The author subjected to a thorough psychological examination a prisoner in a penal institution who had been convicted of murder. The subject of the examination suffered from chronic insanity with symptoms of schizophrenia. He had left his home in Europe because he was afraid that he might be compelled to murder his father. He found employment in a hotel at Buenos Ayres. One day, on being dismissed from this situation. he followed the impulse to kill his employer.

The writer shows how the whole behaviour of the patient, including the murder, was influenced by the Oedipus attitude of his childhood, Further he demonstrates the regressive, and especially the narcissistic, processes in the man's instinctual life. It is noteworthy to what an extent the author has grasped and made use of essential psycho-analytical points of view. It is greatly to be desired that similar endeavours should be made amongst us also to conduct psychological investigations of crime.