The Measure of Individual and Social Responsibility in Criminal Cases

Extract

In the absence of all medical testimony, opinion respecting the man's mental condition during the period in question must be based upon the ordinary evidence brought forward at the inquest. And it so happens that, notwithstanding the remarkable finding of the jury, the conclusion at which most people would arrive, after perusing the evidence and the in coherent statement found in the handwriting of the deceased, insonsi-mprpolfeesseionnoaulgh, opiannidon.quitTehuws, iththine “the DeailsycoTpeeleogfrapohrd,” inaryin reference to the case, relates the circumstances and the evi dence, and then says : “After all this, it is impossible to avoid the conclusion that the assailant of Mr. Hamburger was not altogether responsible for his actions. We may even go further, and say, although the jury were of the opinion tmhiantd, thethreat wtahse nodeceevaisdeedncewatos sdheocwidedwlyhat inwsaanse” his wshtaetne hoef attempted to murder Mr. Hamburger. It is sufficient for my present purpose to affirm the correctness of the opinion here qiioted from a lay paper, without entering into such details of the evidence as might be taken either for or against that opinion.