DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70300#0224
ig6 kirby’s -wonderful museum.
country. His lordship, for the first time, then asked him
to plead.
“ The prisoner uttered the same words as before, when a
Jury was about to be empannelled, to inquire whether he was
mute through fraud and obstinacy, or by the visitation of
God. In this stage of the proceedings, Dr. Llewellyn Jones,
who had seen the prisoner professionally, suggested to the
bench the propriety of more strenuously urging the prisoner
to plead to the indictment, expressing an opinion (formed
from a close observation of his conduct) that he would
eventually plead. The Chief Justice humanely declared
himself ready to adopt any suggestions offered, and to wait
any length of time that might be necessary to put them in
practice. Being again urged to plead, and the nature of the
indictment, together with the danger of his situation, being
explained to him in a loud voice by Mr. Hurst, he now dis-
tinctly said, ‘ Guilty, guilty.’
a The Chief Justice declared himself at a loss what
course to follow, as the most satisfactory in a case so en-
tirely new, but thought, under the circumstances it would be
better for the prisoner, that the Court should proceed on the
inquiry, as if no plea had been uttered. Dr. L. Jones then
deposed : ‘I saw the prisoner a few days before the last
assizes, and then declared myself unable to decide on the
true nature of his case. I visited him last night, and re-
mained with him about an hour, and formed an opinion that
he is capable of understanding the situation in which he now
stands, and that he is able to plead to the indictment. Find-
ing, however, that the man’s life might be affected by the
opinion now given, I determined to call a consultation. I
saw him again this morning, in company with three other
physicians. We are unanimously of opinion that he can
both hear and speak? Other evidence was produced to the
same effect. Samuel Needham (a prisoner, charged with
stealing silk, but not then tried ;) e I have known the prisoner
country. His lordship, for the first time, then asked him
to plead.
“ The prisoner uttered the same words as before, when a
Jury was about to be empannelled, to inquire whether he was
mute through fraud and obstinacy, or by the visitation of
God. In this stage of the proceedings, Dr. Llewellyn Jones,
who had seen the prisoner professionally, suggested to the
bench the propriety of more strenuously urging the prisoner
to plead to the indictment, expressing an opinion (formed
from a close observation of his conduct) that he would
eventually plead. The Chief Justice humanely declared
himself ready to adopt any suggestions offered, and to wait
any length of time that might be necessary to put them in
practice. Being again urged to plead, and the nature of the
indictment, together with the danger of his situation, being
explained to him in a loud voice by Mr. Hurst, he now dis-
tinctly said, ‘ Guilty, guilty.’
a The Chief Justice declared himself at a loss what
course to follow, as the most satisfactory in a case so en-
tirely new, but thought, under the circumstances it would be
better for the prisoner, that the Court should proceed on the
inquiry, as if no plea had been uttered. Dr. L. Jones then
deposed : ‘I saw the prisoner a few days before the last
assizes, and then declared myself unable to decide on the
true nature of his case. I visited him last night, and re-
mained with him about an hour, and formed an opinion that
he is capable of understanding the situation in which he now
stands, and that he is able to plead to the indictment. Find-
ing, however, that the man’s life might be affected by the
opinion now given, I determined to call a consultation. I
saw him again this morning, in company with three other
physicians. We are unanimously of opinion that he can
both hear and speak? Other evidence was produced to the
same effect. Samuel Needham (a prisoner, charged with
stealing silk, but not then tried ;) e I have known the prisoner