The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-07-28
OrrAwA, Canada, July rs, 1870.


We have In Canada supped full of horrors aud
batiated ourselves with sensations this week. /
pass over such trvialities as fires, whose lurid
blaze was seen at distance OF ninety miles;
thunder storms tornad0es that unroofod houses
and sent the stoutst trees crashing limbless, men
loft plackened attestatons of the lightning power
dead on The road or In the furrow; husbandmen
impaled on pitchforks, men with arms wrenched
of by machinery, cases of drowning In harDor,
and stabbing ARRAYS between sailors. Instances
of all these have sickened the reader within the
past few da va In quiet Canada. 1t Is not often,
however. that it is the good fortune of
spondent to have placed at his disposal four good
murders about each of which there are circum-
stances which may be, In the parlance of the
pulpit, improved" Such, however, Is the case
to-day, as will shortly be seen.
II Is too often the case with Canadian journalists
to ignore the law of averages and to forget that
there is
"A PERCENTAGE OF MURDER IN THE PUREsT MAN.
This theory is forced upon our acceptance by
statistics beyond contradiction or impeachment
Given conditions of society almost equal, and the
annual rate of murder per million of the popula.
ton win not be found to vary one.fortietn.. In
France, England, Austria Prussia, Germany and
the Netherlands long and carefully prepared
records show that the murder roll for any year in
amy one of the countries can be foretold with
wonderful accuracy. In Italy and Spain the
averages run much higher, as might be expected.
1t is just like tho fatal accidents to passengers in
the streets of London, whore so many must infal
libby be crushed and mangled in one week, or the
rules Of statistics will be proved incorrect, which
lis impossible. 1t is the popular thing in Canada
to assume that the rate of murder, burglary, &C.
duction, adultery, incest, embezzlement, b.
hemian journalism and other analogous crimes
lis much higher in the States than IN
Canada. Editors felicitate themselves on
the fact that monarchy means morality,
and that republcanism is but q synonym for
rapine and red-handed murder. They claim that
there is ten times much crime in the States as
lin Canada. So there is. But there is also ten
times as much population.
I have carefully kept the bloody record for the
last three years, taking the HERALD as the blue
book, red book, Newgate Calendar, Almanac de
Gotha and general mirror Of America. I have
compiled accurately
THE BLooD-RED ROLL
from its special correspondence and kilograms,
while, on the other hand, have taken such figures
rs were presented me from the weekly perusal Of
probably thousand Canadian journals. I pro.
pose, at some not distant date, to dwell" upon
this subject at some length in the HERALD, if per-
mtted. 1t may suffice for the present to say that,
allowing small margin for unreported, and
assuming the population of the States to be forty
millions and that of Canada four, the records for
three years show the following result
Murders committed in the States $50 to 100 in
Canada, of total population.
Eastern States 100, as against lob in Canada,
not including New York city.
northwestern States l0O as against l0l in
Canada.
America, as compared with European average
OF six nations and lao 900 of souls, l0s to 100.
So that between Canada and the States we have
a difference of about thirty per cent. of which
much must.be allowed for urban populations, the
vast excess ofproperty, which increases crime; the
new mining countries where lawlessness prevails,
and the violent elements supernduced by freeing
so many slaves and the regency of war. The grand
average only varies eight per cent from the accu-
rate records of Europe
We are, then, entitled to assume that in
every human organization lies latent
theft. Figures prove it, or, at least give
a result which no other hypothesis will
satisfy. 1t would, therefore. be interesting to
watch how infallby the bloody total comes out,
to see who are the men out Of one million who
must be killed by this day next year, unless ave-
rage is wrong, which is about as likely as that
Two ana TWO SnOuQ cease 10 make Jour, OF tQaL
the sun-or the HERALD-should fail to appear of
morning by breakfast time. But Providence
takes care of that. When a sufficient number of
lives is not being taken on the railroads and rivers
UP comes the mysterious agency OF Providence,
in the shape of the Erie Railway, or Mississippi
horror, and things are all right again. Thus the
profound philosopher may see how even Jubilee
Jim or Captain Tom feathers may be an instru
ment of Divine Providence. And thus Pantin
or Marshall tragedy brings up the CHASTITY ave-
rage of murder.
Thus it was in Canada fortnight ago. We were
falling behind in our average,
MORE MURDERS HAD TO BE DONE
ana how they accomplished successfully
the HERALD correspondent will now proceed to
show At Kingston, Ontario, is the great Provin-
cal Penitentiary, the Sing Sing of Canada. Its
numerous warders, its high walls, its memorable
bolts and bars seem to defy escape Of any misera-
Die unit Of the eight wretched hundreds who are
here had in custody. And yet there are occa.
.ioual escapes or attempted escapes. 1t is only
few months since rising was attempted, and one
hapiess convict was shot dead by the carbine OF
guard. The labor of many of these men is let
out to contractors, who employ them in making
shoes, in cabinet work, &C. Many more are en-
ployed in quarryng rock and in erecting the walls
OF lunatc asylum, or toll to build cells which,
haply, their children may occupy. These quarry
men are worked in small gangs at some distance
from the Penitentary in charge of armed guards,
each bearing gun and revolver. The system is
loose and the avenue Of possible murder is thus
Kept unbarred
FAMILY IN PRISON
In this Penitentiary was immured, some time
ago, for the crime Of HOUSEKEEPING, an entire
family--father, mother and son. Their name was
Mann. The son, David, is aged about thirty.fve,
a slight, nersous man, with sharp features, keen
eyes, a nose bent as If from a blow, and dark,
snaky hair His mother Is still confined In one OF
the women's wards his father died in the Peni.
Tertiary He had been to the States and seems to
have behaved well there, although in Canada he
belonged to rough gang, known as the Malahde
raiders.
). James Smith is short and thick-set man, light
haired with heavy countenance such man as
could readily be inspired by superior intellect.
He was born near Kingston, is thirty.six years
old. and had served half of his time Of six years
for cattle stealing His father died many years
ago, and his old mother is now in the United