09 Nov 1837 Lunacy Inquiry/Thomas Bushby - Cumberland and Westmorland Newspaper Transcriptions

09 Nov 1837 Lunacy Inquiry/Thomas Bushby

On Thursday a commission de lunatico inquirendo was opened at Carlisle to
determine the state of mind of Mr. Thomas BUSHBY. Mr. FAWCETT, the Chief
Commissioner, inquired whether the supposed lunatic intended to appear in person
or by counsel? Mr. Thomas BUSHBY, his nephew, replied that Mr. BUSHBY had said
that he would defend the case in person. He was at that present time out on
horseback, and it was uncertain when he would return. Mr. G. SAUL, on behalf of
the supposed lunatic, applied for a postponement for a few days, in order that
the assistance of a professional gentleman might be obtained and witnesses
procured, the notice having been very short. Mr. RAMSHAY opposed the
application, and the commissioners having decided upon proceeding, that
gentleman addressed the jury, pointing out the various degrees of insanity. The
first witness called was Thomas BARNES, who stated that he had been an officer
of Excise at Northampton, under Mr. BUSHBY, from 1827 to 1835, during which time
he had constant opportunities of seeing him. In the early years of their
acquaintance he was a clever, active man of business, a good accountant, and
remarkable for his punctuality. He was a vigilant officer. He attended to see
that beer licenses and auction duties at sales were paid. The first time he
observed an alteration in his conduct was about three years and a half ago. He
then used to forget what he was about. He did not arrive at this state all at
once, but by degrees. He went to Brighton for a change of air, and on his return
appeared worse. Witness saw an incoherent letter of his on the subject of his
return. This was in the summer, about three years ago. He used about this time
to come into the Excise-office and talk in a very strange manner. He would ask a
question, and before an answer could be given go to the door and say that he
heard some one there. He was not then on duty and had no business there. He
would lock and unlock a door several times, and still fancy he had not locked
it. He would fancy persons were going to rob him, and sometimes in the midst of
conversation he would go and look behind a chair and say, "It is here," these
words having no reference to the matters in conversation, or to anything going
on at the time. He had seen him incapable of counting money. He was
superannuated about three years ago. His age was about 64. A large number of
witnesses were examined, and several pieces of writing produced of a very
incoherent nature. It appeared that the supposed lunatic was in the habit of
writing on every piece of paper he could get hold of, but his composition was
always of the same incoherent character. He suffered a good deal in the head,
and his constitution was believed to have broken up. The examination lasted two
days. At the conclusion of the evidence Mr. BUSHBY was examined, after which the
jury immediately returned a verdict, that Mr. Thomas BUSHBY had been of unsound
mind since the 1st of June, 1835. Mr. RAMSHAY at the close of the proceedings
said, some imputations had been cast on the character of Mr. G. BUSHBY and his
son, who had had the care of Mr. BUSHBY, and he now begged to state that, from
the evidence produced, there was not the slightest foundation for any such
imputation.