Cleeve House, Goring-cn-Thames. E. M. VENABLES. SIR,—In your issue of
May 7th, Mr. W. J. Strang appears to be yet another of those modem psychologists who believe that all wrongdoers, from murderers to small boys who break shop windows, are mental defectives, and that they are consequently not to blame for their actions. If a man commits a murder, does it necessarily follow that he is insane ? Mr. Strang speaks of " the sacredness of each individual." Surely, then, anyone who violates this sanctity is worthy of punishment—the same
punishment he has inflicted on his victim-, and, in the case of a murderer, deserves nothing less than to lose his own life. I am personally not in favour of the method we employ in this country ; but the question is, for the moment, one of principle and not one of method.—Yours faith-
fully, PETER DICKINSON.
Far Bank, Shelley, Huddersfield.
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