Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-12-23

Modern Mexico has q new penal code. II Is func-
tioning In the federal district and all its territories.
Right OF trial by jury has been abolished. Verdict
from the bench has been substituted, subject in all
cases to confirmation by the supreme council OF de-
Tense and social prevention, which is established by
the code and is composed Of three attorneys, an alien
LIST and a physician.
Twenty-seven new penal courts were created. the
Judges were appointed and sworn In In order that
the new code should be thoroughly equipped with
machinery on the morning OF Dec. is.
It is announced that the code applies only In ter
~ritories and districts under federal government since
the states have power to regulate their own courts
for procedure.
Lest we forget, Mexico has It's federal courts as
well as the state courts. And the federal penal code
provisions will be enforced by the judges Of the fed
eral districts which have been created.
Are the makers Of the new criminal code progress
sive statesmen, keen intellect and far In advance OF
the code makers Of other nations7
It may interest motor vehicle owners IN the United
States to know that a six year penitentiary sentence
viii be imposed on a motorist responsible for an ac-
cident involving death.
It may be interesting for lawmakers In the 40 states
Of the sisterhood and the congress OF the United
States to know that the person who steals once TO APP
pease his hunger or that OF those dependent upon
him is free from punishment under the new code.
It may interest the p~enologist as well as the advo-
cate OF the death penalty under American skies when
they are told that the death penalty, except IN cases
Of rebellion and certain political crimes, is abolished
by the Mexican code.
There Is said 10 be an unvritten law in many
American states. It deals with the ~betrayers OF wo-
men. It deals with faithleSs wives and false hus-
bands-in the American states.
In Mexico the new code stipulates that there shall
be no punishment for the Staying Of a mate caught
in an act involving the slayer's honor or for the slay-
ing OF the other party to the act, so long as the slayer
has not before taken a life for similar reasons.
II allows q father to slay a daughter caught In
an act of dishonor and her seducer also. It may
interest Chief Justice Howard Taft and all the lesser
Judges under American skies to know that under the
Mexican code the judges Of the lower or new penal
courts study the evidence presented and pass SEN
tence.
Then the sentence Is submitted TO the supreme
council of Mexico for final study and confirmation
or rejection. AS for the code duello, 1t finds q place
in the penal code Of Mexico.
II il stipulated that parties to a prospective duel
must submit their differences 70 a court Of honor,
which win endeavor to solve the dispute without
bIoodshed and IN no case will be empowered to au-
thorize the duel.
Physicians and welfare workers OF America are re-
minded that In Mexico In future the treatment Of
venereal diseases will be obligatory and severe pun
tshment VIII be m~inistered to anyone responsible for
the transfer Of such diseases.
Provisional Pres. Portes On IS responsible for this