UNJUST JUSTICE

Twelve men, honest and intelligent citizens of the Commonwealth of New Jersey, stood before a prisoner's dock on Monday night and, gazing steadfastly at a youth whose short existence has proved a muddle to himself and a menace to others, condemned him to death. Thus have they rid themselves of any popular conviction of injustice. In their opinion society will be better without the presence of this one disordered mind. No complaint, therefore, will arise from those who saw in the different outcome of a similar case in Chicago the absolute "miscarriage of justice". This court and its jurors have done their duty.

Yet duty like other general terms is often misconstrued. A whole creed and one which has had no little effect on human history is based on the value of each human life. So there are those who doubt the ultimate truth of this verdict. The courts of law at best deal rather inadequately with those criminals who are obviously sane. But when such a case as this boy's who has always been the wandering, misunderstanding victim of a cerebral insufficiency comes before the bar of justice, then the limitations of human law stand fully revealed.

Slowly, with infinite care, the vast spaces of the insane are being plotted by science. Every day new data are recorded, new hypotheses proved. But until the time comes when all this vast field is completely charted, justice must continue to grope blindly in the path of duty. Of course the New Jersey jury were sincere. Of course they acted as best they could in the light of their poor knowledge. But the accuracy of their decision must continue a mystery until this variable, this indeterminate insanity is brought by science within the understanding of human justice.