Chapter Twelve
Author | Richard D. Schneider |
Pages | 109-117 |
Cae Tlv
by a grand jury when they are satised with
the truth of an accusation and nd sucient evidence to warrant a
criminal charge, is known as a “true bill.” If the grand jury is of the
view that the allegations of the Crown do not support the charge, their
response at the conclusion of the hearing would be “no bill” rather than
a true bill. At New Court on the morning of February st, a grand jury,
among other bills, returned a true bill against Daniel M’Naughten for
murder. is prompted his appearance the following day in the Cen-
tral Criminal Court; a solicitor named Clarkson had been instructed
by M’Naughten to bring an application to the court on his behalf.
At the sitting of the court, before Lord Abinger and Mr. Justice
Maule, the prisoner Daniel M’Naughten was placed at the bar, charged
with the willful murder of Mr. Edward Drummond. Upon his name
being called, M’Naughten immediately walked with a rm step to the
front of the dock. He appeared perfectly calm and collected; he looked
extremely well; and his general appearance was “very little altered from
what it was when under examination at Bow Street; but if anything, he
looked rather paler.”
e Attorney General Mr. Waddington appeared on behalf of
the Crown and Mr. Clarkson appeared for “the prisoner.” Before Mr.
Clarkson made application to their lordships as he had been instructed
by the prisoner to do, he wished to ascertain their lordships’ opinion
whether, before he did so, the prisoner ought to be called upon to plead
to the charge of murder against him.
Lord Abinger said that would entirely depend upon the nature of
the application. If it were with respect to the incapacity of the prisoner
to plead, in consequence of his state of mind, then the application must
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