SHOCKING TREATMENT OF AN IMBECILE.

Thames Advertiser, Volume VII, Issue 1882, 4 August 1874, Page 3

SHOCKING TREATMENT OF AN IMBECILE.

The Manchester Courier says- the police are at present eugaged inquiring into a case at Alderley of a most revolting nature, and one which has caused a great commotion in the neighbourhood. It seems that about 11 o'clock on Sunday morning last Mr Saxton, the superinten-' dent of police for the Prestbury division of the county of Chester, paid a visit to the Greyhound Inn, which is situated in a part of the township known as Over Alderley, and in a small room partitioned off from the clubroom, and lying on a bed formed of old ehairs and carpets he found a woman on her back in a huddledup heap, with her knees almost touching her chin, and in such a weak state that it was with difficulty she could bo moved. This club-room is in a building detached from the house, and the room adjoining it is used for the purpose of storing furniture. The poor woman, who had scarcely room to stir from one position owing to the place being piled up with chairs, lay weltering in dirt and filth; her legs being covered with ulcers. I'he room presented the appearance of not having been cleaned out for many months. Meat and drink had been conveyed to her by some of her mother's grandchildren, but she had not a fire in the place at all during tlio winter season. She is described as a helpless imbecile, boing paralysed in every climb. She has since been examined by Dr. Yaux, Macclesfield, and Mr Smith, the medical officer for the Alderley and Gawsworth district of the Macclesfield Union, and by them pronouuced to be insane, and, by order of Mr Lowe, a Justice of the Peace, sent to the asylum at Macclesfield. Her name is Sarah Ann Pownall. She is forty-two years of age, and the daughter of Charlotte Gouldm#, a widow woman, who carries on the business of a publican at Alderley, at the house in question. Her father died when she was but an infant; she would perhaps then be twelve months old. Since that time lier mother, who is now verging upon seventy years of age, has married twice, and had other children. The only explanation given for the confinement of the woman is that she went into the room herself, and of her own accord. She has not been seen by any of the neighbours for more than twelve months, and when they have inquired after her the answor given was that she had gone away from there altogether to live elsewhere. Of late years she had been noticed not to bo of sane mind-her very manner betrayed that; but it is said that a lover by whom she was "jilted," and for whom she had a great affection, had something to do with causing it, as she has not been always so. A rumour, which has gained considerable credence, is afloat that, by her father's will, upon her marriage she comes in for certain moneys and property, but that her family, who have an objection, have done all in their power to prevent her getting married.