REMARKABLE LUNACY INQUIRY.

Evening Star, Issue 4109, 28 April 1876, Page 4

REMARKABLE LUNACY INQUIRY.

Mr Samuel Warren, Master in Lunacy, held a court of inquiry a few days ago regarding the mental competency of Mr John Dudgeon, an eminent shipbuilder, formerly of Rosherville, Kent, and now an inmate of Morningside Asylum, Edinburgh. A barrister appeared to conduct the case on behalf of the Court of Chancery, and it was mentioned that the proceedings were instituted in consequence of some arrangement of Mr Dudgeon’s affairs. It appeared he had been in a most extensive way of business. Some time ago he built a large ironclad' called the Independencia, for the Brazilian Government. It cost half-a-million of money. In launching it, however, there was a mishap by which a great loss was incurred. This preyed upon his mind, and his disorder was heightened by some subsequent embarrassment, and still more by the death of his brother. He sank into melancholy, and his friends on several occasions discovered him concealing razors and other instruments of intended self-violence. It was at last found necessary to send him to an asylum where there were means of taking proper care of him, and on the 25th of last September he was received at Morningside. The doctor, who gave evidence, said the case was one of acute suicidal melancholia. The patient was still under an hallucination about abstaining from food. At one time it was necessary to feed him with a spoon ; but now a stomach-pump had to be used for the purpose, his idea being that he had no stomach. Not long ago he att mpted to commit suicide by throwing himself from one of the windows, which of course was guarded. Dr Clouston added that Mr Dudgeon is now quite lost to the world, and his case seemed hopeless. The jury found that the patient was' of unsound mind and unfit to manage his affairs, which will fall under the administration of Chancery. Mr Dudgeon is sixty years of age, and it was mentioned that at one time he was worth half a million sterling, after paying all his debts.