The Sun. — 1827-03-12 (London, England)

HULLOCL—You mat plead—you have been very badly advised to this; whoever recommended you to do this, was, I should think, a most incompetent person to advise you. Take my advice, and plead not guilty at once, and take the chance of your trial. Finnancy—No, I will not plead at 511, and I cannot say that I am not guilty either. Mr. Baron HumacK—You must plead one way or the other. By this conduct you cannot avoid the trial. Finnancy—_My Lord, my mind is made up not to plead. Mr. Orridge, the keeps of the jail, remonstrated with the unhappy man upon the folly of his conduct, but he still persevered in his determination. Mr. Baron HoLrocx—l am anxious, prisoner, that you should take your trial, and stand your chance. But we cannot permit this conduct you know. Therefore, if you still persist in your refusal to plead, I shall order a Jury to be empannelled to try whether you are mute by the providence and act of God, or by your• own obstinacy, and if that is the case you will be tried immediately. Finnancy—l am not going to say any thing respecting the pleading at all, my Lord. A Jnry was then sworn, to try whether the prisoner was wilfully, fraudulently, or obstinately mute, or whether he was so by the act and providence of God. Mr. J. Thomas Orridge, keeper to the county gaol, was then examined. The prisoner was given in his charge on the Bth of September last, and he never had observed the slightest aberration of mind in him, and he knew very well what he was about at all timer: Ire never had consulted witness about the line of defence or course of proceedings he meant to pursue. He bad made a full confession of his guilt before a Magistrate. He was attended in the gaol by Mr. Marshall, a Roman Catholic Priest, ever since his confinement. The prisoner handed in a written paper, which he wished might be read. 3lr. Baron HuLtocx—l will not read the paper until he puts bin.;_self in a situation for the trial of this indictment. Finnan',"v—l want no advantage. Oue reason I have for not pleading platy that it might be accessary to suicide, and if I plead-not guilty, ItO a lie, which I don't want to do. Mr. Orridge said, he rei'lv thought that the prisoner's objecti.on was founded on a religious Prr.f.nple• Mr. Baron Hera.ocx told the prisoner, that by pleading not guilty, he would only put himself on his trial, and lie need not be afraid of entering that plea, because it might not be considered an untruth.—Finnancy. No, sir, I will not plead ; let somebody else do it for me, I will not do it. Mr. Orridge said the prisoner's conduct in cooenem,ent was remarkably well behaved, and he considered him a very sini:ere penitent. The Jury, by direction of the Judge, theta found that he was mute wilfully and fraudulently. • Mr. Orridge said the prisoner wished it might be understood that he did not refuse to plead through obstinacy, but solely frum religious scruples. After some other objections the prisoner nodded assent to the plea of Not Guilty, and the trial proceeded. Mr. Couniwat detailed the circumstances of this awful case. The prisoner had cohabited with a bad woman, the deceased, anti continually quarrelled with her, and in a fit of jealousy beat her heed to pieces With a hammer, in the fields below Carlisle. He then wandered about, and surrendered himself.. The Jury, without hesitation, found him guilty. Mr. Baron Heetocx ordered him for execution on Monday. He received the sentence upon his knees, and prayed with much fervour in the dock. The Assizes terminated this afternoon ; a fellow named Coward being left for execution for a rape.