A full and authentic report of the trial of Jonathan Martin at the Castle of York, on Tuesday, March 31, 1829, for setting fire to York Minister; with an account of the life of the lunatic. The destruction of the choir of York Cathedral, on the second of February, 1829; the flight and apprehension of the incendiary; his examination and commitment to York city gaol; the proceedings at public meetings held at York, in consequence of the fire; embellished with a striking likeness of Martin and a ground plan of the minister.

Date:: 1829

Credit: A full and authentic report of the trial of Jonathan Martin at the Castle of York, on Tuesday, March 31, 1829, for setting fire to York Minister; with an account of the life of the lunatic. The destruction of the choir of York Cathedral, on the second of February, 1829; the flight and apprehension of the incendiary; his examination and commitment to York city gaol; the proceedings at public meetings held at York, in consequence of the fire; embellished with a striking likeness of Martin and a ground plan of the minister. Source: Wellcome Collection.

72/78 page 68

board the Atlas; and Jonathan Martin was on board the canics .hip. He was tith me at thebattle of Copenhagen. It was the first battle in 1801. ^^^^W^ of the foretoP,and after.the batde^ he fellout ofthetop,over-board. He was ill after it. I perceived there was rather a change in him after that accident. He bore a very ^vK^K^Sltto the water; it was about 15 or 20 rnin^te^ before he was taken up. A boat was lowered, and he swam trSSjm Serjeant Jones.-I keep the lunatic asylum at Gateshead I succeeded OrtoJ, and found Martin there; this was on the 27th ofDecember, 1819. He made his first escape on the 17 h of June Vsts and wTbrought back by the Norton overseer, Marshall by order of the NorTon magistrates. On the 1st of July, 1821, he made his escape Imy hnsband went after him-but he never came back. I have haduna- tiwunder my care 26 years. When Martin was with me I though him fi4 uy insane person. * He would sit on the ^^o^fm ^, as if he was fiddling, either singing hymns or whistling He called ms icL anlnutation & David's harp.* Some days he would have to be^on- fined in order to be shaved. I have known him fast foui days—and say ft wl God Almighty's orders-in imitation of Christ's fasting 40 days on the Mount. He was often under restraint, and was bad to manage, lnc last time he escaped, he had a pair of locks upon his legs. He was often dreaming and prophesying; and he said, whatever he dreamt he was de- termined to de. I have no doubt he was a lunatic. ; By Mr. Ai.derson.—Have had nothing to do with him since 18-1, since which time he has been at large. Paul Glenton, by Mr. Brougham.—I am a surgeon at Newcastle-upon- Tyne. I attended the asylum of Messrs. Nicholson and Orton during two and a half years of the confinement of Jonathan Martin. I have at- tended it four or five years in all. I was educated by Dr. Glenton—and have had extensive practice among insane patients. I am partner in a medical asylum myself. I saw Jonathan Martin two and a half years as a patient, and always looked upon him as a man of unsound mind, from first to last. It was insanity in one particular point. I should call it delusion. The medical term is Monomania. Points of religion, and the subject of the clergy, were those upon which he was of unsound mind. When he -was excited on that particular subject, the eye became glassy, and the pulpit much dilated. I have observed, in my practice generally, that that is a symptom of insanity. I lost sight of him since the middle of 1821, till this morning, when I saw him in prison. I walked up to him, and he shook hands with me, and recognised me as an old acquaintance. Patients with such maladies as he is subject to, have very tenacious memories. They never forget any thing. I think him precisely in the same state now as he was in 1821: the symptoms are the same. I do not believe it possible for any man to assume what I witnessed to-day. I had an opportunity of observing the eye, which had the same glassy appear- ance, and dilation of the pupil, which I mentioned before. A person may be under this delusion, and yet be acute on other subjects ; and a person not aware of the subject of delusion, and who did not touch the string—might be deceived as to the state of his mind. I have not the smallest doubt, but that, upon subjects connected with the delusion he labours under, he is incapable of distinguishing between right and wrom

Licence and re-use

Contents