“CHIEF JUSTICE--Answer you, prisoner at the bar, the question put to you by the Court--what say you, Linus Wilson Miller, guilty or not guilty? “My Lord, that is a question which, as I before said, I am not now prepared to answer. “CHIEF JUSTICE--You must say, guilty or not guilty. “Your lordship must excuse me. “CHIEF JUSTICE--“You shall answer either guilty or not guilty--it is only a mere matter of form. “Doubtless your lordship considers hanging by one’s neck until dead only mere matter of form.” “CHIEF JUSTICE (in a rage)--Do you mean, sir, to insult this court? “My Lord, I mean only what I say, that I must have time to prepare for my trial. “CHIEF JUSTICE--Will you or will you not plead to your indictment--what say you, prisoner at the bar, guilty or not guilty? “My Lord, I cannot plead now. “CHIEF JUSTICE--You shall by G---- “My Lord, I will not. (Great sensation.) “THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL--How dare you insult his lordship? You must answer at once; it will be better for you to do so. I advise you to plead not guilty; after which the Court will take into consideration your claims to have your trial postponed, and order you counsel, if you wish it. The Court are disposed to be just and merciful. “I repeat what I said before, I will not. “ATTORNEY-GENERAL--You are a desperate fellow. “And not without reason, for if I am to judge of the intentions of this Court, from external appearances, I am in desperate circumstances. But the word ‘fellow’ which you just applied to me is significant. “ATTORNEY-GENERAL (with a sneer)--Pray, sir, what are you? “A victim chosen for the slaughter; but you are mistaken if you think to coax or drive me to plead at present; I understand your wishes and my own interests too well. “CHIEF JUSTICE--Prisoner at the bar, three weeks have passed since your capture, and you have had sufficient time to prepare your defence. This Court has been convened for the express purpose of trying you, and the Government cannot be put to so much expense for nothing. I have taken care myself that all witnesses which you can possibly require in your defence should be present to-day, and they are here. You can have, therefore, no excuse whatever for wishing to postpone your trial, and your only object is to give the Government and this Court unnecessary trouble; but your stubbornness shall avail you nothing, for the Court will order the usual course in case of stubborn and wilful prisoners, who refuse to plead, to be pursued in this case. I now ask you for the last time--what say you, Linus Wilson Miller, to the charges preferred against you: are you guilty or not guilty?