The Sun.
London, England, 1842-12-14 00:00:00

COMMISSION OF LUNACY.

On Monday a commission of lunacy was opened
before Edward Winslow, Esq., and 16 freeholders of
the county, amongst whom were the following Ma-
gistrates :—Henry Pownall, Esq. (foreman), Captain
Bague, R. Carpenter, Esq., James Whiskin, Esq.
James Dixon, Esq., and Digby T. Carpenter, Esq.,
at the residence of Mrs. Broome, Norwood-green,
near Southall, to inquire into the state of mind of
John Broome, Esq., described as residing at the same
place, bachelor. _ _

Mr. BLUNT appeared as Counsel in support of the
commission, and saienotice of the inquiry had been
served upon Mr. Broome, but he had declined the as-
sistance of any professional gentleman.
Commissioner WisisLow having charged the Jury,
Mr. BLUNT gave an outline of the case. Mr. Broome,
he said, was a gentleman about 35 years of age, and
is possessed of very considerable property, and had
received a good education. He was brought up at the
Charterhouse, and from there went to Trinity College,
Cambridge. After leaving the latter place in 1831,
he went to travel upon the Continent, and on his re-
turn, about July, 1834, it was observed for the first
time that an alteration had taken place in his mind.
About this period they would have it in evidence from
members of the family that Mr. Broome began to
labour under singular delusions. He imagined that
there were conspiracies against him, that persons were
in the habit of constantly watching him, and that his
food was impregnated with poison. In the year
1835 it was found necessary to place him under re-
straint, and he was accordingly placed under the
care of Sir Charles Aldous, and remained with that
gentleman and his brother, Dr. Aldous, up to No-
vember, 1835. It was then found necessary to have
a consultation of physicians, and Dr. Sutherland, Sir
Henry Ilalford, and Drs. Roots and 111`1Vright were
called in, as it was found that \lr. Broome's life was
becoming endangered from his determination not to
take food. It was afterwards thought that it would be
better Mr. Broome should he left in the care of a
keeper, and kept as quiet as possible, and he was sent
to Hampstead, and remained there up to 1836. He
then seemed to be much more passive, and he was re-
moved to his mother's in Upper Seymour-street. They
would find, however, when he got there that he ex-
hibited acts of violence—such as breaking windows
and looking-glasses and destroying valuable books.
In 1838 his mother removed to Twickenham, and her
son went to reside in the same house, and then be-
came of the most secluded habits, and shut himself
up in his room and laid in bed for months together,
and would not allow it to be made, He also refused
to see any member of his family. From 1839 to
1842 they would find he was attended by Eliza Tay-
lor, who would state that he refused to have his
room cleaned out, and sometimes would have his
breakfast and tea together at a late hour at night.
In 1842 Mrs. Broome removed to Norwood-green,
and in April last Rhoda Foster became his attendant.
Since her attendance upon him they would find that
his conduct was most extraordinary. He would not
allow her to enter his room, and made her leave his
meals at the door. He showed no sympathy or feel-
ing towards any of his family, or anybody about the
house.. Mr. Broome had very considerable property,
his father having left him residuary legatee under his
will of some extensive produce in the West Indies, of
which Messrs. Daniell and Co., of Bristol, were the
consignees, and who had above 20,0001. in hand; yet
the unfortunate object of this inquiry, had taken no
means to obtain any portion of such property for some
years past, with the exception of drawing two or three
cheques for trifling amounts. He (Mr. Blunt) would
lay before them evidence that Mr. Broome laboured
under the impression that he had no property ; and
therefore it was that, on this occasion, he should pre-
duce evidence of his property. They would also find
he fancied himself Earl of Monmouth. After some
further observations the Learned Gentleman called
several witnesses in support of his statement.
The Learned Commissioner, the Foreman, and a de-
putation of the Jury then proceeded to Mr. Broome's
room to examine him ; and, after an absence of only a
few minutes, the Jury unanimously returned a verdict
dating his unsoundness of mind from the Ist of No.
vember, 1834.

CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT.
OLD COURT.

Henry Belstead, aged 46, and formerly a Captain
in her Majesty's service, was placed at the bar charged
with forgery, and the embezzlement of various sums
of money to the amount of 1,5001., which had been
deposited in the Savings bank at Richmond, of which
establishment the defendant had been secretary.
The prisoner pleaded guilty to the indictment, and
the prosecutors strongly recommended him to mercy.
Col. Fox, Major M'Culloch, and other highly re-
spectable persons gave the prisoner a very excellent
character for integrity and for his services in the army.
The RECORDER said that, in consequence of the
recommendation of the prosecutors, and the high cha-
racter which the prisoner had received, he would in-
flict the lightest punishment upon him which the law
allowed, and he could apply to the Secretary of State
for the Home Department to mitigate that penalty.
The sentence of the Court was, that the prisoner be
confined in the House of Correction for two years,
without hard labour.

(Before the RECORDER.)
The charge against Patrick L. Strachan, against
whom a true bill was found at the last session for
misdemeanour, haying been called on, and the de-
fendant not appearing in discharge of his recognizances,
Mr. PAYNE applied to the Court to order that they
might be estreated.

Mr. CLARKSON, on behalf of the defendant, wished
the Court would not accede 'to the application, as he
was informed that a writ of certiorari had been ap-
plied for, and would, no doubt, be granted.
Mr. PAYNE said it was usual to give notice to the
prosecutors of the intention to apply for a writ of
certiorari, and they had not received any such notice.
The RECORDER thought that many cases were re-
moved from this Court, which, if the Learned
Judges who granted the certiorari were aware of all
the facts, would not be so. He was of opinion that
this was the proper Court for the trial of such
offences, and no more fair tribunal could be found, in-
asmuch as the Jurors were selected from all parts of
the county.
The defendant was then called upon his recog-
nizances, and no answer was returned.

The RECORDER inquired the amount of the bail,
and he was informed that the defendant had entered
into his own recognizances in 500/., with two sureties
in 50/. each.

The bail were then called, but they, also, were not
to be found.
The recognizances were then ordered to be estreated.

NEW COURT.
Nearly a dozen eases were disposed of in this Court
in the course of the morning, but they were chiefly
cases of petty larceny, of no general interest.
THE WE nig INSTER LOAN SOCIETY.—Aaron
Smith and John Shiels, late Managers of the West-
minster Joint-stock Loan Society, surrendered upon
an indictment for conspiracy in charging a person of
the name of Boast of felony.
Mr. Clarkson and Mr. Bodkin appeared for the
prosecution, and Mr. Ballantine and Mr. Huddlestone
for the defendants.
_ _

Mr. CLARKSON said the facts of the case were briefly
these. The prosecutor was a person who had frequent
bill transactions with the Westminster Loan Society.
In the latter part of last year differences arose be-
' tween them ; some proceedings were taken before Mr.
Henry, at the Union-hall police-office, Boast being
the prosecutor. On one occasion that Boast visited
the defendants, he by accident dropped a bill of ex-
change, drawn up by himself, but which was not ac-
cepted or indorsed. Subsequent to this, a bill of
exchange was taken by the defendant Smith to a
Captain Cole, who had often lent the prosecutor his
name, and was his intimate friend. Smith produced
the note with the signature " Robert Cole" attached,
and said, is that your writing ? and he. said at once
that it was not. Smith then said, " Oh, then it is a
forgery," and went away. Next day the prosecutor
in this case was given in custody on a charge of for-
gery, and committed for trial. The Grand Jury,
however, ignored the bill, and this indictment was
therefore instituted against the defendants.
Several policemen wore called to wove the facts as
they occurred at the police.office.
Captain Robert Cole stated 'that he lived. in the
Kermington-road. The prosecutor was his friend,
and was a surgeon; residing-in the Blackfriars-road.
The bill Kodueed was not signed by witness, and the ,