The Sun.
London, England, 1824-02-07 00:00:00

DEFENCK.

The following evidence was then called by the panel's
Counsel :

Mr. John Harvey, a Solicitor in Leith, examined by Mr.
RoßEnTsoN.—Had known Mr. Hay for about four years.
Two years ago he applied to him for professional advice.
He said he had some property, and feared some one was
going to take it from him. He said he wished to talk
with witness in private ; witness took him into a private
room where he opened his story ; it was very inconsistent ;
and witness felt convinced the panel had no property whatever,
and that he was operated on by some delusion. The panel
was admitted into the Corporation of 'Weavers. A member
expressed his surprise at the panel being introduced, observing
that he was only likely to be a burden to their funds; witness
was of the same opinion. Witness afterwards discovered that
he had property, because he conveyed sonic from hint to a
client. Witness thought him of a sound mind, though he con-
sidered him a weak man, and that there was a great deal of
mental imbecility about him.
Mr. Steadman, merchant-tailor, Leith, had known the panel
for 14 or 15 years past. He frequented his house once a week,
or oftener. His disposition was quite simple and innocent.
Witness really thought he was not in the full possession of
his intellects, and considered him of so silly a nature as to
afford game for his people rather than any thing else. From
his infancy upwards he might sometimes have been called
" daft Hay."
The LORD ADVOCATE then addressed the Jury on the part
of the Crown.

Mr. P. ROBERTSON addressed the Jury for the panel.
The LORD JUSTICE CLERK summed up the evidence in a
very compendious and distinct manner, and deduced from the
law and evidence of the case, that the plea of insanity had to-
tally failed, and that the crimes charged had been fully proved
against the panel.
The Jury, after about a minute's deliberation, without re-
tiring, returned a verdict, by the mouth of thair Chancellor,
J. W. Brougham, Esq., unanimously finding the panel Guilty
of the crimes libelled.

Lord lIERMAND,after remarking that it would be neces-
sary to apply to the Legislature for an extension of the capital
punishment in the case of maiming to Scotland, if this crime
should continue to make any progress here, proposed the same
punishment which had recently been awarded in a somewhat

Similar case—namely, public whipping, and transportation for
14 years.
Lord MEADowsawx said he considered the Jury had done
a great service to the country by their verdict. lie could not

lire imagined any thing more unfortunate for the law, or any
thing more fatal to the security of the subject, if the present.
had been treated as a doubtful question.
The LORD JUSTICE-CLERK informed the panel, that if
his crime had been committed in England, and followed by a
similar conviction there, nothing could have relieved the Judges
from the duty of pronouncing upon him the last sentence of
the law ; and he fully concurred in what had fallen from
Lord Hermand, as to the expediency of applying to Parlia-
ment for the extension of Lord .Ellenborougli!s act to Scot-
land, if this crime should not be arrested by the present ex-
ample. Ilis Lordship pronounced the sentence of the Court,
that on Wednesday, the 18th instant, the prisoner be publicly
whipped on his naked hack through the streets of Leith, which
he had disgraced' by his crimes ; and that he be afterwards
transported beyond the seas for 14 years from this date.
The prisoner, after the admOnition of the LOUD JUSTICE
CLERK at an early part of the proceedings, confirmed in a real
or counterfeit stupor, seldom exhibiting any signs of anima-
tion, except when he had recourse to his snuff-box. His ap-
pearance was pale and sickly, and he walked lamely out of
Court.

RLI AM E N

HOUSE OF COMMONS, FEB. G.

Mr. T. WILSON presented a Petition from the Inhabitants
of lhoad-street Ward, in the City of. London, praying for the
he al of the duty on Coals.
The same ilanourable Member renewed the petition whiCh
was presented last session against the return for the Borough of
Bossiney.
Mr. AGAR ELLIS moved fora return-Of the names of the
parishes in Ireland which had memorialized the Lord Lieute-
nant against the Irish Tithes' Commutation Bill, and also a
specification of reasons for which the Bill had been objected to.
Mr. (lOULBURN observed, that in most oil the instances it
would be impossible to specify the reasons why the Bill had
beenk objected to, because none had been given.
Mr. A. £LLIS said he was confident that the Right Hon.
Gentleman would give him all the information in his powtr.
The motion was the.: agreed to.
Mr. BYNO presented a petition from the parish of Edmon-
ton, and another from the parish of , Enfield, in. Middlesex,
praying for the repeal of the duty on coals.
Lord ALTHORP moved for some returns respecting the
Irish Revenue, which were ordered to be produced.
Mr. MABERLY gave notice, that lie would on the 6th of
May submit a motion respecting the mode of- collecting the
Duties on Beer and Malt. He also gave a general notice, that
if he were not anticipated by the Chancellor of the Exchequer,
he would submit a project for simplifying the arrangements
respecting the Consolidated Fund, by which a large sum might
be saved to the public.
Mr. HUME gave notice, that on the 9th of March he would
move for the appointment of a Committee to inquire into the,
satent of the-Church Establishment in Ireland, with a 'view to
the reduction thereof.