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Show LEGAL INSANITY. Slionld Uncontrollablo Inipulso" Hu Critaiual Conviction? The Nev YorK Law Journal recently contained r,n editorial article favoring G modification of the test of insanity in criminal cases. Tho ability to disfcin guiBh boween right and wrong in reference ref-erence to the act committed and to know that it was wrong is a standard of mental capacity required in New York to render a person responsible fci crimes committed by him. The Law Journal argnes in favor of grading punishment according to the mental condition of offenders who may be "partially insane." Many alienists. Including Dr. Allan McLano Hamilton, do not recognize "rjrtial insanity," saying that a person is either sane oz insane. The state m which tho mind acts correotly as to its judgment, but tho will is controller, by somo impluse which tho mmd cannot master, is not recognized in mdny criminal courts, because it has been found that the excuse ex-cuse of irreslstiblo impulse led to toe great a number of acquittals in caseB where defendants were really guilty of serious offences. In civil cases it is easier to deal with persons whose minds are so affected that they cannot come to correct conclusions con-clusions as to certain subjects. The is-rjos is-rjos at stake are frequently loss important, impor-tant, and it is possible to learn whether a particular act was done under tho in fluence of the delusion or mental weakness weak-ness which affects tho person concerned |