LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Crime and Punishment
SIR,—The country is now about equally divided into coshables and uncoshables. The coshables are single women, old men and small shop-keepers who live in the side-roads; the uncoshables are the men and women who travel in cars and taxis, live in well-lighted streets, are never far from a policeman and never enter the cosher's hunting- ground. The uncoshables include sentimental old women of both sexes, noble lords who know more about the criminal mind than Her Majesty's judges, and theorists who believe that thuggery can be cured by psychiatry.
The coshables, being aware that thuggery would disappear overnight if the punishment fitted the crime, are becoming more and more incensed against the uncoshables. But, unfortunately for the coshables, the power to free them from the fear that stalks them day and night is in the hands of the uncoshables, many of whom are far more interested in their pet theories than in the sufferings of the thug's victims.
I prophesy that at the next General Eleetion the coshables will rise in their wrath, and no candidate will have a chance Who does not promise to support legislation to make the punishment for thuggery so severe that the evil will be eradicated.—Yours faithfully,
Road Farm, Chart. - W. M. JAMES.
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