The Warwickshire Herald. — 1888-08-09 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

STRANGE TREATMENT OF A SISTER. At the Liverpool assizes, before Mr. Justice Gran. them and a special jury, an action for libel, false imprisonment, and trespass has been brought by Miss Cecilia Elizabeth Brabazon against her sister, Mrs. Maria Smythe, her sister's husband, Mr. Roland Smythe, and Miss Amelia Cowell.—Mr. Bingham, Q.C., for the plaintiff, said she was a maiden lady, of middle age, who had taken great interest in social and religious matters at Birkenhead. She had associated herself with St. John's Church in that town, and had also taken a house for the purposes of a "home," and, in order to carry out the objects of that institution, had obtained the aid of a number of ladies, amongst them being Miss Georgina Cowell, upon whom the management of the institution devolved. Disputes arose between the ladies, and Miss Cowell was requested to resign. She accordingly did so, and went to reside with her sisterMissAnielia Cowell, one of the defendants, at Liverpool. It appeared that there had been complaints amongst the ladies in the home as to the food or something else, and in the end the vicar of the parish directed it to be closed, and this was done. Miss Cowell afterwards wrote a letter to Mrs. Smythe, in which, referring to the institution, .he said: "The inadequate quantity of food, and the most objectionable subjects of conversation even to the poor mothers, and also her statements that she can bring back the spirits of the departed, are but a few of many proofs I could afford that she is very greatly in need of having some relative to protect and soothe her. She greatly needs to have also some attendant accustomed to ladies mentally afflicted, for I fear she never, takes off her day clothes at night, or attends to her hair or her food. She is so nice it makes it all the more touching to have her such a public topic amongst the ignorant and labouring classes, and her statements to the lady workers are that you are her sister, and Lord Brabazon her brother." Without communicating with her sister, Mrs. Smythe saw Miss Cowell, and they laid a plan for decoying her sister into a lunatic asylum. They got two nurses from the Tuebrook Asylum, who went to Miss Brabazon's house while the defendants waited outside, and on the representation that there were two young ladies who wished to join her mission, induced her to go to Liverpool. On arriving there they got Miss Brabazon into a cab and drove straight to the house of Dr. Phipps, He conversed with her about the suggested young ladies, observed her manner, and appeared to have made up his mind that she was not suffering from any mental derangement; and Dr. Judson, who came in during the proceedings, was of the same opinion. Miss Brabazon now got uneasy on hearing the gentlemen called doctors and the women nurses, and insisted on leaving at once. It had conie to her knowledge, since the action VMS commenced that a most extraordinary series of letters had parsed between Mrs. Smythe and Miss Cowell. These letters were generally addressed : "My good creature," and in the first she referred to the proceedings that had been taken, and seemed to know that she was to blame, because she remarked, "I cannot square that, but you may find an excuse. I trust the child (meaning the servant girl) will not say so much." In another letter she wrote : "Defend yourself with accusing her of untruth. Threaten her with an action and bid her be quiet. God knows I mean her good, but man's judgment is otherwise. I think if I had committed a murder I could not feel worse. I believe he drew out her money as if I would steal it." After some conversation the leading counsel of the parties retired with his lordship to his room, and after a few minutes' absence returned into the court, it being stated that an agreement had been c"ine to to pay Miss Brabazon CO. The defendants expressed regret, and apologised for that which had been done.--Mr. Bingham, on behalf of the plaintiff, expressed satisfaction at the terms arranged, which his client accepted. Mr. Bingham added in a lower voice to Miss Brabazon : !‘, ovv you niust go and shake hands with your sister.' The plaintiff, however, was heard to reply somewhat emphatically in the negative.