The Sun.
London, England, 1862-04-21 00:00:00

PAINFUL SCENE IN COURT.

Daring the early part of Lord Neaves's charge
to the jury the prisoner maintained a firm com-
posure, though his compressed lips, which might be
observed twitching occasionally, seemed to betray
strong suppressed emotion. As his lordship pro-
ceeded, the prisoner, who had all the while been
gazing steadfastly and intently at the judge, began
to get apparently excited, but still kept his feelings
under. Before the charge was finished he became
very restless and uneasy. Occasionally he lifted his
hand to his forehead as if to quiet the throbbings
of the busy brain that beat beneath. Now too he
began to use his handkerchief to wipe the sweat
from his face, or to screen his nervousness from
observation ; but again he seemed to get his feel.
ings more under control as the jury retired.
Lord Neaves's charge had occupied about an
hour, and the jury, immediately on its conclusion,
left the box at 17 minutes past 9. After they had
been out a few minutes Robinson evidently became
much more excited than he had yet shown himself
to be. He placed his hands firmly on the rail before
him, but could not keep them steady. Once he
made a spring as if he would jump out of the seat
altogether. The police sergeant and constables in
attendance kept a watchful eye on the unfortunate
man, but did not appear to be desirous of using
any unnecessary violence.
After an absence of 15 minutes, the jury returned
into court, and the foreman immediately read the
verdict, stating that they had unanimously found
the prisoner guilty as libelled on the Ist, 2d, 3d,
4th, 6th, 7th, and Bth charges, and with regard to
the 9th charge, they found him guilty as libelled so
far as related to the name of Bremner, but found
the charge not proved as regarded the forgery of
Reid's name. Scarcely had the words " unani-
mously find the prisoner guilty as libelled," been
uttered when Robinson made another sudden spring
as if he would throw himself from the box, and his
actions were such as to require four or five indivi-
duals to hold him in his place. He uttered an ex-
clamation or two, one heard distinctly over the
whole court—" There's the devil : there's the devil ;
he'll take me to hell." The poor man also moaned
piteously, murmuring lowly and indistinctly " Oh,
oh, oh."
Dr. Bannerman and Dr. Wallace, who were
in immediate attendance upon the prisoner,
and Dr. Thompson, of the General Prison, Perth,
who had only left a short time previously, was also
soon with the unfortunate man. These gentlemen
bathed the prisoner's face and head with cold water
and endeavoured to soothe him, but without much
effect, for he still made violent efforts to release
himself from the restraint of those surrounding him,
gnashing his teeth, and rolling his head from side
to side rapidly and vehemently. Once or twice he
tried an extra effort to get out of the hands of the
policemen beside him, but without success. Ten
minutes from the time of the jury returning into
court with their verdict elapsed ere sufficient quiet
could be got for the clerk to record, and when he
did so, Robinson again burst out in a fresh paroxysm
of excitement, muttering incoherently and rapidly.
After another five minutes had elapsed, and there
being no appearance of the prisoner becoming more
calm,
Lord Neaves adjourned the court till 10 o'clock
on Friday morning.
The prisoner was then removed.
During this 15 minutes the excitement amongst
the spectators was very great. All were on their
feet, and every eye was directed towards the pri-
soner, who seemed to feel keenly on that point,
judging from the rapid and questioning glances he
frequently threw round the court.
FRIDAY.

The prisoner was brought up to receive sentence.
He was in a much more composed state than on the
previous day, and listened respectfully and in silence
while Lord Neaves, in a feeling address, pronounced
the judgment of the court, that he be sent to penal
servitude for five years.