Star.
London, England, 1817-07-05 00:00:00

HIGH COURT OF JUSTICIARY, EDINBURGH, JULY 1.

slant:Lau TRIAL or A DUMB wommi.
Yesterday die Court proceeded to farther conside-
ration or the very novel and important case of Jean
Campbell, alias Brace, certified from the last Circuit
Court in Olasgon. It will be in the recollection of
our Readeis that this s:oman bad been charged with
murdering her child. by throwing it over the Old
Bridge of Glasgow ;.and Mr. MlNett. her Counsel,
stated an objection against her going to trial, on the
ground of her being deaf and dumb from her in- I
fancy, and that he was totally unable to get any in-
formation from her to conduct her defence.
Mr. DitemmoND, Counsel lor the Crown, now gave
in a minute, stating that lie was satisfied of the pri.l
sorter being deaf and dumb Irvin her infahcy, but lie
offered to prove that she was capable of distinguish-
ing betwixt right and wrong, and was sensible that
punishment followed the commission of crime.
He then called tl:e following witnesses :
Thos. Sibbald, keeper of the gaol.—Prisoner has
been two months in the gaol of Edinburgh ; con-
ducted herself rationally I made signs to the turnkey
of a certain description when she warned any thing,
sod when the articles were brought her she seemed
satisfied ; he has alto seen her mate signs to himself
as of taking something out of her breast and count.
ing with her hands ; and that when she came tirst
into prison, she clasped her hands together, and made
a sign as it something had fall:n from her back. and
seemed to indicate distress of mind ; that hr has seen
her weep while in prison; and upon certain kinds of
food having been brought to her, he has observed
her express herstlf as if satisfied; and when she was
weeping, as before-mentioned, she made the same
signals as if something had fallen from her hack.
Robert Kitiniburgh, teacher of the Deaf and
Dumb Institution, deposed. that he had seen the
prnamer once in the gaol of Glasgow, and repeatedly
in the gaol of Edinburgh; that he ias had coMMn-
:.;caiion with her by means of signs t in general lie
understond her, but in particular instances he did
not; that she, by her signs. communicated to him
the circumstances which took place relative to her
child; that the death of the child was altogether ac-
cidental, and that when it happened she was intoxi-
cated; that she communicated to him, that upon that
ucc6sion the child was upon her bac':, covered with
her petticoat and a duil: cloak; and, as he under-
stood her, she had held them together upon her breast.
with her hand, while she rested the child upon the
parapet of the bridge, over which the child fell while
she was in the act-of putting her band in her breast,
11
where she had money, and which she was afraid was
lost, and by so putting her hand in her breast, he un-
derstood she had lost hold of the child, at which time
the child was asleep, and had then fallen over the
bridge. She communicated to the witness, that be.
tore the act she had that day drank eight glasses of
spirits. That his communications with the prisc.ier
chiefly turned upon the accident, and that she seemed
to understaud him about as much as he understood
her ; that is, in general, but upon some particular
occasions she did nut: that she can make the initial
letters of titr name, but inverts them, C. J.: and
whin she dots so, points to herself, which leads him
to think she underststeds them ; that she makes two
or three otl er letters, but he is not sure it they de-,
noted her clisidien or not. He undeittood from Inv
that she had three children, and that the one the ac-
cident happened to was one of diem: that he rather
suspected she was not married, as the children were
to different individuals : that as far as the communi-
cations could take place betwixt him and the prisoner,
she is a woman of strong powers of mind : that no-
thing appears to have been wanting, huirtarly speak-
ing, to have saved her from the pitch of depravity
she appears to haveattained, but some hand to have
opened foe her the treasures of knowledge in proper
time: that he conceives that the prisoner must be
possessed cf the puv.er of conscience is a certain de-
gree, and that she seems a woman of strong natural
affection towards her children, as lie was informed
by persons at Glasgow ; and which she manifested
by the indignant denial of the charge of having wil-
fully killed her child, and her immediate assertion
that it lost its life by accident : as well as from ob.
serrations he has Rode as to the state of mind of
other uneducated drat and dumb persons ; and par-
ticularly one instance, in the Ktport of the laid-
Eutaw' kr 1815, page 54, he is of opinion, that if no,
blunted by intoxication, these feelings must have
convinced her of the criminality of bereaving Let
child of life. That in his communications with the
prisoner, he was satisfied she was sensible of the cri-
minality of theft.. but he cannot say any thing as to
the abstract crime ot. murder in general. That she
curnatisui;:ated to the witness her indignation at the
fathers tier children fur the way they had used her,
and our of %limn she has represented as her husband.
That sometimes b• could not understand whether,
she understood the ceretuouy of marriage or not, or

sometimes wiL!.rd,to evade the question?, or did ant
; understand them that he has seen her use the form
of a ring as the token of marriage; and she made
signs that that had been taken away by the man she
called her husband—that is to say, that she m'ant
that the marriage had been dissolved by him, sind he
had taken another wife ; that from what he saw of
her in Glasgow, as well as what be obsetvud in the
gaol of Edinburgh, he is convinced she was aware
that she was to be brought at Glasgow before a
Omit of Justice, and that he was confirmed in thi:
from his having a conversation with a woman there
who seemed to understand her signs perfectly well in
general, and who mentioned to him that Ehe had
glade signs to her wish regard to the dress of the
Judges; that he understood that she connected the
death of her child wish her appearance in Court.—
Being interrogated by the Court, whether he is of
opinion that the prisoner could be made to under-
stand the question, whether she is guilty nr not guilty
of the crintc of which she is accused .1' Answets
That front the way in which he would put it, by
asking her by signs witolier the threw her cleihlovvr
the bridge or not he thinks she could plead not guilty
by signs ; and this is the only way in which he
can sn put the question to her: that she liasno idea
oh religion, although he has seen her point as it to a
rit.t.nysit; above, and communicates merely by
natural signs, and not re on wry sptern : that in re-
!erring to the accident, tl:c is:ismer comniunicati•tl
that there was a baker's boy near taer, who heard the
child p:enge iota the water, sintl gate the alarm, and
that upon dais she laid lwr hand: upon the eats ut bet
little boy near her, but her what purpose he cannot
say, unless to prevent hint Irem crying out.
Here the Court expressed a wish to see Mr. Kin-
nibnrgh put the questions to the witness in . pen
Court, which he did ; and she aw.vrered by signs in
the same manner as lie had described.

Dr. William Farquharson stated, that he tv:ice vi
sited the prisoner in the gaol; on the fast occasion
alone, and on the second along With Mr. Kinnitiergh
and another gentleman : that she fully satisfied bun
that she was not feigning to be deaf and numb, and
that when he first saw her she did not seem to un-
derstand his signs so well as after bring visited by
Mr. Kinnibitrgli ; ang the witness made that obser
vation to Mr. Kinniburgh himself : that he had com-
munications the first time with her as to the loss of
her child, and used signs in regard to a child then in
prison, as it throwing it away, upon which she made
the same signs as to the accident as she had now
done to Mr. Ktnniburgh in presence of the Court ;
that she appeared to the witness to know as little of
the distinction betwixt right and wrong as a child of
six months old, and that she did' not appear to be coa-
-1 scions of having done any thing wrong whatever in
regard to the child : that in giving the above opinion
lie has formed it from the facts of the prisoner haw-
ing been born deaf and dumb, and having received
no educatton whatever.

John Wood, Esq. Auditor of Excise, who k deal,
and partially dumb, gave in a written statement
upon oath, mentioning, that he hxd visited the prissy
net in prison, :led wa% of opinion that she was alto-
gether incapable of pleading guilty or not guilty--
that,she stated the cirumstances by signs, in the same
manner she had done to the Court, and seemed to be
sensible that punishment would follow the commis-
sion of a crime.

The Cuiirt were unanimously of opinion, that this
novel and important question deserved grave consi-
deration, and everriisilormAtion the Counsel on esch
side could procure and furnish.
The Court then ordered inlurmations on each side
to be prepared and printed.

HATTON GAR act:.—Yesterday i'.tm Bari:* s baiter, residing
in Great Earl street, Seven Dials, appeared to a summons, on an
information. charged With havitig sold James &Amine, of. Si,
Cruise street, Portland place, on Monday last, four traartern
loaves, dercieut ltat o:. at the legal weiest, contrary to Act of
Parliament. The bread was weighed in the presence of the Ma.
glairate, and the charge being proved, the defendant was con
victed in the mitiztted penalty of 25. Gd. an ounce and costs.
MANston•itourn.—letrosaTion.--Yescerday a complaint was
made to ths Luaa NIAToR, by (:,aptain F. Crawled, spina
Sperrew,;the Master ut a passage-boat called the Duke ut York,
which plies tram ballingsEate to Gravesend, for imposition and
abuse. Ibe einem/tweet are these !...Captain Crawley and
several us et Gentlemen wok their pieces tor Gravesend on Sun-
day last on hoard the Duke of York, having previously been in-
humed by aparrow that the boat would sa:l for Graveend as
GOOD AS possible. As stern as the boat reached Greentsithe, how-
ever, the complemart was infurrned, that he aid hs rarty were
to be accuraimadated nu farther that slay; and C.. 21 if they re.
/used to pay the lull Gravesend fare, they should stay In the host
tail doom.da). :sparrow, who gave this ifrt...tar intelligence,
upon being espostulated with, hi Sy a volley at abuse, the an-
swer to r. ht.s was very prudently kept for the !Version House.
He said tr was his intention to oblige one party in his boat, who
artske. to disc at Greenhithr and to return to town alter dinner,
and thci.e who were 1 eunti fur Gravesend might stay where .:tey
were, ur gu overbiaid. Thu compiamant requested that he and
his friends might be allowed w proceed to Graves:ad in arother
boat; but the only rrpty was a repetition of insults. The Green.
bathe prey were accunimodaied as Span ow had promised, and
the eunipianiant and his friends re:named in :I,c boat till its re-
turn to London, and then were rbliged to pay the Grertset.d
fare, as if they had sailed to andhorn that Lone
Meson said, that if be stood it: the simatior. at Captain Craw-
ley, he should certainly proceed at Icw. 'I he offence deserved
the ntincst punishment, :aid the it 'cries re:nlitng from the dis-
appuintmeut, sl bonne...hal lista cancer:tea, might hare been
irreparaLle.— he co:lv:in:l.m. sae t. Li; object in making the
complaint was fur the public service. The conduct of which Le
ceniplaiiied wa+ part at a sTatt tit which leo :crew to he very pre.
value on the 'sitter. He should comeait the notice taken
of the eir.urns ance by the Lord Mayer, and proceed no farther.
Ike I.OID Ma v_sa—tt It is, however, inaJniissible that the de-
fendaat should depart with a mere verbai seprelieusion. I would
have hint take care of appearing Lefere me upon such a charge
i •
draw, and advloe hits to refund the money he so diitracetutly
otnaitietl, it he would avoid the danger ut a prosactition; he must
also pay the expenses."--Tbe defendant complied with this, and
was dircharl;ed; haying previously begged that the Captalu would
nor be au hard upon him, but without steel.

77127 WAR KE7 S.

tiEWCATE AND LEA VENIIAI,I. mAaKr.-r;, WI V 4.
(I'. iLt :rare.)
Beef, per stone SI OG t,. 45 0: Via 2 01 t, a, , I
Mitt:4l:l . 3s_ 44.0. 4- 44 4t

Lamb as. 1•! to 4s. I. •
PRICE OF HOPS.
littW rOelt rs.
Kant Intl as to 161 lOs • 141 us to
at•ss••lt 111 Its to 131 Lit Sepses ISI IS, to
Ev.vz 151 Os to :61 Os Patrhana &NI os to
1-I;lChri Ur 1-:AY AND STRAW a
.T. lALSCS',J.
Hay :I It., (Al tt> to 0. Od flay 4o t•,
Straw Lllll o 4 to Se Vs GI 1 :iraw tws to
dd. to 71. tit%

J. I

R .‘W tilllEa.

Beat Ficifers anzt Slays :,iver tirdmary it thi to ''.. :?•
etonr) - 2c 41.1 to 2b 61 %% Lake i'alt 7 , ..-.
Mitithing. la es" to 24. 0,1 I l.ts; Haste Rs 1- i ••• a
Shtcpskttts—Poneda Ct Ca! to Us U,:...al,aaci:s oat; 11, ,
~..
tiise.ttinct 741.. f.t.: t,.!—l.ntlA.t 2s tai to S, 4:,..

t'itlCL :)1: 1 ALLAYO'. ...
..
.t. Junrs't Kuhr' Ss I:1 I rown C Alow
Clare Markrt - (% od I "ellow Itu4:.a
Whist d,..-.F.,1 Mat.V.,t Ss 1.1 f
ttal c of 1 White tiotti, , :,
pt I' fit). ................ 'trait 4.rt.t
Vtittr.7 .47:2,', Pr' —Nice:tied, cts,-02,ur,1, 9PN-- i'.:lat, h
C-litllt-t per dos ilh, t10—k1..!:14,.. ; ! t.;

• CU.St. M. t.t htt :CIA I.
ship. at Marlat., bUips sold. !'rice~
A 6- Mel/castle as; 344 l'it. to .. •* 9!.
1 unidarland 4 3I • thl 1., ;,... 9,,...

PRICE OF sTocKs YEr.IIRDAY.
Bank Stock, 474 I Lon Annt.i3 I-IC
Alper CA. It‘d. 774! 7Ci 77f, 77 In ,:a Bonds
3 per Cr. Coos bur Etrt,.13111;(.1.) 11 IT 15r.
prr Cant. IH.I 71.4 46 Cons. for A...7ltti 17:
3 prr Navy Lottca y I i.:krt.

IMPtIR t ANT
Non Pot ',avert .Ld vildLie vita.— MA L'•:.
" Life is only Life, when bunt with ll.surti."
Tuir: finest system of hies is to confine witsin dne
boUntl4, and thus to regulate tlie PAS: tc Ns; uorestvislitri
and insubordinate they impetuously destroy these barters
Religion and Morality have made sacred ; to curl. but ant semi.
ldlate them appears the lesion of r;rdiare, best ci.kidated to
limit 'belt effervescence.