American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1858-09-10

'''~ ',~'A'Sy " thVSb MIN III
drawlngroom, or as one of witnesses
more cautiously put it, "in the com.
pany OF learned and scientific men,
no one would suppose him insane, and
his tailors and tradcspcople found him
punctual in payment and obligine in
mauner. For years even his friends
admitted him to be eccentric. but never
thought of putting him in msdhouse.
However, about the year 1857, his
theory that Marriage was the first
thing" began to fructify. His sister,
Mrs. Sedden, and her husband, found
that he was actually about to marry
one of the damsels whom he had hither-
to been contented with caressing.-
There is no conclusive evidence of in
sanity in that. Chancellors, Judges,
bishops, and the like, have done MS mad
things in this way as poor Mr.. Leach.
Such an intention, in itself, would never
INDUCE any one to put his brother or
anybody else into an asylum. But
there were other facts. 1t turns
out that OH the death of his mother.
Mr.. Leach would become entitled to
$50, 600. 1.-The died without children
and lntcstate, that fortune must come
to Mr.. and Mrs. Sedden. This was
too splendid prospect to be obscured
by servant mad and small family.
1t was natural enough that the docter
should be called in by tho Seddens to
see whether eccentricities could not be
construed into insanity. This thing
was managed. Poor M1. Leach was
consigned to an asylum. One jury,
unable to agree on agree on a verdict,
has been discharged, but another jury
has just come to the conclusion that
MIR. Leach is competent to manage his
own affairs. In this verdict every
friend to the sacredness Of personal IL
berty will concur. Eccentricity is one
thing, madness is another. DR.. Win
slow, when first consulted on the matter,
recommended his friends to wait until
Mr.. Leach had committed some overt
act of insanity. That overt act was.
according to Mr.. and Mrs. Sedden's
opinion, committed when he was about
his servant-maid. The jury, who had
the whole very ably brought before
them, naturally and properly looked
with suspicion on such a proof of insaui-
ty, as this. They, no doubt, t,romembered
that marriage might prevent the ad-
ditlon of 100000 to the fortune of those
friends who sought to prove the mad
ness. The best and clearest summary
OF the whole case is to be found in the
admirable letter Of Mr.. Leach, the sup.
posed madman, written after his incar
ceration in the asylum, to his brother
in law, Mr.. Sedden.
"Nohody,' he writes, "ever thought
of imprisoning Charles Matthews when
he married Madame Vestris. And
though there is O religious motive as.
sociated with mine, if that would indi
cate insanity, you might as well impri-
son the whole body Of Quakers, of
Methodists, of Swedenborgians, of Nor
monities, and | know not how many
who act according to their consciences,
and believe that they act more or
less under divine influence in their
every day proceedings. 1t is grievous
to think that but for my temper on the
Friday previous, and my divulging
my intended marriage-which, by the
way, if [ had chosen, I could have con-
tracted secrectly-neither you nor any
one else would have cared more than
you have ever cared for my religious
opinions or conduct; that is to say mot
two.penny piece"
This is the whole truth of the matter
The case is most discroditablo one to
the mother and the brotherin-law {;
and the consequence of verdict affirm.
ing, on such grounds, the insanity Of
Mr.. Leach, might have been to the
last degree dangerous. If eccentricity
and a medical certificate are all that is
required to deprive man Of his liberty
and shut him up in madhouse, what
becomes of the boosted liberty of this
eccentric and doctor ridden British
people