The Sun.
London, England, 1847-01-18 00:00:00

SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, JANUARY 18, 1847.

...
ON THE STATISTICS OF CRIME.
The paper read before the Statistical Section of the
British Association, at their great meeting at Southamp-
ton in September last, by F. P. Neison, Esq., has since
been published in the Statistical Journal.
This most admirtit le and elaborate paper, presenting an
analysis of crime in the several counties of England and
Wales for the years 1842, 1843, 1844, shows the relative
criminal state of manufacturing and sericulturel dis-
tricts, as well as of the population of different ages and
both sexes. By a most laborious series of corrections
and comparisons, it is not only proved that given ages
invariably produce given amounts of crime, compared
with the gross crime of the whole population ; but, also,
that there is an index, and only one, by which crime
may be computed, and this is the grade of education of
the population.
This curious discovery must have the most important
results, when made known generally, for it proves that
ignorance is the parent of crime, and that even the small
amount of primary education obtained by our working
classes raises them comparatively above the commission
of legal offences. Thus it appears from the general ac-
count of crimes committed, there are 21 female to 100
male criminals, and only 19 female to 100 male criminals
between the ages of 20 to 29. Again, of male population
1 in every 336 commits a crime annually, while only 1 in
1,581 females has been charged with offences; showing
the tendency to crime of our males to be about five to
one of that of our females.
The vast importance of influencing the character of
boys from 15 to 20 is deducible from the above, for that
period is the one giving the greatest amount of crime
(except the succeeding five years from 20 to 25, which
gives about ten per cent. more), the numbers being from
15 to 20, 16,534, and from 20 to 25, 18,056. Crime,
from this time of life, among mules, decreases at the
rate of about 33 per cent. for every quinquennial period
of life. The results to be expected from evening schools,
reading-rooms, lectures, and cheap libraries for the in-
struction and innocent amusement of males- from 15 to
25, under these circumstances, become more important,
as having a direct es well as indirect action on crime:
far more every greater effort for giving moral and re-
ligious impressions. Hitherto youth has been greatly
neglected at this period of lite; the only efforts at edu-
cation and religious training being made previous-to the
fifteenth year, efforts generally ceasing altogether when
the tendency to crime rises to its greatest intensity. By
a comparison of counties (tables being drawn- up for
each), we find in the manufacturing counties, Lancaster
giving crimes fie. all ages, 1 in 290 inhabitants; Stafford,
1 in 268; Leicester, 1 in 246; Warwick, 1 in 236;
Worcester, 1 in 221. While of the purely agricultural
counties—Sussex. 1 in 362; Westmoreland, 1 in 1,040;
Oxford, 1 in 302; Hants, 1 in 342; Dorset. 1 in 456;
Cornwall, 1 in 762; Cumberland, 1 in 1,061. It the
whole group (says Mr. N icon) of the great northern
and midland mining and manufacturing districts be
taken, it aill be seen that there is exactly 2.3 per cent.
less crime than would be according to the average for all
England and Wales; while in the agricultural counties
there is an excess of 51 per cent. Again, if the various
groups of the manufacturing and mining districts be ex-
amined, it will be found that in the northern mining
districts, which includes Cumberland, Northumberland,
and Durham, crime is 52.1 per cent. below the average,
and in the cotton and woollen manufacturing districts,
including Lancashire and Yorkshire, crime is 7 per cent.
under the average of the whole country. But on the
other hand, in the two remaining districts, the one com-
posing the cotton, woollen, and lace fabric district, in-
cluding Chester, Derby, Nottingham, and Leicester, and
the other composing the hardware, pottery, and glass
manufacturing districts, including Staffordshire, War-
wickshire, and Worcestershire, there is an excess of
crime of 8.5 per cent. in the former, and 33.5 per cent.
in the latter, above the average of the whole kingdom.
Contrasting the various sections of the agricultural
group with them, they will bo seen to present a remark.
able uniformity. The excess of crime in the first division
being 51 per cent., in the second 5.7 per cent., and in
third 6.8 per cent., while the excess for the whole of the
agricultural districts combined has been shown to be
51 per cent. It is evident that there is something in
the mining and manufacturing condition of the people
having a powerful influence in regulating the amount
of crime; as in one portion, including Staffordshire and
Worcestershire, there is an excess of 33.5 per cent.;
while in another, consisting of Cumberland, Northum-
berland, and Durham, crime is 52 per cent. below the
average. A group of counties, having the smallest ratio
of agriculturists, gives a ratio of crime 4.6 per cent.
above the average. Another in which the ratio of agri-
culturists is the highest, also 4.6 above the average; the
highest ratio of manufacturers 17.7 per cent. of crime
above the average; least ratio of manufacturers 21 less
than the average ; agriculture and manufacture equal,
4.5 above the average. Counties of the greatest wealth
—i. e , having the greatest number of inhabitants of in-
dependent means, B'B less than the average, and those of
' the least wealth P 1 below the average.
There is no satisfactory test of education, but if the
autograph signature of names in marriage registers, com-
pared with the number of marks, be considered some-
thing approaching to it, we may obtain this, and apply
it to the average of crime in different districts. Now,
the average of those males who make their marks, to
those who sign their names in marriage registers, since
the New Marriage Act, is 33 per cent.
It will be recollected, too, that the age of the greatest
crime and of the greatest number of marriages is about
similar. Mr. Neison has prepared a variety of tables
showing groups of counties Which have the greatest
number of marks, giving also their average of crime.
From these it appears that in the first group, containing
Lancaster, Stafford, Monmouth; Chester, and Warwick,
where the greatest ratio of marks is found, the highest
amount of crime exists; while in a group of Durham,
Surrey, Northumberland, Derby, Gloucester, where the
least ratio of marks exists, there also the crime is consi-
derably below the average of England.
Taking the eleven most agricultural counties, we find
those which give the greatest amount of marks exceed
in the ratio of crime as 16 is to 15; while those which
have the least amount of marks (though some are a
little over the average) show a ratio of crime just above
the average. ,
In the table of the ten greatest manufacturing counties
(including Middlesex), the greatest number of marks
(indicating the least education) is again, accompanied by
crime in excess above the averge of 24.8 per cent., or
excluding Lancashire, 48 per cent.; in, the section of
highest education the excess of crime is 24.2 per cent.,
and excluding Middlesex only 16.4 per cent. Again, in
the table of least manufactuing counties, the excess of
41 of crime exists with least education, and with highest
education crime is 31 below the average.' In the ma-
nufacturing group of counties it is seen that in the sec-
tion of least education crime is 15.8 per cent. above the
average, but in the section of most education 7.2 per
cent. below the average; in the prominently agricultural
counties, with the lowest grade of education, crime is in
excess 10 4 per cent., but where the highest grade of
education exists crime is below the average 2-6-per cent.,
and in every instance it appears, after examining a
variety of combinations in the tables, that an -increase
' of crime is associated with a low state of education. All
the other combinations and arrangements made to deter-
mine the actual element in the increase and decrease of
crime were unsuccessful, and produced no satisfactory
result ; in fact, they did not lead to the discoiery of
any condition or circumstances of' life which was peculiar
to one district more than another, as affording an index
of crime; but as soon as the educational test is intro-
duced, it immediately analyses groups and districts into
a uniform and regular series, which before showed the
most contradictory results. If a few exceptions- ap-
peared, they might suggest the propriety of a still fur-
ther refinement in the analysis, but the regularity is so
remarkable, that it immediately becomes evident that
one very powerful element, at least, has been deter•
mined, and one on which leg.slatian and preventive
measures may easily be founded for the reduction of
crime and the elevation of the moral condition of the
people. .

RESTORATIoN OF LLANDAFF

iMYSTERIOUS DEATH AT HAM-
! - MERSMITH.
On Saturday the inquiry in this case again resumed.
Mr. Howell, a solicitor, of Welshpool, attended to
watch the proceedings on behalf of deceased's family ;
and Inspector Morgan, T division, and Sergeant Scot-.
ney, T 21, on the part of the police.
The first witness called was—
Anne %V heeler, a middltteaged female, whose face bore
evidence of her having been engaged in a terrible en-
counter with some person, both eyes being blackened
down to the middle of the cheek, the other portions of
her face showing bruises and lacerations, extending
down to her neck. She had an infant, about two
months old, in her arms. She deposed that she was a
bingle woman, and had livrd with the deceased as his
wife for nearly fir years. On the night of Saturday,
the 9th inst., she went to bed about three o'clock. The
deceased bad fits in the daytime, and had become right
afterwards. At three o'clock deceased west down stairs
to get a pipe, when he told her to get into bed to the two
children, which she did. Deceased remained down stairs
about a quarter of an hour, and then came up and sat
down by the fire and smoked his pipe until about four
o'clock in the morning. Did not then see him again
until five o'clock, when she heard his son say, " He's
gone I he's gone !" and she instantly jumped up and
untied the handkerchief, and loosened his neck and laid

him on the floor.
By the Jury—Deceased and witness had quarrelled in
the afternoon of Saturday, but not that night. The son
did not inflict the injuries on witness's face.
Mr. Thomas Griffiths, surgeon, deposed that he had
made a post mortem examination of the body of the de-
ceased, and from the appearbnces he found he had not
the slightest doubt that the deceased died from strangu-
lation, arising from hanging. Deceased was a remarkably
fine man ; witness had never before seen a person with
muscular power more fully developed.
Tne DEPUTY-CORONER—Are you quite sure, from the
examination you have made of the body of the deceased,
that he could not have been strangled by others, and
placed by them in the position in which he was found ?
Mr. Griffiths—l am quite sure on that point.
A Juror--Suppesing that the deceased became acci-
dentally strangled, during one of the fits to which he was
subject, and that
produced insensibility, would not the
appearances he had described be the same ?
Mx Griffiths replied that he should doubt that the
deceased was strangled during a fit which might produce
insensibility. as the marks showed that strangulation had
occurred during life.
Mr. Howell then addressed -the Deputy-Coroner,
saying, thut from the information he had received, he
believed that means had been employed by.the son and
Wheeler to iefluence the deceased to draw up a will in
her favour. He bad come up there on the part of the
deceased's family, in consequence of another will, which
was in the hands of Mr. Howell, at Welshpol, to see to
the funeral of the deceased, but he found that a subse-
quent will had been executed by which Wheeler would
be largely benefited, as she was to receive 501. immedi-
ately, and also a sum of 521. per annum. By that will,
he was precluded acting. There was, however, an
informality in it.
The DEPUTY-CORONER here interrupted Mr. Howell,
by, saying that he could not go into that part of the in-
quiry, that was a matter which must be settled in another
Court.
Mr. Rimell deposed that he was a butcher, and that on
Saturday evening defendant came to his shop about ten
o'clock; he was very rational, but much excited. De-
ceased said he had been very much ill treated in his
house, and that he would get rid of the set he had about
him; and that if witness knew the state of his heart he
would pity him. Witness believed deceased's excite-
ment arose from Wheeler having had meat at witness's
shop without his knowledge. Witness was not surprised
when he heard that deceased had destroy ed himself.
Thomas Richards was next examined, and corrobo-
rated the evidence of the son and Wheeler, and swore
most positively that there was no scuffling in the bed-
room during the night.
Elizabeth Richards deposed that she lived next door to
the deceased. Oil the: night in question, while she was
in bed, she heard violent scuffling in the deceased's bed-
room, which was only separated by a thin partition. It
commenced about eight o'clock in the evening, but from
nine o'clock there was great disturbance until about half-
past three o'clock on the Sunday morning. Deceased
and Wheeler talked very loud. It was about the trades-
men's books. It commenced about some beef and beer
which had been put down without deceased's knowledge.
Wheeler swore she had not had it. Deceased went out,
about it, and returned, saying she had had it, but she
again swore that she had not.
The DEPUTY-CORONER here asked Mrs. Richards if
she did not think from what she had heard that the de-
ceased had died by his own act?--Mrs. Richards replied
she did not think the deceased had hung himself.
The DEPUTY-CORONER said that was all imagination.
There they had before them the evidence of a medical
gentleman of known ability and character, who had
most positively expressed his conviction that deceased
had hung himself. He would not go into the case any
further, and if the parties were not satisfied they might
take the matter to the police court. The Deputy-Coroner
then proceeded to address the jury, contending that there
was full evidence before them that the deceased had hung
himself, and desired those jurors who were in favour of
a verdict—" That the deceased hung himself, being at
the time in an unsound state of mind," should hold up
their hands, and that those in favour of—"Feund
hanging, but how he became so, or the state of his mind
at the time, there was not sufficient evidence to show,"
to hold up tlxeire. Two hands only were held up for the
first verdict, and seven for the second. The other jurors
did not vote.
.•?,trangers were then ordered to withdraw.
During the interim, Mr. Howell took the witness
Harrison into another room and questioned her very
closely as to what she had heard, and at the conclusion
he said there must be another further examination into
the matter, which was a most mysterious one.
The public were re-admitted in about half an hour, and
The De.PUTY-CoBONRR said the jury had returned a
verdict, " That the deceased had died from hanging, by
his own act, and that he was in a state of unscund mind
at the time he committed the deed."
The verdict excited the greatest surprise.

THE WEATHER and the PARKS.

immersion occurred to a gentleman named Puttick, re-
siding in High-street, Marylebone, who having received
attention at the marquee was enabled to go , home.
During the day a great number of persons were severely
wounded by falls, and were surgically attended at the
marquee.

----
POLICE INTELLIGENCE.
MANSION-HOUSE.
The Lord Mayor gratefully expressed his receipt of
101. for the poor box, from the Fishmongers' Company,
and requested our reporter to give notice to that effect
in a paragraph.
THE LATE RAILWAY SHARE CASE.—The following
will supply an accidental omission in the report of the
proceedings in the justice-room on Friday.
Mr. Margetson, after the discharge of the three per-
sons who were charged with having conspired to defraud
him of 100/., stated to the Lord Mayor that he con-
sidered it but fair to assure his Lordship that the gentle-
man named Richard Fennell, who resided in Alderman-
bury, and who had introduced Mr. Scanlan to him, was
altogether blameless in the transaction. Mr. Fennell ap-
prehended that an unfavourable impression had been
made by the public mention of his name in connexion
with this affair, and hoped that justice would he done to
his character by the candid acknowledgment of the com-
plainant that he had not the most remote idea of any
dishonourable intention on the part of Mr. Scanlan,
whom he had introduced.
The LORD MAYOR said he was persuaded that there
would be no hesitation on the part of the press to give
publicity to the statement made by Mr. Margetson.
MARLBOROUGH-STREET.
CAUTION TO OMNIBUS CONDUCTORS.—John Long, a
conductor of one of the Islington to Chelsea omnibuses,
was charged with having wilfully deceived a lady with
respect to the route of his vehicle.
The complainant said she was in company with
another lady at the time she hailed the defendant in
Holborn, and inquired if he went to Tottenham-court-
road. The defendant replied in the affirmative, and
complainant and friend got into the omnibus. The de-
fendant set her down in Piccadilly, and when remon-
strated with in reference to the deception practised,
merely laughed at them. The complainant said there
was a notice on the omnibus, showing the route to be by
way of Tottenham-court-road, but this notice the con-
ductor took off and placed under the seat.
The defendant said he did not hear the lady ask if he
went to Tottenham court-road, otherwise he should not
have taken her into the omnibus.
Mr. HAnDwicKE said the conduct of the defendant in
deceiving the lady as to the route of his omnibus was
quite inexcusable. It was fortunate for him that the
second lady was not present to prefer a similar complaint,
otherwise he should have inflicted a second fine of equal
severity. For the offence, as proved by evidence, he
should fine the defendant 20s. and costs,
LAMBETH.
STURDY BEICIARS.—Two Poles, one of whom desig-
nated himself as Count Dombicki, and falsely represents
himself to be the cousin to the last King of Poland, and
Joseph Raciboski, both of them regular and impudent
cadgers, were finally examined on a charge of going to
the houses of several gentlemen in the neighbourhood of
Streatham, obtruding themselves into the houses, and
asking subscriptions in so impudent a tone and manner
as to alarm several ladies. The worthies have been
frequently sent to the tread-mill for a similar offence,
and on re occasion the count was accompanied in his
victimising
excursions by a young lady not more than
25 (he himself being at least 60), who represented her-
self as the countess.
The Gentleman who is secretary to the Association
of the Friends of Poland, said that the prisoners had
been assisted by the Association until they ascertained
their character, and they then declined to have any-
thing further to do with them. They were gross im-
postors, their characters the most disreputable, and were
not, in fact, entitled to the slightest sympathy. Their
conduct, he said, brought great shame and disgrace upon
their exiled countrymen, and he begged to take that
opportunity of saying that every one of those persons
who, like the prisoners, had represented themselves as
Poles, and solicited relief, were, to a man, impostors ;
for he was happy to say that every Pole of good cha
racter was afforded sufficient from the funds of the So-
ciety—at the head of which were the highest people in
this country—to keep them from resorting to such a
mode of living, andihe therefore thus publicly wished to
warn the public against being imposed upon by such
persons.
Mr. NORTON, after remarking upon the impudent
conduct of the prisoners, sentenced them to three
months' imprisonment, with hard labour, and added that
he should take care to have their conviction returned to
and recorded at the Quarter Sessions, so that if brought
up again on a similar offence they might be treated as
felone.