Insanity and Czolgosz

It is both amusing and pathetic to see the display of psychic erudition in the treatment of the miserable degenerate recently transferred from Buffalo to Auburn. There was no more reason for the theatrical exhibition of the so-called insanity tests, such as that of an expert “looking steadily and piercingly” in the criminal’s eyes for several minutes to discover his insanity, than in looking “steadily” at the nepatic region to discover biliousness, or touching his morbid [270][271] bump to see if he winced. There is too much quackery in these placebos to sentiment, and it is no wonder the “plea of insanity” has fallen into disrepute. The guilty wretch has carried out his instructions, the purpose of his clan, and it needs no psychological expert to determine the vis a tergo when the act itself conforms with the foundation of all anarchistic tenets. He should be quietly dealt with according to law, and not given over to the use of advertisers, thus inciting other degenerates to imitate him and use insanity as a cloak for defense.