Hysteria.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6830, 18 April 1890, Page 2

Hysteria.

It is almost a pity that these hysterical people could not be hanged, too. As accessories after the fact a case might be made out against them of considerable weight. If not hanged for murder they ought at least to be flogged for want of common sense and inconsistency. A f tw years ago two young fellows confessed that they had in cold blood murdered their foreman. He had aaid something rough to them, which offended their inordinate self-esteem. They incontinently bought a revolver, called the man out of his house one dark night, shot him dead, and got off without suspicion. Getting into the hands of the Salvationists they were touched with remorse, and made open confession. There was some sympathy for them as they had freely confessed, but the crime was too cold-blooded, andin spite of their extreme youth they were hanged. But not one half the fuss was made about them as about these Crewe parricides. Where were the three thousand ? They evidently regard the fact of parricide as an extenuating circumstance. For that alone they deserve severe punishment. One thing is certain : it is that if these officious silly people were in. some way set apart the world would get on very much better without them. They do not represent the quality of mercy in the economy of things. There i 3 no true compassion in their nature. They are simply mischief-makers who go about doing their best to weaken the general reverence for principle, to obscure the public conscience, to throwmorality off its base. It is a vasb pity these crimes cannot be severely punished. It is grievous that the world must go on enduring them for ever. .