New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-04-25
THE CRIMINALS SPUR.


DIR. HARRIS TUE RELATION OF DRUNKENNESS TO
CRIME.
The Temperance Conference held yesterday after
noon in the parlors of the Young Mems Association
was well attended, number of persons prominently
identified with the cause being present among others
Dr. Willard Parker, DR.. Elisha Harris Secretary of
the New-York State Prison Association the Rev. A.
NJ Powell DR.. L. d. Mason of Brooklyn, the Rev.
John Willetts, Superintendent Of the Kings County
Inebhates' Home DR.. Palnel, DR.. Marmon of the
Kingsbridge Inebriato Asylum, J. n. Stearns, &c.
Dr. Harris read an interesting paper on The Actual
Relations between Drunkenness and Crime"
The fact as adduced In his investigations that great
majority Of criminals about 80 per cent he states.
addicted the habitual Of intoxicating drinks and
that large proportion Of crime is committed while the
perpetrators under their influence has led him TO the
conclusion that alcoholic liquor tends to incie crime aud
is responsible for 1t in great degree and consequently
that without theuse OF this exciting cause there would
be much less crime. Physologicaly he accounts for
this on the ground that alcohol taken into the system
inames the passions other smuants do not do. and
when drunk immoderately fires them 10 such an extent
AS 10 overcome oftentimes persons aud per
sonal control to lead HIM 10 commit some violent act
against himself others which his whole
ture would shrink from were no sober. In
proof OF this he cited n number Of cases
brought under his own observation during his tours
through tho State. Men naturally most peaceabe and
kindly In disposition had become demOnized by liquor
as murder those to whom they greatly
deared while others had been guilty OF arson. theft
saut and other crimes who, when SOBER most FREQ
from criminal intent. Alcoholic drinks are often
sorted to this account no stated by men who desire
10 psrpetrate foul act to themselves for the
occasion, and enable them TO do what even with strong
inclination they would not have the courage TO under
take. Thus. no said, o well known murderer in ono
OF the rural counties Of this State. found It
necessary, as he confessed before the execu-
ton OF tho sentence, 10 fortiiy himself for
the act which he committed, and he stated that
during the night preceding tho murder he drank several
times, deliberately taking just enough TO keep his
determination up TO the requisite point while being
careful avoid Hoxicaton. As negative evidence OF
the intimate connection between drunkenness crime
the speaker cited number OF instances where sup
preston curailment Of the liquor traffic. and
auently OF drinking, had been followed by o great
dimnution In the amount VI crime committed under
the operations Of the prohibtory law In Maine and
the Metropolitan Excise law In this city. From this
fact that habual drunkenness largely productive
Of crime and does 80 frequently almost Invariably lead
the commission OF crime, Dr. Harris argued that the
deliberate or liquor, when Its nature and the effect
Il will probably produce understood, In itself
criminal much 80 II person should In any other way
put himself into condition TO perpetrato crime or
drift into such state. Aud no also held that
he who ssd che dangerous liquid and thus aided TO
place the In this dangerous way equally guilty,
II not even more so.
orno he Thought called for legislation regard TO the
nauOr trac which would tend to do strOy 80 fruitful
CAUSE OF criminal actions, aud demanded that men
should DO educated thoroughly a. " thor duty In this