THE LATE INQUEST.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IV, Issue 210, 7 September 1869, Page 2

THE LATE INQUEST.

To the Editor op the Nelson Evening Mail. Sir. — When any man puts an end to his life, there is a strong presumption of insanity. To commit an act at once revolting to our natural instincts and to our higher intellect, is not consistent with reason. Why ehould an attempt be made to enquire into the pecuniary circumstances of the deceased ? The questions which were made with a view to elicit evidence on this head signally failed in effect, and had they succeeded would have availe.i nothing to relieve the jury from the dilemma in wliich they were placed between their oath to give a true verdict, and their inclination to deliver a charitable one. We all pretty well know what will be the verdict-before the proceedings commence, because we know the disinclination of respectable citizens to charge a fellow-creature with self-murder under circumstances where common sense and British law alike hold him irresponsible for his acts. The question of sanity or the reverse was the only thing which it concerned any one to know whether he were or were not ONE OF THE JURY.