Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 01.pdf/364

Rh In his political views Mr. Lincoln is, of course, a deep and strong Republican. As to the matter of candidacy, it is clear, from Mr. Lincoln's past action, that he believes the people should seek the man whom they wish to fill an office, and that a man should not look upon a vacant office as a prize for which to strive and to be secured if possible by inducing the public or those in power to bestow it upon him. In this respect he differs from politicians of the present, and reminds one of the time when the Roman Dictator was called from his ordinary occupation, and asked to take charge of the public welfare. Mr. Lincoln is devoted to the practice of the law, and has no desire to leave it for any position however honorable; but all those who know him and know his record cannot but feel that the oftener he is called upon to serve the public the better it will be for the public good.

EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES.

F the strange and whimsical motives which determine French juries in the discovery of extenuating circumstances (les circonstances atténuantes), very curious instances are recorded. From the generally accepted representation of the Gallic character, we might have supposed that sentimental considerations would exercise great influence, and that enthusiasm or even fanaticism for religion, liberty, glory, or ambition, though carried out in deplorable excesses, would find mercy tempered with justice; but on examination a different line of argument appears to be in usage, and the more horrid, unnatural, and extraordinary the crime, the more attenuated is the guilt. Whether the guiding principle is that monstrous crimes are better evidence of mental aberration or irresponsibility than small ones, we cannot pretend to say, but assuredly the history of half-a-dozen cases selected at random from the records of the French tribunals would warrant such an idea.

Some years ago an innkeeper and his wife were tried for having murdered a traveller while lodging in their house, and further, for having made part of his body into sausages, with which they duly regaled succeeding customers. These singularly revolting accusations were clearly proved, and the jury returned a verdict of "guilty, but without premeditation, and under extenuating circumstances!" The landlord (thoughtlessly, without doubt) stabbed his guest; the wife unthinkingly cut the body up into sausages, and in a fit of absence of mind served them up to other visitors. For such an extraordinary verdict no other explanation occurs to us at this moment than that the admiration of the jury must have been unnaturally excited by the economy and thriftiness so largely manifested by the innkeeper's wife.

In 1848 a man killed his mother, and then reduced the body to ashes in the fireplace. He was found guilty, but with "extenuating circumstances." A bare verdict of guilty was doubtless reserved in case any other man should advise himself to burn his mother before she was absolutely murdered.

In 1843 a servant-girl committed several robberies on her master and mistress, who, unwilling to prosecute her, contented themselves with giving her notice to leave. The girl profited by her short stay to poison them both. The jury found her guilty; but considering how much she must have been irritated at the prospect of being discharged, added that it was under extenuating circumstances.

About the same period a young woman, aged eighteen, who had not been married many months, happening to have had some lit-