. When requested to step out, she stated
she was greatly depressed in spirits, and begged to be ex.-
ellsedt its it would be extremely painful to her.
Mrs. Soloinabs, a friend of the family, who had attended
the lady
in her carriage, was examined. Her testimony
wasi!dmilar to that given by the nurse.
'I he •nieye, who was the second lady that attended her
in the carriage,ite
ewlae to
was called
eds'uhreefe effectoretlie as fury, and
given
andexamined.
she
gave Mrs.
Solomons.
The Jury returned a- verdict, finding that Mrs. Elision
was of unsound mind, and Incapable ormanaging her affairs.