Litchfield enquirer., 1881-12-01
Guitean.

l Inc Vthi oI 0uitcdu iS progressing Teppuiy and will no doubt be finished this week. The evidence of the prisoners unsouudness of mind is pretty strong. He is not only cranky him. self, but comes of cranky family. Many proof of insanity than appears in Gui,cau's lase.asI In view. of the evidence of his past career and of the taint of insanity in the fami- ly, it would be wrong to treat hun as person of fully sound mind. But the mere fact of mental unsoundness will not clear him. The law requires such an extent of unsoundness as will render the prisoner wholly unconscious not only that the act lie has committed is criminal, but that it is punishable by law. In McNaughten's case. the English House of Lords asked the opinion of the Judges of the higher courts on the following among other questions: f'1 ai2 3f'sei sit
 What is the law respecting alleged crimes. committed by persons afflicted with insane de- lusions in respect to one or more particular snb- jects or persons as for instance, where, at the time of the commission of the alleged crlme. the accused knew he was acting contrary to law, but did the act complained of with a view, under the influence of insane delusion, of redressing or averaging some supposed grievance or injury. or of producing some sup posed public benefit?
 To the query the judges unanimously re- sponded as follows: st asa ar. &
 In answer to the first question. assuming that your Lordships' inquiries are confined to those persons who labor under such partial delusions only, and are not in other respects insane, we are of opinion. that nOthwithstand- Ing tEe party accused diG the act complained of with view, under the influence of insane de- fusion, of redressing or averaging some supp0s- ed grievance or injury, or of producing some public benefit, he is nevertheless punishable, according to the nature of the crime commit ted, if he knew at the time of committing such crime that he was acting contrary to law.
 That Guiteau is a thoroughly insane man will hardly be maintained. He has been sound enough to gain admission to the bar, and to practice law in certain disreputable way. His life has been that of hundreds of shysters and dead beats, too lazy to work, and living on the forbearance of the public. Such being the case, the fact of his having written to Gen. Sherman to protect him in jail shows that knew he was about to commit an act punishable by law. Why will not that letter alone bring him clearly within the foregoing definition of legal responsibility
 Pennsylvania has law which attempts to ...A--:a s.-'sss IHrS IS S task that way be beyond the reach of legisla- lures. One thing legislatures might do, they might pay members of conventions who could show that they had been chosen by caucuses of certain specified proportion of the cleo tors. This would tend to improve the charact- CT delegates and make it difficult to pack con- ventions. One reason why it IS now 30 easy too this is because unless it is known that there is to be contest little importance is attached to such appointments, and all can have them who will undertake to attend the conventions. If such positions were paid, they would be sought after, would be thought honorable, and would be beyond the reach of the manipulators who now so often defeat the will of the peo- pie.
 There seems little hope that the Jeannette, the exploring steamer fitted out for the arctic regions by Mir. Bennett of the Herald, in 1879, will ever be heard from again. It is now too late to hope for her arrival, this summer, and three arctic winters in succession would more than exhaust her supplies, even if the crew could ndure such an effort. The general be- lief is tha, the vessel has been crushed between ice foes aud the crew all lost
 The AFFIRMATION REVIEW for Dec. is now ready. The following important articles on commercial and industrial subjects are among those contained in it:
 New Outlets for American Products, by Robert J. Creighton.
 Influence of European Industries on the United States, by J. L. Stevens. . -..
 Sugar Culture in Louisiana, by Edward Hagau.
 Published by A. s. Barnes & Go III & 113 William St., New York, 50 cents a number
 The billiard tournament. of last week, re- suited in Dion's taking the frs. prize; Schae- fer, second. There was some very fine play especially by Slesson, who, however played quite badly at times.
 Cabinet speculations are more numerous and varied than ever in view of the coming in of Congress-, next week. Among the names most prominent are those of Messrs Freling- huyseu, of New Jersey. Howe of Wisconsin, Boutwell, of Massachusetts and Storrs of Chicago.
 The official count gives the Va. Readiusters about 12, 900 majority at the late election and a majority on the joint ballot. They have been having "a conference to decide upon the division of the spells.
 The Christiancy case bobs up as usual into public notice. His mother-in-law testified Monday to his having knocked his wife down while drunk.
 New Preston. We've. had little touch of winter. just J enough to let the people know what to expect when the old frost king settles down to ear nest business. The mercury has been down to 1Oo above zero, and we've had ssblue. jay" snow, and now one can hear the melo- | 0i0uS rinO 0f the Ooa1 shNvol in n thc