The Sun.
London, England, 1842-05-31 00:00:00

CROYDON POLICE,

Mr. Serle, the relieving officer of Mitcham, accompanied
by Mr. Tipple, the medical officer of, that district, attended
before Messrs. Read, Wilson, and Lucas, the presiding Ml-
gistrates, to apply for an order for the admission of one William
Phelp, a lunatic. into the County Lunatic Asylum.
This individual is the person whose singular delusion has al-
ready been made public. It will he remembered that, on a for-
mer occasion, it appeared that he fancied himself to be the post-
master of Mitcham, and that some lunatic person was at
large in that neighbourhood, whom he wished to be
placed under restraint. He accompanied the parties who
made the application on the former occasion, and sup orted
that application with great earnestness, frequently observing
that it was the duty of the Magistrates to protect the poor man,
and place him in some establishment where he might net be
likely to injure himself or others. The Court upon that occa-
sion said they would not grant such an order, except upon the
application of the parish officers, and the matter accordingly
stood over until this sitting.
Mr. Serle said that his application now was, on behalf of
the parish officers of Mitcham, that the Magistrates should
grant. an order for the removal of William Phelp, a pauper
lunatic, to the County Lunatic Asylum.
The poor man here interrupted the proceedings by saying,
" You recollect me, gentlemen. I was here about this business
before. The man really must be taken care of."
Mr. Read asked him if he had sold any of his Three-and-a-
Half per Cents., and he replied that he was pushing them
off as fast as he could, and he added that he had only got
about eleven millions left. He said, however, that he was
about to marry a very rich heiress, and that would make him
all right again.
. . . .

Mr. Read inquired whether the lunatic was actually charge-
able to the parish of slitcham ? Mr. Serle said that he teas.
the relatiens had applied to the Board of Guardians for relief,
and, by the order of the Board, he had given them half a
crown, CO that he was in point of law, at the present t:me
chargeabe to that parish. The Board were satisfied
with ;lie representations of his friends, and considered him a.;
a pauper, and this application was made with their authority,
and the medical officer was present, tc, testify as to the insanity
of the lunatic.

Mr. LUCAS said that there wa., unfortunately, no (I,:ubt of
that fact, but he questioned whether the Magistrates would be
justified in considering him as a pauper lunatic. He thought
they ought to have some evidence as to the state of his cir-
cumstances.

Mr. Potter, a brother-in-law to the lucatic, was then ex-
amined, and he stated that before his relative was attacked
with this di,tresing malady, he was in good an eurnstances, and
carried on the business of a tailor, but since hie illness the buil-
riess had been much reduced, and it was entirely carried on by
a foreman.

In answer to a question from the Bench. he stated that he
considered the lunatic's business at the present time was quite
solvent.

Mr. LUCAS expressed his opinion that under such circum-
stances the Magistrates would not be justified in ordering the
admission of the party as a pauper lunatic, for if they did, they
would at the same time have to make an order upon the over-
seers of Mitcham for the cost of his maintenance.

Mr. Serle intimated that the Board of Guardians were satin.
fled with the explanation given to them, and they treated the
case as that of a pauper.
The BENCH said this might be, but it was the duty of the
Magistrates to see that the law was properly carried out. They
felt convinced that it did not apply to the presf nt case, and
they must, the-efore, refuse the application. They, at the
same time, advised the friends of the lunatic to apply to some
of the private establishments, and said they would no doubt find
no difficulty in getting him admitted to one of them.

Mr. Bunn will take a benefit at Covent-garden
to-night. We have the greatest pleasure in • saying that
the performances chosen for the occasion have the utmost at-
traction, and are not likely to be equalled during the reason at
any theatre. Mr. Bunn hes been chiefly instrumental in afford-
ing the public the rich tree: they now enjoy in the presence of a
German opera, and Mr. Bonn's long and valued services in ca-
tering for the public are so well appreciated that he has a right to
expect an overflow. Beethoven's fidelio will commence the
evening's entertainment, including the entire strertgih f the
company, after which La Fille de Dominique will be per
formed, expressly fuK the appearance cf the celebrated actress,
Mademoiselle Dejaxet ; and during the et,ening, the charming
, Guy Stephan will introduce (by Mr. Lumley's permission) •
her celebrated Spanish dance, and M. Desplaces and Mdlle.
Fleury will execute &grand pas di deux.
About five months ago. an elderly- lady, rained
Landoire, met with a severe accident in alighting from one of
the omnibuses, called Parisiennett. The conductor baying
pulled the string for the driver' to go on. before Mme. Lan-
doire was fully off the step, she fell to the ground and broke
her leg. The conducteur laid hold of her and raised her tip,
hut as the omnibus was still going on he lest his hold, and the
lady falling a second time brow both arms. Although at
length able to leave her bed, after long suffering, Mme. Lan-
doire, being a cripple for life, brought an action for damages
against the omnibus company, before the Civil Tribunal, and.
obtained a verdict of 6,000 f. Dissatisfied with this verdict'
she appealed to the Cour Royale, and the cause having been
heard on Thntsday, a decision was pronounced, raising the
damages tp 10,000 f.

PORT OF GLOUCESTER.—The trade of our port has
relapsed into a most inanimate state. Very few hands can find
euipkyrnent,'and a good deal of distress is the result. The
warehouses are groaning with foreign corn in hood, very little
of which has been, or is likely to be, liberated at the resell; ;
rate of duty.— Gloucester Journal.