Quote: crimes of passion are not so great as premeditated crime, but no suddenness of passion is a total excuse; must cast your eye on the law

Quotation

A Crime arising from a sudden Passion, is not so great, as when the same ariseth from long meditation: For in the former case there is a place for Extenuation, in the common infirmity of humane nature; but he that doth it with premeditation, has used circumspection, and cast his eye, on the Law, on the punishment, and on the consequence thereof to humane society; all which in committing the Crime, hee hath contemned, and postposed to his own appetite. But there is no suddennesse of Passion sufficient for a totall Excuse: For all the time between the first knowing of the Law, and the Commission of the Fact, shall be taken for a time of deliberation; because he ought by meditation of the Law, to rectifie the irregularity of his Passions continually.   Google-1   Google-2

Published before 1923

Related Topics

Topic: government (35 items)
Topic: legal issues (21 items)