The PEOPLE v. Franklin

On January 16, 1964, defendant, John Franklin, 18, indicted for murder, appeared before Judge Harewood of the circuit court of Cook County. Due to the age of the defendant and the seriousness of the crime, the judge ordered that he be subjected to a Behavior Clinic examination by Dr. William Haines. A report was subsequently returned to the court stating that Franklin suffered from a “sociopathic personality disturbance”, but that he could understand the nature of the charges pending against him and that he was able to co-operate with counsel in the preparation of his defense.

On April 9,…