Mr. Cruden greatly injured: an account of a trial between Mr. Alexander Cruden ... and Dr. Munro [and others], defendants ... July 17, 1739, on an action of trespass, assault and imprisonment ... To which is added a surprising account of several other persons who have been most unjustly confined in private madhouses / [Alexander Cruden].

  • Alexander Cruden
Date:
1739
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Mr. Cruden greatly injured: an account of a trial between Mr. Alexander Cruden ... and Dr. Munro [and others], defendants ... July 17, 1739, on an action of trespass, assault and imprisonment ... To which is added a surprising account of several other persons who have been most unjustly confined in private madhouses / [Alexander Cruden]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    There was indeed another Judge on the Bench, the Judge in our Plaintif's Trial being ill and under Phyfick ; but he came abroad to hear the Trial in which Monro was concern'd. Our Plaintif was cold the Morning of his Trial by fome in the Hall, that it had been yefterday intireiy determined in favour of the pretended Lunatick, and that the Jury was very tender about thofe faid to be diforder'd Perfons, and that they did not doubt of our Plaintif's Succefs: But they did not know how powerful a Friend Monro had got. This Trial was between an Apothecary in Drury-Lane Plaintif, and the Reverend Mr. James Knox Commiffary of the Leeward-IJlands Defendant. Mr. Knox had been greatly injured and confined in November 1737 by his Wife an Irifli Woman, and by the Apothecary in Mr. WalteVs Private Madhoufe at Chel- fea ; and the Apothecary had alfo detain'd Mr. Knox Prifoner in his own Houfe for fome confiderable time, and adventured to bring an Action againft Mr. Knox for Maintenance and Medicines, but the Apothecary was call. When the Judge fummed up the Evidence to the Jury, he did it in a fair cautious Manner, and told them that if they believed the Defendant was not mad, they were to find for the Defendant; but if othervvife for the Plaintif: But he did not direct them in a peremptory and authoritative Manner, as was done in our Plaintif's Cafe. The Jury brought in their sVerdict for Mr. Knox the Defendant. Mr. Knox had obferved a particular Intimacy between his Wife and the Apothecary, and he refufed to mpport his Wife in the Manner me defired, during this Intimacy ; therefore me and the Apothecary found means one way or another to overcome Mr. Knox with Liquor, and then examin'd his Pockets, and robbed him of about forty Guineas. Mr. Knox threatning to profecute them for this Robbery, the Apothecary and others fent him to a Madhoufe, and endeavoured to get a Commiflion of Lunacy agninfcr him ; but their Affidavits being fufpecled, fome were ap- pointed to vifit Mr. Knox, and he was ordered to be fetat Liberty, It is commonly faid, * lThat every Body's Bufinefs is 'no Body s Bufinefs.-' and therefore fome great Evils are very often long in being taken notice'of and cured : But it is hoped that it will ap- pear highly neceiTary, that fome Provifion fhould be made to de- liver his Majeity's Subjects from thofe Evils and Barbarities that are a Reproach to a free Nation, and a Chriftian Country, and that Mr. Crudens Journal and this Treatife will (hew the Neceflity of a Remedy from the Legislature, to reflrain the exorbitant Proceedings in fending and continuing fober and judicious Perfons in Private Madhoufes for unifier Ends: And it is to be wifhed that Dr. Monro's Conduct was narrowly infpected for the publick Good, and that his Authority in declaring Men mad might be impaired, and that he might be feverely punifh'd, if he deferves it, feeing he is faid to be always on the fevere fide with refpect to ]iis poor Patients. His Power feems to be too great a Power for him or any one Man 1 for the Corruption of human Nature, fmce