The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-04-25
CRIME AND INEBRIETY.

An Important Paper by DIR. Elijah Har.
ris ON the Consequences OF Drunken
ness and its Relation to Crime-Action
. OF the National Temperance Society.
The National Temperance Society invited by cir
cular o number OF ladies and gentlemen, who met
yesterday in the parlors OF the Young Mems Chris
tian Association, to listen to paper by DR.. Elijah
Harris on ''The Connection OF Crime with Drunken
nessn Mr.. Aaron NJ. Powell. in the absence OF Mr..
W. f. Dodge, presided and introduced the reader.
There were present DR.. willard Parker, the Rev.
j. Willetts, superintendent Of the Kings County
Inebriates' Home and Mr.. Storms, Secretary OF the
National Temperance Association.
DR.. Elijah Harris, Secretary OF the Prison Asso-
citation OF New York, said that he was enabled to
speak rather boldly on this question: because he
had occasion to look at the inebriate and the
criminal as physician, and the most mournful
sented by the development that this condition Of
CRIMlNALITY AND DRUNKENNESS
was almost an or r IN the re-
cidental and chronic drunkenness did result
convicts in our State prisons and the Union
one-half OF them voluntarily enrol themselves as
tanned that eighty-iye per cent OF criminals were
Incorporate. Far more than half OF the criminals
in our State prisons had, he discovered by per.
strong drink. More than eighty per cent OF these
prisoners had been reasonably educated. Only
to home ties. A corrupted imagination, an absence
OF moral restraints and the loss OF hope and self
respect were all elements found to be promotIve
Ths the unfortunate '0na'0n o. the criminal classes
EARLY CLOSING OF LIQUOR STORES
in England on Saturday and Sunday nights had
shown great diminltion in the number OF crimes,
especially that q offences against the person. 1t
law. and the figures showing this in that con-
nexion were very remarkable During the present
the State the speaker had seen three Youths sem
fenced for arson. He interviewed each OF them
alone, and found that they were in the habit OF
EXCITED TO MISCHIEF,
and went into barn to steal and they afterwards
set II on fire. Sixteen persons the speaker had
in state prisons, in this State alone, each Of
killed two apiece. Three or these Were ALREADY con
fined as lunatics in one OF the criminal asylums Of
the State: The remaining thirteen cases were
rative showed that 1t would have been scarcely
possible for them to commit the crimes they were
than one-half OF the MURDERS manslaughters
arsons, &C., were traceable to the influence OF
drink directly. The conditions which drink brought
about were to
LOWER THE ACTION OF THE CONSCIENCE
and the will and to bring about state OF demon
ism. The necessity was, therefore, incumbent upon
every person Of sound mind and sound body TO do
all that was promotive OF that which was opposed
to alcoholic inebration. There was also the duty OF
regulating the sale and use OF that which was
proved to be so great an accessory to crime. Al
coholic drunkenness was clearly 80 great an injury
to the offender and the offspring, to families and 10
society, that II incumbent upon all who desired
the Improvement OF society to treat
DRUNKENNESS AS A CRIME,
and to control the CAUSES that are so greatly con-
tributary thereto. The resources OF educational
measures and all available sources OF moral and
spiritual influence must be brought to bear upon
this question OF drunkenness, and 1t was therefore
imperative that this should be taught in the public
schools. There SHOULD be provision by law 50 to
treat inebriates as to clearly deprive the COM
munity OF drunkenness. Until some strong hold
could be taken OF the drunkard, SO as to treat him.
in his relation to crime crimnally, little would be
done.
ACTION OF THE CONFERENCE.
The following resolutions were submitted to the
meeting and adopted
Resolved, That the time has when science, the
necessities OF civilization and the duty Christians and
enlightened citizens require that drunkenn branded
as dangerous form Of crime that in view both Of the
revelations OF science concerning alcohol poison,
and Of the statistics OF our prisons and penitentarie
crime II is the opinion OF this Conference that total alb
sinence from all alcoholic beverages is the only wise
and safe rule for the individual and the duty OF
legislators, State and NATIONAL sound public policy
conne the traffic in alcohol to the legitimate purposes
Of science, art and mechanism.
DR.. Mason, Dr. willard Parker and the Rev. J.
Willetts took part in the discussion ana the Con.
ference adjourned at about six O'Clock.