Genre:

News-Commentary

Subjects:

Crime, Mental Illness, Government

    Attacks a letter in the Lancet from Daniel H Tuke who stated, in respect of insane murderers, that 'if the law inexorably demands his life, let him be hung as a declared "madman"'. Ironically agrees with Tuke that all murderers should be hung, irrespective of motive. Condemns 'retributive justice' as 'sentimental bosh' and upholds hanging as a way of deterring others 'from committing the same'. Urges that such counsels be 'formally enacted'.