Literary cadet, and Saturday evening bulletin. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1826-1827, 1826-10-28

THE SUPREME CoURT.-At the late term o
lac Supreme Court, holden in the county of New.
port, motion made and sustained for new
trial, il the of the People VS.. Sally Rowland
convicted at previous term OF the Court. OF mur-
dering Daniel Charles, black who had reside Ell
with or near her.
The grounds or which the new trial was grant
ed. were ample, though knowledge of them, re-
fleets credit the State, and exposes the wretch
I'd condition Of our Judiciary. ltnppears. that du-
ring the first trial, the Court had refused TO exa.
nine material witness, and had denied the coun-
ell tor the prisoner the privilege of reading an au-
thority, considered important to the case, and that
they had whilst in their at the request OF the
Jury, written, without the knowledge of the ac-
cused or her council, and forwarded definition.
" as well as they knew how," Of the terms" mur-
der and mansldnghter."
These extra-judicial acts, which originated in the
ignorance of the Court, were, upon re-coDsidera-
ton, thought to be sufficient sustain the moi on
TOR ii new trial, and the prisoner was remanded to
prison, to await her fate at the next term OF the
Court Whether the testimony, to be sdduced at
a subsequent trial, will be sufficient to exculpate
the offender is not krown-nor is ii important that
it should be known.
Our judiciary System is a mere matter of mocke-
ry-it is worse than ridiculous and as long as we
place men on the Bench, who are profoundly igno-
rant Of the law, and whose lives have been spent
in pursuits, as opposite to legal science, as darkness
is to light-what confidence we have "a ap-
preaching our judicial tribunals The appellant;
when he approaches our Courts, for the adjudica-
tion OF affairs can form correct judgment OF the
uhimatum Of his case {; and If it be good one, and
law, and reason and justice all upon his side, he
sjust likely to be defeated he is to be success
full. The fact is under existing circumstances, we
have no Court; and the men who fill the benches
of justice, sit there merely for the sake of formay
for when did ever hear of correct decision
from them, on matters oflegol moment and when
was the world edited by Of their opinions
That .he individuals who now occupy the Bench
Of the Supreme Court, are honorable men, anxious
to deal out justice with Impartiaty, we most sim
cerely believe and we would be the last to accuse
them OF any improper motives; but since they are
confessediy ignorant of the Laws, aud arc perfectly
incapable Of dischargng the trusts committed to
them, should they not be removed!
We hope that the day is not far distant. when our
judiciary will be recognized, and the ridiculous
system. now existing, be exploded. Iii would not
be thought presumptuous in us, we should ask the
Honorable Chief Justice, upon what grounds, and
by what rule Of right, he refused the accused, in
the case Of the People Va. Sarah Howland the priv
ilege Of polling the jury--a privilege to which she
entitled, and Of which the Court had no legal
right to deny her. II is the first time that we ever
heard Of prisoners being denied this risht-and
by their refusal, the Court deprived the criminal
Of privilege, guaranteed to her by the laws OF the
land, and sanctioned by every principle Of reason
justice and humanity.