The escape of Kelly did not render the Chief Justice
more- lenient to Mr. Pigott, the proprietor of the Irishman, which paper- contained between the murder and the trial articles which were- intended to show that the assassination was a rightful execution,. and during the trial attacked the Court for shameless bias against the prisoner, and endeavoured to influence the jury. With the concurrence of his colleagues, the Lord Chief Justice sentenced Mr. Pigott to four months' imprisonment, " as a first class mis- demeanant" for contempt. The punishment is not heavy,. and was richly deserved, but we wish sentence could have been given in ordinary course of law. Of course it could not have been, as any jury would instantly have ac- quitted Pigott, another proof added to thousands that trial by jury is suited only to peculiar times and a peculiar people. It works very badly even in America and among English-speaking people, and works well without packing only in England, and not, there if religious feeling or local feeling can be called up in a case.. AU the evidence in the world would not have convicted Dr.. Bernard.
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