Denton Examiner, Audenshaw, Hooley Hill and Dukinfield Advertiser. — 1876-01-22 (Denton, Greater Manchester, England)

WOF MURDER. In accordance with the unanimous reoommenda. tion of the Capital Paniehment Commission of several years ago, the subject of a revision of the law of murder has Muarions emulsions subsequently been brought before Parliament by Mr. Walpole,' Lord Aberdare and othere. In 1871 a brief but very plain and comprehensive bill was brought in by Sir George Jenkinson, Mr. Gilpin, and Mr. Goldney conjointly , but it was crowded out by important political events. In 1874 Ms. Russell Gurney and Mr. Lopes brought in soother" Homicide Law Amendment Bill," drawn up mainly by Mr. Pitsjames Stephen. This measure, although a good one in some respect., failed to corn. mand moth support. But, in connection with it, the Houee of Commons appointed a committee of eighteen member. presided over by Mr. Robert Lowe, who did . good service by examining witnesses and drawing up an elaborate report, in which they placed on record their deliberate judgment that the law of murder is at present "moat enasive and most sophistical." They also reported that " the existing definition of murder is far too narrow," sad added that "ft is most desirable that a state of the law under which people are condemned and es., onted, by means of a legal fiction, should Cease." Another bill has now been prepared by Sir John E. Wilmot. Its main provisions are as follows : 1. The crime of murder shall be divided Into off enees of the Seat and second degree. 2. Any person convMted of murder in the first degree shall suffer death as a felon. S. Any person convicted of murder in the second degree shall be punishable with penal servitude for life, or for any period not less than seven years; or with imprisonment with hard labour for any period not exceeding two years. This amuse has in view certain cases of infanticide. 4. The degree of murder shall be found by the jury upon the facts submitted to them. 5. Murder in the first degree is the killing, with deliberate malice aforethought, a human being in the peace • of the King or Queen regnant. 6. It is murder in the first degree where death has been caused by the wilful aot. of any person when committing, or attempting to commit, any felony, or when assaultiug any Government officer in the lawful execution , Of his duty.. 7'. It is murder of the second degree where a verdict of murder is found by the jury, but not in the first degree. 8. Infanticide is murder of the second degree in all cases where the death of the , child shall have been caused by the wilful, unlawful, and malicious act of its mother, provided that such act has been committed at the time of the chile's birth, or within seven days afterwards. 9. In any trial for infanticide it shall not be competent for the jury to return a verdict of concealment of the birth; but when such charge is made, it must form the subject of a separate indictment. 10. In any trial lor infanticide it shall not be necessary to prove that the °Mid was completely born alive. Amongst the remaining and less important clauses of the bill ia one for restoring to judges the power of ordering eentenee of death to be recorded where they may consider that special circumstances require it. The very difficult and vexed question of homicidal insanity, respecting which the highest legal and chief medical authorities have for years been in hopeless conflict, is proposed to be committed to a Royal COMMilatiiol2 for special investigation. The question is, therefore, not touched upon in Sir John 'ipilmot'a measure.