Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-08-12
The Insanity of Christina TAYLOR.

Az uae LuiaoI VI HE EVENING STAR:
1t is to be hoped that advocates of the "insan-
ity plea Will be found entirely wanting in the
case of Christina Taylor. unless facts, at present
undeveloped, shonld conclusively prove that the
woman was then and had previously been of I'M
sound mind. Insanity is not to be donned and
donec at the pleasure of the wearer. At pres
emf II would seem frap her words that, in max
ing her confession. ne woman had In her mind
the statement made by Guiteau, TO the effect
that ne shot his pistol in obedience to command
from Hod She. lh0wever. chooses the majesty
oi darkness as hers director. in order. 1t would
seem, that she might give no one the opportu-
NIFTY 70 say that she copied the words of Guiteau
l am mere reminded of the excuses made
by two children. rslate for school. to their
teaCier. In response to the question
nat made you late?' the first replied
Nothers clock was too slow" the other
iackihg originality. and at the same time fearing
that similar reply would not gain credence
shfeWdiy replied, mothers clock was too fast. :"
BE THIS a parallel case or no, 1t is high time to
hang murderers and put an utter end to these
paitTy excuses for committing this most arbi-
trar! OF crimes As we'll might clerk hope to
DE excused for gress carelessness in his work or
1or the embezzlement of his employers money. by
answering, when accused, that he acted under
an influence which he was unable TO resist. We
Know how he would be treated. He would be
punished in proportion to his offence. So let
all criminals suffer. Otherwise. who is safe?
we often hear man SAYS: at was all / could
90 TO Keep myself from doing so ard So" His
resistance of the temptation was only sign of
avictory for his better judgment. but surely no
proof either that his sanity was manifested by
MS exercise of self-contrOl. Gor that power is
very seldom entirely lost, even by undoubted
lunatlcs.) Or that his insanity would have been
manifested had he yielded to his first impulse.
A low tone Of morals and. partly from lack of
practlse, and partly from degrading influences,
q weakness OF will. are often mistaken for in
sanity. 1t is not to be denied that those most
prone to yield, are people whose lives in some
way have been blighted or who have been within
the pale OF restraining influences. but that is no
excuse either for their playing dog in the
manger-i am not happy and therefore you
shall not be-or for acting without elaboration
and utterly regardless of consequences.
% HONI Sort QUI NAL FAT"
The CASE OF CARTER AGAINST THE DISTRICT
COMMISSIONERS DIsMIssED.-To-day, Judge
Wylie sitting in chambers. heard the case Of F..
Carter against the District Commissioners for a
mandamus to secure an order on F. M. Draney to
remove certain night soil collected by Carter.
Draney is contractor for the removal of night
soil, and Carter is engaged in the business on
his own account. and seeks after having made
his collection to have the same removed by
Draney. The District and Mr.. Draney. filed q
demurrer. and after argument the Judge sus-
tanned the demurrer and dismissed the bill