1954-08-26 — Page 4

... Page 47

THE CHINA MAIL THURSDAY, AUGUST 26, 1954.

TOUCH "ON","' THE GUESTS

by Illingworth

THE STRAFFEN CASE:

IS THE

OLERO N

London.

OHN THOMAS STRAFFEN was, and presumably still is, a high-grade mental defective.

According to the evidence at his trial, he was not, and never had been, insane,

LAW LAW

WRONG

Did the Straffen murder trials reveal an urgent need for a change in Britain's Jaws, ¿or only show once again that it is easy for the doctors to be wise after the event?

By LORD HAILSHAM

although there was a doubt by the opinion of

other

as to whether his condition people if not according to his was congenital or brought own. about by a disease in early youth.

one of these three victims was violated, Straffen himself

vitiated only by an attempt to treat the trial as an illustration of something which

emphatically does not illustrate.

Whenover I read the words ""There can be little difference

that " I of opinion

prepare

committed out of a particular myself mentally for something spite against the police.

His intelligence quotient contended that the murders were was 63, not a very low figure for a mental defective, and Rome. his mental age Was

and where between nine twelve, and probably nearer the lower than the upper limit.

He knew

the

This was also not parti-

since cularly weak average adult in this country has a mental age of between fourteen and fifteen, after which he does not progress.

Straffen had been known as a mental defective since about the age of nine.

Kesay

both dubious and controversial.

Fairfield's

It is } seems more probable how In Dr

stated: "Thero can be little of opinion that the ever, that Straffen sought com- pensation 10T

subordinate difference his

Thomas Straffen frustratext

In trial of John and

existence

need for A momentary acts of dominion shows the urgent

in the law concerning change over his helpless victims.

mentally defective prisoners charged with murder."

For the first two murders he was indicted at Taunton Assizes.

but, on medical evidence, found by Jury empanelled for this purpose, to be unili to plead.

It may be doubled whether this modient opinion was, in fact, second trial, correct, as on his

months later, no vnly a few

one of the six doctors called Lave evidence to this effect.

For the third murder, com- In the 10 months between mitted during an escape from Straffen was tried July 10, 1951, and April 29, Broadmoor,

convicted at Winchester 1952, Straffen murdered and

little girls. Within Assizes aral sentenced to death three

Mr Justice Carsels on July tay 24, 1952.

the limits of his intelligence he know exactly what he was doing at the time, that is,

On August 29 of the same

he

reprieved by

year

was

Act

he knew that he was stop David Maxwell Fyte after ping the little girls' breath-

receiving the advice of the ing, and that if he did so statutory Enquiry set up under

Criminal long enough they would die. the Indeed, as he explained 10 1884. the police, after the second murder, he intended to kill

Lunatics

The trial has now found its the Notable British way intu

them. He also knew that Trials series, with an interest- killing was against the Ten ung and informative Introduc- by Dr Letilla Fairfield, Commandments, and wrong tion

Here's something REALLY NEW!

PRECIOUS

STONE INITIALS

Matter of degree

Whatever else the trini illus-

contrary is rates, it is not, I beileve, this, and, although the widely considered to be the case, is also, I believe, Dr Fairfield mistaken in considering that i practice the difference between and Insanity mental deficiency is such as to make dimeult, per- haps with some verbal modines-

application of tion, M'naughten Rules.

the

the

Mental weakness or disorder, whether congenital or acquired, is always to some extent a and this is degree, matter of

60 in the case of particularly mental deficiency.

more

PEKING HOT ALA FORMOSA

AT 48 HE HAS BECOME THE LORD AND legend of LOS ANGELES, ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST EXCITING CITIES, BUT—–

Mr Hughes Would Like

To Live To Be

On the other hand, legal dis- Ainctions must always set up, definitely, rigid or less

on real or categorlos, based orbitrary differences of kind, and

abstract 229 expressed principles of law,

This, and not my difference of opinion as to the facts, is the true basis of the debate between medicine and Jurispru- dence in the matter of insanky.

The

Judge's duty

not

Los Angeles, Tuesday. of a choir which sang hymns N the City of Angels to swing music and jazz

the people call them- tempo.

selves Angelenos a

rather awkward and

Next day she asked me particularly fitting what I thought of the choir name. They do not act like and I told her: "Excellent." angels. They rush every. I learned later that it is where, not afraid to tread heavily sponsored and that on anything or on anyone. thousands of people queue up for hours to get a seat in the concert-pardon-- church hall.

Even their religion is high-pressured, streamlined, and in gaudy lights. This is the headquarters of the evangelista, the swamis, yogis, prophets, and eccen- tric cultists,

doctor approaches the matter primarily as a scientist, anxious to discover the absolute truth, however complex. The Judge opproaches the same

"I see there's a big revival matter as a man charged with a practical duty to society, com-

crusade on just now," I said peliod by the nature of his office to one of the editors of the

principle. Los to apply a working

Angeles Mirror. He with a view to a definite clusion, however dim and incon- said: "Just now? There's

the state of scientific always a revival here."

con-

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In criminal trials, the judge'i approach is further modified by

the necessity

to express this

The ballyhoo

principle in language intelligible THE posters and placards and "religious" advertise

to every member of a jury of

pect

twelve with a reasonable pros-ments in the newspapers are

of its conscientious applica- tion by this useful, but somewhat not restrained. unsubtle, tribunal.

Los Angeles never does anything by halves, and certainly not religion. This is the fatest-growing city in the New World. There are almost 5,000,000 people liv- ing in Los Angeles county and over 2,000,000 in Angeles city.

The town spreads for 50 miles or more, and you can-

not drive from

one city limit

to the other,

right across

the sprawling

Los

HOWARD HUGHES, 252 years to go !

DON IDDON'S

DIARY

300

PARIS SCENE, 1954

By Stephen Coulter

!

TOLIDAY

Paris. advice to

HFrench people going to

Britain on holiday is given by Jean Fayard of Paris.

"It's extremely important to know how to eat pens - balance them on the back of your fork without letting thom fall off. After 2 a.M. you have the right to be quite drunk-but not before. if you are speaking about an idiot, say 'Ho has 'a marvellous sense of humour'. If you are referring to an ugly woman, say 'She's such. a good sport!"

•

•

•

IN Paris is Grandma Marlene Dietrich. She's making final arrangements for a French film she will star in January, called "Lido," On Saturday she goes

to Monte Carlo where she will be making her first European cabaret appearance--singing at a Sporting Club charity show.

I WAS tolking to M. Alfred Durand, the oldest book- seller on the Soine quayside, who has his "pitch" by the Pont Neuf, White-haired M. Durand has sat beside his box of second-hand books for 52 years now. Many of the famous have been his customers -Anatole France, Marshal

Paul Reynaud, Joffre,

Jean

Joures.

But scoond-hand bookselling

very temporarily-escorting, but isn't what it was; in five hours spends little on himself,

Once the was completing a mall-million-dollar doel by telephone when he suddenly said: "Ring mo back on this, but ring after six o'clock when

telephono rates cheaper."

the

art

He has become the legend as well as the lord of Los Angeles, but curiously, hasn't bothered With to Intervene in politics. his money and his power drive bo could exercise tremendous political influence, but he ye most politicians bore him and for the time being he is. 'not interested.

Los Angeles politics, headed by Mayor Norris Poulson, are cleaner than those of many big American cities and I haven't heard many charges of groft, corruption, or crime,

one

afternoon

M. Durand earned only one shilling. But he'd do the same thing it he had his time over again. "ve been cantent who can ask for more?"

•

Call

PROGRESS never stops.

girls are now to be seen. making their way slowly ghrough the Bois de Boulogne... on moter-scooters!

CARDINAL Feltin, Archbishop of Paris, is a roen of char- actor. The producers of the latest film on” Napoleon asked his permission to shoot the scene of the Emperor'a crown- ing inside Notre Dame.

who

"No." said the Archbishop. "Apart from anything else, 15 wouldn't be tuing to use the cathedral to film the crowning of a man who crowned himself!”

for household A REMEDY Los Angeles' biggest worry is quarells

is prescribed by. smog. I hadn't been here a day Madame Cailloux in her book before I was told to buy some "Living Marriage," just out in

and anti-Paris. 1t.js: to inafall anti-smog ointment

3 tape smog glasses. Frankly I haven't recorder and awitch it CUI La been" troubled by smog..

2007 as a dispute starts.

"Husbands and wives overheard how absurd they were There is a házy, cloud Los Angeles most mornings, in moments of anger wouldn't

surishine usually but the bright

be able to atoni up to more. dispela it by hoop, and com- quarelling after the first few pared to, say, the Black times. Especially if the child- Californian metropolis, past except Texas; and makes more Country, Los Angeles is crystal zen started playing the stuff The announcements the white and pink stucco aircraft,

I drove out to the airport clear. But Angelenes are deler back to amuse themselves on a

mined to worry about smog. rainy efternoon! scream: "Returning to the buildings and the glittering to meet friend last week-

1 The necessity for trial by Jury renders it Inevitable that the Los Angeles area by popular stores, through the tangled end and saw the planes North hey have spent several million

dollars on alleged smog cures. FOR his summer holiday at his Howard Aviation, demand, under one of the shafts of electric lights, in test of criminal responsibility at

American

villa at Cannes, the Marquis Hughes-lined up in batches of

Every day someone comes up de Cuevas, the international that stage of the inquiry should world's largest gospel tents less than two hours.

There are nearly with a new process or invention ballet master, has taken down be whether a man knows what

Los Angeles is now the 200,000 people employed by the guaranteed to banish smog, but his private menagerie 10 Pekes,

hundreds. he is doing and that he is doing-A. A. Allen, the same

here com- the results so for have been two bull terriers, an Alsatian, something regarded by other ministry that stirred the United States' third city and aircraft. industry people, if not by himself, as a San Fernando Valley."

two cats and Villorio, his parrot. on pared to a mere 30,000 in the unsatisfactory. is coming up fast

But

the Marquis is on the wrongful not,

"Tommy Hicks is back. Chicago. It has left San entertainment industry. And it who lives is Howard Hughes,

warputh

He wants to find the person Great

healing Francisco far behind (except in Las Vegas, who is the lard salvation

who, while he was abroad re- In capital revival. Hear the man who in culture and sophistica- of Los Angeles,

a litlte Hughes is on extraordinary

cently with his troupe, taught 3,000,000 tion), and asks,

"Shut up, Villorio to sing out cases, that trial by jury should spoko to

YOU

dirty degel" be followed by a scientific in- people in Argentina. Five naively: "Are we ready to m

whose results, quiry

together

thousand free seats, Thou- take on New York?" with

cther matters, embodied in the decision of the sands healed. Glorious pro-

gramme of revival spirit.". Home Secretary.

an

But since this is at best imperfect test, it is necessary

particularly

per

initial

and

3 initials for $130

(easy terms can be arranged): Sco our window display

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enforced.

Dilemma

ara

moral responsibility has been stitutional defect of the mind.

over

Most exciting

Just started

Living_by_car

}

Lbs

Ho

inherited

$300,000 PERHAPS the reason for the when he was a youth und ho atmospheric pollution now has a personal fortune of motor-car exhaust fumes. $150,000,000-Gome say more, Angeles has more motor-cars per IT seems that taste in tomb-

Hughes's name suggests big person than any other town on

stones changes liko anything Agures such 115

There are more auto else. A big firm of makers re- round earth. Old

million dollars or the curves of mobiles in the city and county poris that "advanced" art hon with beards, inen

Lana Turner,

Ava

Gardner, of Los Angeles than in 41 at last caught up with the grave children of ten, velled

SAY not, but many Ginger I

Rogers, Jane Russell, yor, 41-Individual States,

and that more and more people women and drum majorettes people have been wrong Yvonne de Carlo, and 100 more.

are going in for "something speak here and apparently about Los Angeles. The Ho is probably the world's You can eat, drink, attend a

modern in the way of tomb- and although cinema or concert, put. money stones. Flower ornaments are We could not afford to acquit bewitch thousands. There critics said it was blowing richest bachelor Straffen if we wish the law of are giant tenta and huge itself up so big it would ex- have marched through his life without ever leaving your car weren't so popular. The "novelty a procession of beautiful women in the bank or draw money out also back a few years ago they murder to bye administored

with plode like a giant balloon. they have been marched again in Los Angeles. Fewer motor of the season is the plastic through juries and adequately auditoriums decked

signs: We cannot afford to flashing

cars might solve the smog blossom-tulips, hortensies" and "Jesus They also said it would die by Hughe

problem.

geraniums, so well imitated, say hang him, unless we wish to be Saves, God Beckons-Out of thirst because there was

the makers; that "bees mistako reproached with the execution standing. Stupendous."

no water. But Los Angeles,

The abundance of oil and the| them". of a fellow human being whose

Does the ballyhoo do any which loves fountains and

astonishing number of olf der TO one has caught Hughes ricks poaalbly contributes to the THE "guides" of Montmartre, Bay possibly, but most sprays, tapped the Colorado Angelenos say the general River at a cost of $800,000,- Hollywood's and Broadway's Angelos there is a reek of oil, make a living by steering result is good.

Today he Wilshire's Miracle Mile is said foreign visitors round. Paris by

Hollywood Park,

lookout people,

Place Irate the place one of the which has a yearly

$600.0

,000,000,

Pigalle *kingly or in pairs. world's, most exciting. People worth of orders. He owns AKO surrounded by

British (nd Bihor, visitors have Pictures

most of the time

fallen into a new and awkward by the recent report of the Com- I HAVE attended one or come here for a visit and stay

habit two meetings and haven't, until they die, although this is occasionally be sells it and then mission on Capital Punishment,

of touring the mo ** buys it back for lear money... mve not, on the whole, won the heard

with the unlikely in my case,

champagne circuit in conch You

it he owns oil wells, great blocks the Angoleno annoy support of practical opinion......... appeal of Billy Graham. you i say:

They Some

scramble apartments, hotels, banks, but Venice, where men had

from the coach film capital."

built What the Straffen casa does

ly he's never satisflod. Angeles embraces Holly-

canals for and imported into a nightspot, the muldes, alleged cham lustrate is loss a defect of the Grahams and most law than the falliblity of a sincere, but, there is too wood and will probably always He mys: "Id like to live to gondolas and gondollers, in- up a giher, of

clasp it tight to its panting be 300, I never want to die,"

which 1 litrally swim- hustled on othe

spot for the D the Hollywood...

a com "It Howard lives to be 300 ming in oil: (The Bridges are

my Los Angeles catches more there'll be nothing left for any decaying how over bar what certainly lang

doned canale¦ because ) the men- amidou Serap a fish than Boston or Gloucester: one ale podat

sembles a more : motor - cars | Hughes la 48 and, after look anywhere, except Detroiting over his achievements asia

makse: | more" tyres thin (juny, tycoon and bla wICORNE

obviously diminished by a con-harm? Serious clergymen swimming pools and graden for keeps, though most of smog. In many parts of Lothe characters who try to

If the resulting compromise

soems to men of science or oven to the academic kwyer to be Illogical, one can only reply that law is not an exact science, and that the various alternative sug» gestions, notably those proposed

In sincerity

anyone

are

000 and now says it has lovelies have tried,

the

enough water for 10,000,000 haunted-looking man. He owns Howhere on 106 on a holidaymakers, on the

restless, somewhat 10 od odds and night are on the rampage when

the Hughes' 'Aircraft Company, horno called: Co Aerrick #2 is for fun turned up' In ́tho'

Venice gives up

minor-league the m"Of course, this is still of stocks, a couple of airlines, #TUERE is a little place called. of '40° and 50...

are

014

modical opinion which is often much hoopla and vrazzle-: heart, but it is a lot more than › His; friends, and enensies” 'kayılza org-lo, make it alwaterway: pagne ?. rumba önce sandĄ-BEN

was only after the event, and dazzle at many of the absence at the time of ade- quato security precautions at revivals,

Broadmoor, a weaknem, which, Our coloured cook is items, has now happily been passionate revivalist and

nounced to me:. television tonight. Thomas Find Bea: me." Sure: Julia was on tel

John