FROM THE BENCH By Cecil Chapman Long experience as a
stipendiary magistrate and a kindly nature have enabled Mr. Cecil Chapman to offer much valuable advice and comment in his new book, From the Bench (Hodder and Stoughton. 8s. (3d.). Without being unduly sentimental, he is on the side of the reformers in the treatment of criminals. He is opposed to capital punishment, except in the case of political assassination. He would put offenders on probation wherever possible. The task of prosecuting offenders should never be left to the injured parties but undertaken always by a public official. Mr. Chapman might well have cited the good work of the Scottish procurator fiscal in aid of his argument. But while he is a merciful man, he hates cruelty to children and animals, and thinks, not without reason, that the " Great Unpaid "—the justices of the peace—are often far too lenient in their punishment of cruel men or women. Mr. Chapman takes a grave view of the increase of betting and gambling, but he underrates, perhaps, the task of diminishing the evil. Mr. Chapman's book deserves to be widely read, especially by legislators and thagistrates. He 'iS always on the side of generosity and believes firmly that men will respond to decent treatment.
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