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wracow aye oN oi IM a: ——en eo, AYE Ti ™ ecmA a me iI29Uey 4 By MIEJAM OTTENBERG Star Mal! Writer al | ‘The tortuous trafl of the Dts-— trict’s criminal insanity decisions has finallly led to the Supreme Court. For more than seven years, the high court left undisturbed both the Durham rule broadening the criminal insanity defense and the law compelling hospital commit- ment for those acquitted via the Durham rule, Irdnically, although ‘most of the controversy has swirled around thi Durham rule, it's the commitmen w that comes under attack orthcoming arguments before th upreme Court. The Durham decision of 19 rovided that an accused cannot be held criminally responsible for his act if it was the product of @ mental disceease ar defect, - - & ments. Ciseast or \ The Iaw, passed % months later, provided that an accused , found not guilty by reason of in- sanity had to go to a mental hos- Pital and stay there until the hospital superintendent certified { that he had recovered his sanity and would no longer be a danger © to himself and others. Under the 1 1955 law, the recommended release ‘had to be approved by the court. 283 Sent te Hospital a Prom the passage of the law to June 30 of last year, 283 persons hed been acquitted on insanity grounds and sent to the hospital. In the same period, 92 were re- leased either conditionally amas con BOUAN 0 A1962 | | ee aN, ao QV” . l— Jot RECORDED 45 JAN 18 1962 i -—_—— ae Trotter Tele Room ___ | Ingram Gandy The Washington Post and Times Herald The Woshington Daily News. The Evening Star ee Now York Herald Tribune New York Journal-Ameftican New York Mirror New York Daily News New York Post The New York Times The Worker The New Leader ; The Wall Streep 1ebmal —__- | ee tat Pek Be Bm REG- 10 | (22 - ABS Be