An inquiry into the state of mind of W. F. Windham, Esq., of Fellbrig Hall, Norfolk : before Samuel Warren ... and a special jury, upon the petition of General Windham ... the uncle of the alleged lunatic, and other members of the family, at Her Majesty's Court of Exchequer, Westminster, commencing December 16, 1861.

William Frederick Windham

Date:: [1862]

Credit: An inquiry into the state of mind of W. F. Windham, Esq., of Fellbrig Hall, Norfolk : before Samuel Warren ... and a special jury, upon the petition of General Windham ... the uncle of the alleged lunatic, and other members of the family, at Her Majesty's Court of Exchequer, Westminster, commencing December 16, 1861. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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r.2 13 irchea square would be Is. 6d. per foot below the average market price, and tho- sum to be pair] for trees under 13 inches square would bo about lOd. per foot below the average market price. I should say that fid. per cubic foot for all other kinds of trees about 14 inches square would bo rather too little. The market price would be about 2d. per foot more. [It was understood that Mr. Chambers in asking these questions was quoting from the contract signed by Mr. Windham.] I marked all the small trees which I thought ought to be taken out. When I went over tho estate I did not find that other persons had marked any of the trees. riy Sir IT. Cairns.—I cannot tell you what a fair average price per foot would he, supposing a purchaser were to bind himself to take all the trees of everv kind on the estate. The Fellbrigg estate consists of about 3,000 acres. All the timber is in the park, and at the back of the hall. By the Jury.—So that, if all the trees had been cut down, Fellbrigg would have been left a bairen spot near the seashore. I think Mr. Windham is very incom- petent to manage a property. SEEGEANT OLIVER OP A DIVISIO.V, HETROPOLITAN POLICE. Sergeant Oliver of the A division said, 1 have known Mr. Windham for about eight- een months, and have frequently seen him in night-houses in the Haymarket and its neighbourhood. He was generally in the company of prostitutes, screeching, shouting, and making merriment for the bystanders. He used to address me as “ old fellow,” and once seriously invited me to a champagne dinner. He told me that when he came of age he would give a grand treat to the police. He always appeared very excitable, and I treated him as I would a schoolboy. At tho volunteer dinner at Wimbledon in July last Mr. Windham got on the top of a post near tho principal entrance, and shouted and swore, and uttered other kinds of offensive langnage while ladies were passing in their carriages. I remonstrated with him, and persuaded him to go away. On one occasion, about ten o’clock at night, while a section of police were crossing Jennyn-street, Mr. Windham drove up in a phaeton in a furious manner, and the men were obliged to scatter themselves as quickly as possible. He cried, “ your eyes ; get out of the w.ay, orl will run over you,” and kept straight on. I saw him alight in Duke-street, but upon being asked for an explanation of his conduct he merely said, “ Oh, it’s all right,, old fbllow ; it’s only me.” (A laugh.) He appeared much excited, and I took no further notice of him, because X considered him a person of unsound mind and treated him as such. One morning at three o’clock, about twelve months ago, I met him in the Haymarket. He was ciying like a child and. slavering at the month. Some girls were following him, and I took him down a by-street, and wiped Lis ej'es, cheeks, and mouth, which were all in a slobbering state. All he said was, “ My girl has run away from me,” or something to that effect. I did not tliink him capable of managing himself or his affairs. In cross-examination Sergeant Oliver said, to the best of my recollection I first met Mr. Windham in the summer of 18G0. At that time I used to see him three or four times a week in the Haymarket night-houses. Ilia practice was the same during the first half of the present year.. It was probably the race time when Mr. AVindham drove through the police in a phaeton. ■ Ke-examined by Mr. Chambers.—Mr. Windham did not act like other young men in the Haymarket. He yelled and shouted, cried like a cat, howled like a dog, and made himself a perfect buffoon. The women ridiculed him more than others. By the Jury.—If 1 had heard that Mn Windham had committed a murder, or something of that kind, I should not have been surprised, because I have alwny.s looked upon him as a person of unsound mind, aud one who could not be held responsible for bis acts. The inquiry was again adjourned. NINTH DAY—Satukday, Dec. 29. The adjourned inquiry into the state of mind of Mr. W. 1'. Windham, of Fellbrigg- hall, Norfolk, was resumed this day in the Court of li.xchequor, Westminster, before Mr.’Warren, Q.C., one of tho Masters in Lunacy, and a special jury. Mr M. Chambers, Q.C., Mr. Field, and Mr. Hume Williams appeared for tho netitioners; Mr. Charles Russell for Lady Sophia Elizabeth Giubilei, tho mother of the alleged lunatic ; Sir Hugh Cairns, Q.C., Mr. Kar.slukc, Q.C., and Mr. Milward for Mr. William Frederick Wiudham ; and Mr. Coleridge, Q.C., lor Mrs. AYiudlmia,

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