The Sun.
London, England, 1833-09-09 00:00:00

MIDDLESEX SESSIONS, SEPT. -T.

Michael Morgan was charged with a very brutal
attack on a poor wheelwright, whom he had in-
jured most severely.
The prisoner said that the prosecutor bad been
the aggressor, and he was drunk at the time.—
Guilty.
The CHAIRMAN said, that it was too bad to see
so many Irish coming over into this country, enjoy-
ing every privilege, and taking the bread out of the
mouths of many hundreds and thousands, from one
end of the metropolis to the other ; yet, on every
occasion, evincing the utmost indifference to the
destruction of life.

Sentenced to imprisonment for twelve months.
The Grand Jury yesterday found a true bill of in-
dictment for conspiracy, brought by Mr. Shillibeer,
omnibus proprietor, against eleven persons, drivers,
&c., of the opposition Paddington omnibusses, who,
it would appear, obstruct Mr. Shillibeer's vehicles
in a way which proves extremely disagreeable to the
public, as well as to himself.

_ .
The cross assault indictments against Lady Wed-
derburn and the Rev. Mr. Macdonald do not come
on till next Session.

OLD BAILEY, SEPT. 7.

OLD COURT.
PLEA OF LUNACY-EXTRAORDINARY SCENE.

Elizabeth TVrattan, aged fifty, the woman sus-
pected of simulating insanity, and whom a jury on
Friday, after an inquiry of several hours, declared
to be of sound mind, was placed at the bar at five
o'clock, and indicted for uttering a forged check
for 60/. 55., with intent to defraud William Alas-
terman and others. The indictment in another
count charged the prisoner with uttering the same
forged check with intent to defraud John Ward
and others.

There was a great alteration in the appearance
and conduct of the prisoner. She did not assume
the wild stare, nor protude her lips, or distort her
countenance, as on Friday. The Learned Judge
observing that an officer held one of her hands, di-
rected him to release her, and allow her to act as
she pleased. She walked to and fro in the dock,
occasionally turning her back upon the Court, and
sitting down on a seat which had been provided
for her. She also amused herself by tearing small
pieces of paper, which she placed in grotesque
order on the bar before her. She offered no vio-
lence to any one, as on the previous day, but it was
evident to every observer that there was "method
in her madness."

The evidence has been already fully reported
upon her examination before the magistrate. At
the conclusion of the c,lse for the prosecution,
The learned Judge then addressed the prisoner,
endeavouring to obtain her attention, to the follow.
ing effect :—" Prisoner at the bar, Elizabeth
Wrattan, I am calling upon you in your own name.
Elizabeth Wrattan, you have heard the evidence
against you, and this is the proper time to make your
defence. The question of your capacity to take your
trial has been decided already. My advice to you is
to address your mind to the facts brought against
you, for depend upon it the jury are not to be in-
fluenced by your present appearance. A jury has
already decided on that point; therefore let me ex-
hort you to attend to the charge. You never can
persuade any jury, however insane you may be, that
you do not know your own name. Elizabeth
Wrattan ! you are called upon again by name to
answer this charge. (To the officers, who were
endeavouring to make the prisoner face the Court.)
Oh, you need not give her any instructions ; there
never was a case in which an insane person did not
know her name. Elizabeth Wrattan ! do you wish
to attend to the case or make any defence to the
jury ? Do you wish to say any thing to the jury ?
It is beyond all experience that insane persons should
not know their own names."

Mr. PHILLIPS submitted to his Lordship that ex-
perience did not support that opinion. He knew a
case of a lunatic who, when called by his name, only
shouted out, " The Virgin Mary preserve me."
After a pause, during which the prisoner kept up
her strange behaviour, the Learned Counsel ad-
dressed her in a loud tone," As your counsel, I ask
you whether you have anything to say to the Jury?"
The question was repeated to the prisoner, who
replied "The four corners of the earth and the
strength of the hills is his."

One of the turnkeys asked " What do you say
about the check ?" Prisoner—lt went into the
garden—into the Red Sea.

The RECORDER—Let me advise you,prisoner, not
to lose this opportunity of making your defence.
Mr. PHILLIPS (to the officer)— Tell her it does
not signify a pin whether she chooses to answer the
charge or not. Aly Lord will do justice between
her and the country.
The prisoner muttered something, which Mr.
PHILLIPS requested the officer to repeat.
Officer—She said you were going to the bottom
of the Red Sea.—(Laughter.)
The RECORDER—I beg that the order and gravity
of the Court may not be broken. If this is a case
of insanity, it is an affliction of Providence, and
ought not to be the subject of merriment ; if it
is a case of wicked counterfeit, it is a subject of
disgust.
Prisoner (in a loud squeaking tone)—" They
came out of the land of Egypt."
Mr. PHILLIPS, counsel for the prisoner, then called
evidence for the purpose of proving her insanity,
and many of the witnesses who were examined on
Friday when a Jury was empannelled to try
whether she was insane or not, were again called.

The Jury without the slightest hesitation returned
a verdit of Guilty. The eyes of the Judge, Counsel,
and every one in Court was at that moment directed
towards the prisoner, anxiously watching her motions,
but there was not the slightest variation in her
manner. She was still pacing the dock, and it was
not until the officer touched her elbow that she
seemed to think of retiring.