The Sun.
London, England, 1829-08-24 00:00:00

LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, AUGUST 24, 1829.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.

MANSION-HOUSE.

A PERSECUTING EVEN UNTO MATRIMONY.—A
fatly, the widow of a merchant of great respectability
in the City, was charged on Saturday with having
acted towards a gentleman, who had been on inti-
mate terms with her husband, in such a manner as
rendered it necessary that he should apply to the
Chief Magistrate on the subject.
The complainant stated, that he had been subject,
for a considerable length of time, to a very strange
species of annoyance from the lady. For some reason or
other she had taken it into her head that he was
under obligations to marry her, and she accordingly
never ceased to demand the performance of what she
considered he was pledged to accomplish. It was in
vain that he said it was impossible for him to be more
nearly related to her; she became more and more impor-
tunate. At length the complainant went to the Conti-
nent, but even there she was his umbra. Like the mon.
ster in the "Bottle Imp," she started up in his path
wherever he went, and, so strong did she consider
her claims upon him, that she did not hesitate to
run up bills at hotels in his name. The annoyance,
at length became quite intolerable; and painful 'as it
.was to his feelings to expose the circumstances, he
determined to apply for protection to the Lord Mayor.
The LORD MAYOR asked whether the lady had
given intimations of a disordered intellect in other
ways ?—The complainant said that she was a per-

son of accomplished mind, and the only symptoirt of
aberration he had observed, was the extraordinary
delusion about matrimony. Upon that subject she
was quite astray; she had, without the slightest
grounds, imagined that he was the person fixed
upon (according to the adage) by Heaven, " to be
her companion through life." Of the purity of her
mind there was no question; she had been a most
exemplary wife and a most tender mother; but the
false impression under which she laboured occa-
sionally banished from her recollection any affec-
tionate tie but the overwhelming one which haunted
her at the moment.

The LORD MAYOR very compassionately expos

tulated with the lady, who addressed him seriously
on the subject of the complainant's application.
She repeated the nature of her claim upon the com-
plainant, declared that he must take her " for better
for worse," and that it was impossible she could be
perfectly happy without being his partner.
The delusion of the unfortunate lady cast melan-

choly upon the few persons who were present at this
scene.

It appears that her husband had been once in such
circumstances as to be able to entertain at his coun-

try seat several of the Nobility; and even a Royal
Duke was amongst his visitors. This latter fact was
alluded to by herself, when speaking of her former
respectability; and her address proved that she had
been accustomed to society of rank.
The LORD MAYOR felt greatly distressed as to
the course he should pursue; but finding that if the

lady was allowed to go at large, the complainant
would be constantly annoyed and interrupted in his
business, he required bail to prevent any further re-
petitions of of the conduct complained of.

summons, however, and Mawby was ordered to pay
him in 14, days.
Mr. 13rtouGnTox asked the bailiff from whom the
writ was received ?—The officer could not tell. It
was received in the regular course of business as
from Mr. Chilcoat, who was known to be a respect-
able attorney, but his assistant, who executed the
writ, would be able to identify the person.
The complainant was certain that Mawby was the
person, for his wife saw Mawby watching the man
who put the writ in execution.
Mr. BROUGHTON said the complainant appeared
to have been most infamously treated, and he sent
Waters, the officer, to make inquiries, and procure
the attendance of Mr. Chilcoat the attorney, and of
Mawby if he was to be found.
In the course of the day, the same parties again
appeared, and Joseph Josephs, the bailiff's assistant,
was examined.

He stated that the writ was brought to him by a
person whom he supposed to be Mr. Chilcoat's
clerk, who asked lOni to execute it. He knew Mr.
Chilcoat to be a very respectable (man, but he did
not usually employ Mr. Garrett, and witness asked
why the writ was not sent to the officers who com-
monly did Mr. Chilcoat's business. The man said
they had given some offence, and the witness having
no suspicion of any thing wrong, received the writ.
The man asked him to execute it that afternoon,
saying, that if he did not, Beazley would be :gone
out of town. The witness appointed to meet him
at a public-house near Benzley's residence that eve-
ning, and accordingly arrested the present com-
plainant.
Mr. BnovoirroN—Did the person say his name
was Fisher? Witness—He did not. I did not
ask his name.

Mr. BROUGHTON asked him to describe the per-
son, and the description he gave corresponded with
that before given of Mawby by the complainant.
Waters said that he had been to Mr. Chilcoat's
office in Broad-court, Walbrook, and was told that
he had gone out of town for the day. He asked if
there was any clerk of the name of Fisher, and was
told there was not; but he was told that there was
a person named Mawby, but he was said to have
gone over to the King's Bench on business.
Mr. BROUGHTON related the particulars of the
ease to Mr. Twyford, who then came upon the bench.

Mr. TWYFORD said he had before seen the corn-
plainant, and hardly knew whether he was in his
right senses, but the story he told was a most ex-
traordinary one.
Mr. BROUGHTON said the poor man seemed to
have been very cruelly treated.
The Magistrates were disposed to render the
complainant every assistance is their power, but
there was a difficulty as to the mode of proceeding;
arid after a long conversation, it was agreed to take
the case as a charge of conspiracy against Mawby
and others. Mr. Chilcoat, it was supposed, would
be anxious to attend, and give what explanation he
could of the manner in which his name had been
used. Summonses were ordered to be issued for the
attendance of the parties at a given time.
The complainant seemed almost frantic with his
present difficulties,and apprehensions of future danger.

Mr. TWYFORD told him he need not fear that they
would carry him off again. Complainant—How do
I know but they may go and swear other things
against me as they have done this ? Besides, even
since I've been here, my landlord has put a broker
into my house. I dare say they've been and told
him I was going to run away.
Mr. BROUGHTON—How much rent do you owe
him ? Complainant—Only 3/. I could only pay
him half my rent.
The wife, who had an infant in her arms, came
forward and stated that she saw Mawby at the
public-house, where the bailiff went to meet him.
Mr. BROUGHTON—Have you many children ?
Wife—Five small children, Sir.

Mr. TWYFORD observed, that the treatment these
poor people had experienced was cruel in the ex-
treme, and it was important that such proceedings
should be exposed to the world. Summonses were
then issued.

COMMISSION DE LUNATICO INQUI-

RENDO.

On Saturday last, a commission to inquire into
the state of mind of Mr. James Lewingdom Ran-
dall, of Clapham, was executed before EVANCE,
Esq., at the Swan Inn, Stockwell.
Mr. John Howel was called in and examined—
Witness is in the malt trade, and is a partner of
Mr. Randall, the subject of the present inquiry.—
Has been in trade with him for eight or nine years,
and during that period has had daily opportunities of
seeing him. He used to be particularly attentive to
his business, but about two years ago witness began
to observe some remarkable change in his behaviour.
Mr. Randall had at that time got into some difficulty
with a female, which appeared to have produced great
irritation of mind, and, finally, aberration of intellect.
Thomas Fox entered Mr. Randall's service as
coachman on the 11th of April last. Witness ac-
companied him from York to London after his mar-
riage. At an inn in York, he got up one morning
in a great rage, broke to pieces a naked figure which
stood on the staircase, declaring that he had got
into a house of ill-fame, and his life was in danger.
He said he would not take his wife past the naked
figure for 500/. The landlady's daughter told him
that the inn was visited by the first families in
Europe, who had never objected to the statue, and
expressed her opinion that the lady who was with
him was no better than she should be. Mr. Randall
declared he would bring an action against the land-
lady for ill-treatment, and for defamation of his wife,
and told witness to recollect all the circumstances,
and he should have 200/. or 300/. for his trouble.
This witness deposed to various other instances of
extraordinary conduct on the part of Mr. Randall,
and gave his opinion that he was unable to manage
his own affairs.
Dr. Burrowes—Witness saw Mr. Randall on Sun-
day the 11th of April last, and found him in a high
state of excitation; but, as he was under re-
straint, he was prevented from offering violence to
the witness. He told witness that he had lately been
married, and that he had been visited by angels since
his marriage. He said he was under the influence
of the divinity, and that he had seen angels all round
his bed the night before. He said he had been
particularly favoured, for he had been suffered to be
.married to the Virgin Mary. He then adverted to
the great fortunes which he fancied he possessed,
and to the number of noblemen with whom he was
acquainted. He told witness that‘he had been mar-
ried five days, and that he was exceedingly delighted
with tlae match, as his wife was a lady of consider-
able fortune, and future expectations. He said he
had been married in Lincolnshire, and had gone to
York the same night. He very willingly entered
;into a detail of the curious circumstances which
took place at the York Hotel, particularly about his
getting up and attacking a figure on the staircase.
,Witness asked him what offence he took at the
statue, and he answered that it was a naked figure.
Witness believes that he said it was a figure of
,Mercury. Witness asked him why he felt of-
fended at the statue, as it was usual for simi-
lar statues to be placed on staircases. He said
that that was true, but as he had brought the Virgin
Mary Into the house, he thought it a disgusting
:thing to exhibit a naked figure to so pure and imma-
culate a person, and he was convinced that he had
tot into a brothel, and thought the best thing he

could do was to destroy the image, that it might
not offend any one else. Witness has visited him
occasionally from that period to the present. Those
delusions still exist, and many new ones have en-
tered his mind. He has lately conceived that the
world is going to be sent back. Witness asl,ed him
for what purpose ? He replied, to conceal his in-
sanity. Witness asked how he came to know this ?
He said that it was communicated to him by revela-
_

tion ; that an angel had visited him and informed
him of the circumstance; that it was to be accom-
plished by what he called a procificalion ; that the
atmosphere would turn black, and that it would
thunder and lighten, and every body must take care
of himself. This morning he told witness that the
procification was to take place to-day at half-past one
o'clock. On the second day of visiting him witness
inquired whether he had consummated his marriage ?
He said that he had not, on any of the nights that
he slept with his wife, and the reason he assigned
was, that he could not think of coming near the
Virgin Mary; that lie was oppressed with so much
awe in her presence, that it was out of his power to
approach her as he would another woman.
Mr. Randall was then called in, and examined by
the Commissioner.

You are married, I believe, Sir ? Mr. Randall—
No, I am not married yet.
I understood that you were. Mr. LRandall—Oh,

yes, I was married.
Whom are you married to ? Mr. Randall—To
the Virgin Mary.
Indeed ! How do you know that ? Mr. Randall
—I don't know how it is. Mr. Hale (his father-in-
law) knows all about it; it will be explained to you.
You are attended by ministering angels, are you
not ? Mr. Randall—That is a very unreasonable
question, and I beg you'll not repeat it
Do you recollect the circumstances which took
place at York ? Mr. Randall—Oh ! perfectly. I
was very ill-used there. I intend bringing an action
of damages for the ill-treatment I received at the inn.
What are the grounds of your action ? Mr. Ran-
dall—You must apply to my solicitor for them. I
have given my instructions to him.
When is the world to be sent back ? Mr. Ran-
dall—The world ! I don't understand the reason of
your asking this question. I do not know any thing
of the world.

Mr. Commissioner EVANCE (to the Jury)—l
think we may dispense with this gentleman's presence
now.

Mr. Randall—Thank you, Sir : I can assure you
I am very glad to get out of your company.
The Jury then consulted for a short time, and
brought in a verdict that Mr. Randall had been of
unsound mind and incapable of managing his affairs
since the 30th of March last.