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].

  • Cruden, Alexander, 1699-1770.
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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    Green. There was a Writ taken out of the Poultry-Counter t# arreft Wightman for the Money ; for which he found Bail, namely Cooke and Horton, two of the Combination or Judges of his Blind-Bench : But this Affair hath been fhifted from Court to Court by the Defendants, fo that the Plaintif hath yet got no Satisfaction. The fecond ACtion againft Wightman was brought before the Kings-Bench, and was to have been tried on the 27th of June laft, the Witneffes being fubpoena’d and prefent at Guildhall: But the Lord Chief JuJiice Leev fuppofing it would be a lpng Caijfe, appointed it to be tried, on the 29th of July, fo that the other Caufe againft Wight- man's Accomplices, Monro, Ofivald, Wright, and Davis, came on July 17, which ought rather to have been tried after Wightman's Trial. This Adlion betwixt Mr. Crudeti and Wight¬ man is not yet tried ; but it’s faid the Piafntif is determin’d to try it the next Term, namely Michaelmas-Term. The chief Defign at prefent is to give a fhort Account of ' the Trial betwixt Mr. Cruden Plaintif, and Matthew Wright, John Davis his Servant, Dr. James Monro, and John Qfwald% four of Wightman § great Accomplices. Monro prelcrib’d Phyfick to the Plaintif before he vifited him. Monro and Ofivald gave Tickets to Perfons for vifiting the Plaintif at Bethnal-Green; and Orders were given that none fhould be allow’d to fee the Plaintif without an Order from Wightman, Monro, or Ofivald, which was plainly affuming a Power over his Perlon. Monrq became intirely Wightman s Creature, and was the Head of the Combination to fend the Planitif to Bethlehem, after he xefufed to fign the Releafe to indemnify Wightman and Ofivald1 Wright and Davis were guilty of imprifoning, chainings handcuffing, and Jlr#it-<wajlecoating the Prifoner, and of other Barbarities, while they detain’d the Plaintif unjuftly as their Prifoner. Davis alfo gave the Plaintif a fevere Blow near the Eye, which much disfigur’d his Face for feme time. The Plaintif brought an A&ion againft thofe four Perfons in a Plea of Trefpafs, Aftault and Imprifonment in the private Madhoufe at Bethnal-Green, &c. The Declaration was, in Subftance, as follows: * That 9 Matthew Wright, John Davis, James Monro, and John * Ofwald, together with Robert Wightman, James Grant, and 6 Anna his Wife, did ?nake an Affault upon Alexander Cruden * the Plaintif and him did beat, wound, evilly treat, and im- 9 prifon 1 and him, there in Prifon, contrary to the Laws and 9 Cujloms of England againjl his will did detain ; his Letters e and Mejfages fop and intercept, and him from the Affifance, * Comfort and Converfation of his Friends and Acquaintance did 9 keep, obfrutt and hinder ; and Iron Fetters, Chains, Cords and f other Infruments of Cruelty and Ofprejfion on him did put, and