The Cathcart case has come to an end with a
decision by thirteen of the jury that Mrs. Cathcart is sane, and com- petent to manage her own affairs. For this decision Sir Charles Russell may fairly take credit, for he conducted the case with extraordinary skill, and not a little of his unique imperiousness, endeavouring, though without much success, to ride rough-shod over Master Bulwer, who conducted it, and over his able antagonist, Sir Henry James. Of the medical witnesses examined, a very large number gave the strongest evidence against Mrs. Cath- cart's sanity, while the only one who gave it as his belief that she is sane, admitted that in February last she was, in his. opinion, not sane. Indeed, Sir Charles Russell himself had to make admissions which mast, we think, have rendered many of the jury very dubious as to the verdict which Sir- Charles Russell himself, had he been one of them, would have found it his duty to deliver. However, Mrs. Cathcart has- been set at liberty, and if she is prudent, she will be a great deal more careful and -reticent in future than has been her- wont.
Previous page
