Star.
London, England, 1810-10-11 00:00:00

CIRCUIT INTELLIGENCE.

Permit, OCT. 4.—Yesterday the Circuit Court of
Justiciary was opened here by Lord MEaDownANx.
Margaret Roberlion, daughter of the late Mr. Robert-
son. sureeon, in Crail, was tried for the murder of her
mother, by administering poison to her on the 21 of
July last.
_ Ths first witness on the part of the prosecution was
Goodair, surgeon, in Anstruther, who had been
appointed by the Sheriff Substitute of Fife, to examine
the body of Mrs Robertson. This Gentleman having
corroborated the report which he had formerly made
to the Sheriff, gave his decided opinion that Mrs. Ro-
bertson had died in consequence of swallowing arsenic,
of which he had discovered a portion remaining in the
stomach. He also declared it to be his opinion, that
Miss Rebertson,.on the day of her mother's death,
was labouring under a paroxysm of insanity. To this
Conclusion he was led by the absurdity and incohe-
rence of her conversation, of which, on being requir-
ed, he gave some specimens.
Charles Grace, physician, in Cupar, confirmed the
evidence of the former 'witness, along with whom he
had examined the body of Mrs. Robertson, and.drawn
up the Report to the Sheriff. The witness had at-
tended Miss Robertson, by the Sheriff's desire, dur-
ing her imprisonment, and g:tve a distinct account
of the progress and termination of her disease.—
When first called, on the 2d of July, be found her
in a state of delirium and fever, her pulse being
at 120. This state of the pulse continued till the
beginning of August, when she had a discharge of
pus and blood from, the nose. After this her fever
and delirium gradually abated, and on the 16th of
that month her pulse was reduced to 76. These cir-
cumstances had led the witness to believe that the
cause of her ailment was an inflammation and collec-
tion of matter in the sinuses of the-brain, which, he
asserted (though this opinion seemed to be questioned
by the Judge) had a communication with the nostrils.
The next witness was Isabella Marshall—She was
the servant of Mrs. Robertson, and had been with
with her for six Months previous to her death. She
had heard that Miss Robertson had been sometimes
deranged, but filW no appearance of it till Thursday
the 28th of June, when she observed a singularity in
her carriage and conversation, and a change from the
warmest affection to an evident aversion to her mo-
ther. The word*; of the witness were, that ,g Miss
Robertson was excessively dutiful." On Sunday,
the Ist ofJuly, being the day of the sacrament,which
Miss Robertson received, the witness observed the i
latter in church bursting out into fits of laughter.—
Nett morning she was awaked by the prisoner about
fivo, and saw her soon after throw a lamp at her mo-
tor, who had just entered the kitchen, where the
'itness lay. Between seven and eight the family,
leludivg • the witness, went to hreakfast, at which
'e tea was made by Miss Robertson. After M: s.
ohertsoot had swallowed a cup ef tea, she went' tit,
.d The prisoner brought a bottle containing a white
owder, from the shop (belonging to Mrs. Robert-
in), and put a part of the powder into her moth.o's
.ea. Witness asked her what it was ? and she said
was something that would do her mother good.—
'he licitness does not remember whether or not she
ow Mrs. Robertson until she had been taken ill.
Arnot said she was called by the former wit-
2sOto see Mrs. R. who was violently ill, and found
ler sitting in her shop. She said to the witness, that
he (the witness supposing she meant her daughter),
Id given her something which she believed to be
Oitening. Witness, at Mrs. R.'s request, helped her
a room np stairs that she might go to bed, when
iss R. opposed their entrance, but seeing the deceas-
i admitted, on the interference of a neighbouring
4si-iticman's servant, the witness came away.
Mr. Sheen, surgeon, in Craig, and Dr. Flint, of St.
ndrew's, were examined. in exculpation. They had
,th attended Miss Robertson, and proved distinctly
r insanity on Former occasions, as well as at the pe-
xxl of her mother's death.
Margaret Horseburgh gave a very interesting ac-
quit of her connection With the family of Mrs. Ro-
nason, awl of the insanity of her daughter. She had
yen 14. years servant in the family, and removed at
fartirmas, 1809. Miss R. nine years ago, caught a
ver. froth her mother, by her careful, assiduous, and
taloa% attendance. One day, in 1805, she was, with-
t
any previous depression of spirits, suddenly seized
ith a delirium in church. -She continued in that state
r some time, and afterwards recovered. She, often ;
Id the witness, after her recovery, that when first
ized, she imagined herself capable of flying out of
roof of the church, and, svlien taken home; she
thought the house on fire, and her mother some mon-
Taus creature. The malady did not recur till 180% ;
'he -recurrence was preceded by lowness of spirits ;
,nd what seemed then to hang on her mind was a
:sad et not being stifficieotly dutiful to her mother.
l'lie delirium, with intervals of low spirits, continued.!
for some time, but she recovered, and was not agaiti
iffected with the- distemper until July last, though she
tad teen in low spirits from the beginniog of the year. ,
Mr. Wormatinonso the Advocate Depute, addressed
AC Jury, and Mr. Kesor, for the prioner, left the case
without any observation ; and, after a short charge
'stun the'Judgeothe Jury were enclosed, but had not
returned their verdict wherothe accounts came away.
The Csurt then proceeded to .thetrial of William
'ca Cat/lobe Fara, tor the deforcement of William

Panton, officer Of nese, by preventing him and three
constables from carrying away two horses, which they
had taken possession of;in executing a poinding on a
decteet for R5O, obtained against William Forgan,
in name of :fine for illegally retailing aquavits, and
for deforcing the officers of revenue, when attempting
to seize the said aquavits. ,
An exception was stated, that the charge of de-
forcement for resisting the poinding of horses, during
seed time, unless there were no other goods to be
found, was irrelevant; as such !minding was illegal,
by act 1503, cap. 98. A doubt occurring how far
this old statute was applicable in the case of a distress
levied for a fine imposed by the laws of revenue re-
lating. to Excise, the Judge has certified the case to
the High Court of Justiciary.
The Court was employed to-day, in the trial of
Alexander M'l.raac, Alexander M‘Laren, and A!:xander
Contrie, for a deforcement of certain Messengers at
Arms, &c.

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