INFANTICIDE.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 234, 13 September 1884, Page 2

INFANTICIDE.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—lt now becomes a question of vital importance how mdeh longer this sort of thing is going to continue; or how much longer our legislators are going to wink at it and let it pass almost unnoticed ? According to telegraphic news another sad case has come to light. It is now time that something should be done; some measure passed in order to cope with the evil. Modern people speak very much against such practices being tolerated in ancient Rome; for it is said that even before birth children were permitted to be put to death. Can we, sir, in this high state of civilisation boast of anything much better ? The actions leading up to the crime are bad enough, but the crime itself is still worse. In many cases, perhaps owing to the sympathy that the jury may have towards the unfortunate female, they bring in a verdict of manslaughter, which means virtually a respite of capital punishment. Now, sir, I look upon this as a most necessary question to bring before the notice of the public.—l am, <fcc., Humanitus. [We have had to excise part of this letter, which was rather too scientific for an evening newspaper. —Ed.J