Evening star., 1928-04-12
Indignation at Freeing Remus
Is Noted Throughout Country

"Scandalous fiounting OF criminal JUS
tice" is the general American verdict
on the freeing of George Remus OF
Cincinnati, who killed his wife in a
rage and has succeeded in eyading the
penalty through legal technicalities.
The blame Is variously placed. but there
is q mighty chorus OF denunciation OF
the Jury which originally found the
prisoner mot guilty by reason OF insan-
ity.'' The subsequent release OF the
man on the ground that he is not now
insane Is a matter OF scathing comment
In all parts OF the country.
Keep your eye on the ball" Is the
advice OF the San Bernardino Sun to
Judge. jury and lawyers" who should
keep their eyes on the crime itself and
not on the proceedings by which It is
being determined" The Sun believes
that the simple fundamentals of crime
seem 10 be lost sight Of in the .nazes
of our multitudinous proceedings" The
Columbus Ohio State Journal feels
that the history of this case supports
the contention Of leading lawyers that
acquittal on criminal charge on the
ground of insanity ought TO establish
the fact OF insanity within the meaning
of the law and entail the consequences
thereof"
The Bluefield Daily Telegraph feels
that In some cases Justice Is more than
blind; that she Is stone deaf and ut
terly devoid OF feeling" The Ports
r..Juth Morning Sun sees infinite
harm TO the cause OF democracy"
What Is to be done about it?" asks
the Canton Daily News, which contends
| that "the legal profession ought To am
Swer that question. II will do no good
To rave. VIII the bar be
standing before coming legislatures
pressing such changes In administra-
ton of the criminal law. particularly
the laws surrounding the insanity plea.
as will make future Remus ilascos. II
not :-npossible. at least the inevitable?"
80 George Remus. who took human
life, who conducted his own defense
and practically won IT,. despite his out
bursts OF uncomfortable rage In the
courtroom" remarks the Milwaukee
Journal has succeeded In beating the
State Of Ohio In his battle for freedom.
He Is greater than the State OF Ohio as
represented by It's government And
that possibly Is something for Ohio 10
think about. II III something 10 be
thought about by all States which hold
to archaic laws that allow a man by
pleading the kind OF insanity he elects
10 plead To dodge this way and that way
until finally he gets fun freedom"
probably not In the history OF Amer
ica." In the Judgment OF the Albany
Evening News, has there been such a
stupid verdict as this. But IL was
worse than stupid. There ought TO be
some way OF making those jurors la~
sponsible for this releasing of man
who killed because he was angry. This
| jury has declared virtually that II you
get angry enough IL will be all right
| for you 10 90 and KIN somebody and
you will be called insane" The New
| Orleans Tribune concludes that he
should have been hanged, but the aenti-
mental mor0ns who acquitted him prob
ably are glad 10 aee him free" The
Savannah Morning News. observing
that more than half OF the crimes 90
unpunished" says that THE end o. this
case indicates that The jury system haa
had another black eye"
Ranking this case with that OF Thaw,
the Springfield Republican declares that
1T Is surprising that the criminal juris~
prudence OF any State In America per-
mita such Seandal0us miscarriages of
| Justice" and adds that such spectaeles
seem little less than the fioutlng Of
criminal Justice" The Shreveport