Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-07
Extreme Feasibility.

Extreme Feasibility.
Extreme irracibility under provocation
that normal man could not take exception
to. in errors Of Judgment. in military mat
ters. and adds to his general consideration
of very many subjects of which 1 have
heard him speak"
"Do you know the accused well enough
to give professional opinion as to his
mental condition.
II believe / do"
do you appreciate the difference be-
tween an Indifference to consequence and
failure to realize would-be conse-
ouenceT'
81 think I do" replied the witness.
IF man does wrong regardless of con-
sequence and knows that 1t Is wrong such
a man Is not In normal condition"
Don't you know that we all do wrong
knowing that we are doing So and that we
do 1t frequently" asked Lieut.. Presley.
No" was the answer. after some deep
thinking
would not sin p
Normal Man Would Not Sin.
THAT'S It," replied the navy surgeon. 81
believe that II a man were strictly normal
he would not SIM
''Then your idea of normality applied to
sin is deviation from perfection?"
'In an abstract way, yes"
''Is your view based upon comparison
between the accused and perfect man?
'.No, between the accused and the aver
Then. do you think that the average man
does wrong. and does 1t knowingly"
I'm way"
'iShould such actions be punishedT'
81 think the sins and wrongs we do are so
small as not to merit punishment"
I'm order to weigh properly your testi-
mony, doctor, wish you to state your pre-
else view as to what class OF acts. in your
4,rH~ Oh lxa rrrrta dnd
III the average man knows that q GER
tain act is wrong. and yet commits 1t I'M
der such circumstances as, for instance
being blinded with rage. should he be pun
ished?'
Spoke in the Abstract.
.If wrong is violation OF the naval
regulations, and If there Is no reason for
being prone to anger. such as physical or
mental deformity. I think he should be
punished. speak in the abstract"
lido you believe that great anger should
operate to reduce IA punishment the
average normal man should receive or to
excuse him entirely?
IF 1t in anger in normal Individual
think he should be punished.
Then anger Is not an extenuating cir
cumstance In a normal individual?"
mo. SIR replied the witness.
Feasibility Disease.
"Does the proneness to irritability on the
part of the accused excuse him entirely, or
should IT. be urged only In mitigation, In
your opinion?'
IT believe his proneness to Feasibility Is
q disease, and should, in his case. excuse
him entirely"
when the accused Is irritated he Is not
responsible moral agent, In your opin-
ion 2"
"He Is not entirely responsible when he is
irritated"
"Is the condition of the accused solely the
result of disease, or is 1t matter Of tenn
perament?'
IT believe that his condition Is due to a
diseased aggravation OF temperament
that is not normal"
Are you of the opinion that there Is
constant danger of doing the accused In
Justice by. holding him accountable for
breaches of military discipline?"
.I am
The witness asserted very positively that
In his opinion the accused mans mental
equipment was such that to infiict a pun
ishment upon him for any infraction of
military rules would work hardship and
injustice
That ended his testimony. and Dr. F. M.
Furlong Of Washington. who is connected
with the bureau Of medicine and surgery Of
the navy, was called by the prosecution
Lawyer Theali said that that ended his de-
tense. but that ne would reserve the right
to have his client present a written state
ment later.