The Insanity Plea

It would seem as though the frcquency with which members of the bar who are called upon to defend crimináis resort to the plea of insmiity would bring the bar associations, if not the individual members, toa realization of the fact that they are, by this means bringing their profession into great dis repute. The Heydlarff case at .Tackson recently, was an instance in point Ilere every circumstance of the murder was admitted by the defense, and ye he was freed, through the efforts of his counsel, on the plea of temporary in sanity. Almost every paper we piek ip brings notice that the attorney for some criminal has decided on tempo rary or emotional insanity, as the line of defense. This has been carried to such an extent that if some check be not put upon it, prosecution for murde will soon be useless. To be sure. some part of the responsibility rests on the juries, who clear these men on sucl slight pretence, but the bar itself caí do more to correct these wrong tenden cies than any other influence. We trus they will see before long where this i leading. It surely is a strong incentiv on the part of evil minded persons to commit crimes and thus cover them up