A Perfect Nuisance | Donald Mortimer Warner.

A view of Glamorgan County Lunatic Asylum (Angelton)

In this blogpost, I write about Donald Mortimer Warner. 

When I read Donald's case-file, I found myself wanting to know how and why this young man ended up so far from home. I wanted to know where he came from, who his family were and how he became ill. 

Although not much is known about his early life, I have been able to piece this gentlemans life together through newpaper articles, census records and casefiles. 

Content warning: The newspaper articles and transcribed of case notes in this blogpost contain racist language. 

Donald Mortimer Warner was born on the 24th of January 1868. He was the second of seven children born to Georgina and her husband Nathaniel Warner of St Michael, Barbados. At some point during the next 20 years, Donald came to live in the United Kingdom. 

The 1891 Census tells us that Donald was at lodging with a family at 294 Scotland Street, Glasgow. At this time Donald is listed as being a Marine Engineer. His place of birth is given as Barbados and he is noted as a British Subject. 

Articles from The Hull Daily Mail detailing Donald's arrest on two ocassions. 

Sometime between 1891 and 1895, Donald travelled to Hull. A report in the 'Hull Daily Mail' dated 13th of May 1895 tells us that Donald was in Hull Police Court on a charge of begging. The report details that the police had received many complaints regarding Donald begging in front of shops in the area. At the time of the sentencing, Deputy-Chief Constable Jones described Donald as being a "perfect nuisance". Donald was sentenced to fourteen days imprisonment in the local gaol.

Donald appeared in Hull Police Court a further three times:

• September 1895: He received twenty-one days imprisonment for begging. 
• December 1895: He received thirty days imprisonment for begging. 
• November 1896: He received three months imprisonment for begging. 

A photograph of Donald taken in 1899 by Dr David Finlay. 

By January 1898, Donald had made his way to Swansea. On the 6th of January, he was found wandering the streets of Swansea and brought to Swansea Workhouse. On admission to the workhouse, Donald was certified as a lunatic. 

"He believes he is the President of America and that he owns the whole of America. Imagines there is a sewing and drawing machine in his body. Believes he is the God almighty and he has created the whole world." 

"He believes he is the greatest engineer and inventor of machinery in the whole world. He imagines he has invented a number of coal ploughing machines. He believes he is the largest shipowner in the world." - Dr Stewart, 1898.

Donald was transferred to Glamorgan County Lunatic Asylum (Angelton) on the 1st of October 1898. His admission record tells us that this was his first (known) attack and that he had been suffering from insanity for six months. His reason for admission is noted is as “Acute Mania”.

Below are extracts from his case file. You will notice gaps between the dates as during those times he is described as being the same or no change. 

He is a native of Barbados and left there, he says, four years ago. Six months ago he was found wandering about Swansea streets and taken to the workhouse and his mind has been affected all that time. 

No apparent abnormality of the thoracic or abdominal organs. He is of a typical negroitic appearance.

An extract from the casefile of Donald Mortimer Warner. 

8th October 1898: Since admission he has been unsettled and uncertain, talking in a thin alto voice in a rambling incoherent way and on several occasions he has been threatening and actually violent towards others with no provocation and is now warded in IV. Sleep & appetite good. 

15th October 1898: Since being in IV he has been given little trouble. He is as incoherent and as full of delusions as ever and he is at times noisy but he refrains from violence. Appetite good. He sleeps well in an SR. 

22nd October 1898: Much the same. Has invented many things. He receives cablegrams from New York regarding his rum and sugar supplies vocally. He sleeps well in a general dormitory.

17th November 1898: He is unsettled restless and given to talking to himself and is often noisy. Delusions and hallucinating persist. He is occasionally talkative at night. 

"Restless and talkative and talked of himself as “the King Superior” - He was inclined to be violent – He has continued incoherent and with many exalted delusions." - Dr Finlay, 1899.

On the 7th of July 1899, Donald was transferred to the Parc Gwyllt building of Glamorgan County Lunatic Asylum. Below are extracts from his second case-file. 

Quiet and so far well-conducted, making himself very useful indoors but he is very incoherent and possessed of exalted delusions. Says he has invented machines in Cardiff for all kinds of purposes building.. weaving etc 

A Negro – native of Barbados. Tall and well proportioned. Organs are healthy. 

9th October 1899: Restless, incoherent and deluded. 

5th January 1900: Now works with upholster. In mind, he continues as above noted. 

9th July 1900: Excitable, restless, incoherent and deluded. 

An extract from the casefile of Donald Mortimer Warner. 

18th October 1901: Says he is Sir Donald Warner, President of Barbados. Memory defective. No change. 

8th January 1902: Occasionally gets violent outburst of groundless rage. Works regularly. 

17th July 1902: Mentally no change. Has not been so well lately having had a severe cough and losing flesh but no evidence of phthisis can be found.

20th August 1902: There has been continued pyrexia now for some weeks. He has had considerable bronchitis at the left apex.  

11th October 1902: Temperature still keeps up and the signs of phthisis are more advanced. Mentally he has exalted delusions, is childish. 

23rd December 1902: Yesterday he brought up a fairly large amount of bright coloured blood. Evidently from the lungs. 

24th January 1903: The Harmorage after going on for about a week gradually stopped, he is becoming gradually weaker. Mentally no change. 

25th January 1904: Is not so well, complains of pain in the back and is confined to bed. He is improving. Mentally unchanged. 

Donald died at 4pm on the 30th of November 1904. He was 36 years old and his cause of death was given as “Mania” and “Pulmonary Tuberculosis”.  The extracts from his case file below detail the months leading up to his death.  

22nd February 1904: Today brought up about 8oz of blood from the lungs there has been no... the physical signs of phthisis are becoming more active again. 

2nd April 1904: The symptoms of phthsis are becoming more pronounced again. There has just recently been a slight attack of haemoptysis. Mentally unchanged. 

6th June 1904: Temp keeps hight and he is growing weaker and thinner. Symptoms progressive. 

8th July 1904: Has been rather better again but still very weak and feeble. Pyrexia continues. Mentally unchanged.

14th October 1904: Has been getting weaker. His temperature has been high every night of late and the symptoms are progressive. No change in his mental condition. 

1st December 1904: Got gradually worse from last not and sank and died at 4pm yesterday. 

Donald Mortimer Warner was buried at the Glamorgan County Lunatic Asylum Burial Ground (Parc Gwyllt) on the 3rd of December 1904. The graves of those buried in the asylum cemetery were originally marked with white wooden crosses. These are now long gone.

Glamorgan County Lunatic Asylum Burial Ground (Parc Gwyllt)