Despite a number of declarations of Smith's good character, the chief judge, Lord Chief Baron Sir Archibald Macdonald, advised the jury that malice was not required of murder, merely an intent to kill: I should betray my duty, and injure the public security, if I did not persist in asserting that this is a clear case of murder, if the facts be proved to your satisfaction.
Ungeachtet einer Reihe positiver Leumundszeugnisse über Smith belehrte der Richter, Lord Chief Baron Macdonald, die Jury, dass der Tatbestand des Mordes keine Böswilligkeit, sondern lediglich eine Tötungsabsicht erfordere: “I should betray my duty, and injure the public security, if I did not persist in asserting that this is a clear case of murder, if the facts be proved to your satisfaction.