EDITORIALS. ANNUAL MEETING OF THE PENNSYLVANIA BRANCH [The following brief account of the proceedings of the recer annual meeting of the Pennsylvania branch of the Institute is from Mr. Edwin M. Abbott, retiring Secretary of the State Society and Secretary of the National organization. Other matters presented at that meeting will be published later in the Journal. ED.] The annual meeting of the Pennsylvania Branch of the American Institute of Criminal Law and Criminology was held at the City Club, Philadelphia, on Wednesday, March 15, 1916, at 6:30 p. m. President Lichtenberger presided, and a most interesting program was carried out. At the election of officers for the ensuing year, Professor Louis N. Robinson of Swarthmore College was chosen President; Hon. William H. Staake, Judge of Common Pleas No. 5 of Philadelphia County, First Vice-President; Dr. Richard H. Harte, Second Vice-President, and Hon. Robert J. Sterrett, Assistant United States District Attorney, as Secretary and Treasurer, while the old Board of Directors were all re-elected. Dr. Alfred Gordon of Philadelphia read a most interesting paper on the subject "Mental Deficiency and the Importance of Its Recognition from a Medico-Legal Standpoint." In the discussion that followed many interesting facts were brought out, and those who participated were Professor Edwin R. Keedy of the University of Pennsylvania, Judge William H. Staake, Edwin M. Abbott, Esq., Hon. Maurice J. Speiser, Assistant District Attorney of Philadelphia; Mrs. Rippan, Chief Probation Officer of Philadelphia, and H. R. Richardson of the Juvenile Court. The peculiar fact brought out was that there is no legal standing in a criminal trial where the defendant is feeble-minded and cannot be classified as insane, and therefore cannot come within the line of defense which would excuse the action which constituted the criminal offense. The suggestion was made that there should be established a defense at law of "Feeble-Minded and Partially Irresponsible." This plea could be raised either before or after a conviction to be best determined by a consultation of those interested. The defendant would then be under the control of the court, and placed in an institution or on probation and carefully watched and encouraged. Dr. Walter H. Cornell delivered an address on "A Standardized System of Justice to Determine the Status of Feeble-Minded." This was an interesting and descriptive exposition of the entire subject of feeble-minded children as well as adults, and was illustrated by charts and record sheets which the Juvenile Court of Philadelphia has recognized in arriving at a solution of this difficult problem. Dr. Cornell was of the opinion that the final solution of this problem is still far in the distance, but that great strides are being made toward acquiring some better insight into the present condition of affairs and that great benefits have been derived from the institution of the system which is now being followed in the Juvenile Court. PROGRAM OF THE EIGHTH ANNUAL MEETING OF THE The eighth annual meeting of the Institute will convene on Tuesday, August 29, 1916, in the English room at the Congress Hotel in Chicago, Illinois. Following is the program as it stands at present.— [Ed.] FIRST SESSION, TUESDAY, August 29th, 1916, at 10 A. M. Annual Address of President Ira E. Robinson. Report of Secretary. Report of Treasurer. Report of Executive Board. Report of Committee on "Insanity and Criminal Responsibility.” Edwin R. Keedy, Chairman. Discussion. Report of Committee on "Probation and Suspended Sentence." Arthur W. Towne, Chairman. Discussion. Report of Committee on "Modernization of Criminal Procedure." Robert W. Millar, Chairman. Discussion. Report of Society of Military law. Henry W. Ballantine, Secretary. SECOND SESSION-2 P. M. Report of Committee on "Crime and Immigration." Robert Ferrari, Chairman. Discussion. Report of Committee on "Sterilization of Criminals." Joel D. Hunter, Chairman. Discussion. |