Penal Codes

Denmark, Italy and Mexico are all about to adopt new penal codes. Last week the relative sophistication of these countries appeared significantly from the different punishments recommended by their respective ministers of justice in cases of marital infidelity:

Denmark: No punishment.

Italy: Three years in jail for the guilty husband or wife.

Mexico: A husband who kills his rival or a wife who kills her rival shall not be liable to any punishment, but the killing shall be recorded, and, should the same killer slay a second rival, he or she may be tried for murder.

The Mexican Penal Code, promulgated to become effective Dec. 15, also makes it no crime for a father to slay both his deceived daughter and her deceiver.