The Times (London)
21 March 1891
Edwin Colocitt, 26, was brought up to receive
sentence, having been convicted at the February
Session of maliciously wounding Maude Kerton and
several other young women by stabbing them with some
sharp instrument. Mr. Torr prosecuted for the
Treasury; and Mr. Lowe defended. After a consultation
between councel, Mr. Somes bound the prisoner over to
come up for judgement when called upon. He accepted
the father's and uncle's sureties each in £œ100, with a
priviso that a competent attendant should be engaged,
who would be responsible for prisoner.s safe conduct.
The father also engaged to exercise such care and
supervision over the prisoner as to protect the public
from the possibility of any repetition of the offense.
During the hearing of the case one of the jurors
was observed leaning forward in a very strange manner,
and, being found to be in a fit, was promptly carried
out of the box and at once attended to by a doctor who
happened to be in court. The question now arose what
should be done as between the prisoner at the bar and
those trying him, Mr. Somes observing that he had no
precedent to guide him and really did not know what to
do in the circumstances. Mr. Hutton observed that he
could assist the Court in the difficulty in which it
found itself. A similar accident had occured not long
since at the Central Criminal Court, when the jury had
been formally discharged, a fresh gentleman called to
join the 11, and the case proceeded on their being
sworn again. This course was therefore adopted, the
evidence being read over to the new juryman.