MUTE

Speechle ; dumb; that cannot or will not speak. In Elnglis!J, criminal law, a prisoner is said to stand mute when, being arraigned for treason or felony, he either makes no answer at all, or answers foreign to the purpose or with such matter as ls not allowable, and: will not answer otherwise, or, upon having pleaded not guilty, refuses to put himself Upon _the country. 4 Bl. Comm. 824. [s. 806]