Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1875-01-22
Remarkable Pauuer StatIstIcs.

In the mceting held yesterday of the
State Charities Aid Association, DR.. Har
ris brought forward some of the most re-
markable statistics which have ever beer
obtained in the science OF criminal reform
| While reading of the efforts of the Prison
Association the attention OF the doctor wa,
called to county on the Upper Hudson
| where there was a remarkable proportion
Of crime and poverty to the population
The county contained but one town and
only small villages, with a population ol
some 10000; yet the number OF its pau
| pers in its almshouse was 408, or about one
in eighty, not reckoning n considerable
number assisted by outside relief This
proportion is probably greater than that OF
London or Paris, but OF this we cannot be
| certain, owing to the defective method
adopted in the statistics OF pauperism OF
| enumerating names an persons. II is cer-
tain, however, that the proportion OF
criminals and paupes in the coun-
ty is alsrmingly great. The attention
OF the doctor was attracted to certain names
which everywhere appeared in the crimi-
nal and Poor House records of the comfy
and lie was led to follow up the trnces OF
certain families. These again seemed to be
connected, and he was induced to search
still further the gencalogics of these fami-
lies. The results will remain as p,rman-
ent and most startling facts in the history
Of crime and its consequences.
1t should be understood BY our readers
that ordinarily il Is extremely difficult to
trace the descent OF n criminal family. In
cities such families become broken up and
their members are scattered everywhere.
In villages, though, their lines of descent
may be followed, yet the rctributive laws
OF Providence usually carry the effects OF
crime only 'to the third or fourth genera
tion," then the race comes to an end
through physical and moral degeneration
the final members being comparative idiots
imbeciles, lnnatics and in some countries
cr6iins.
1t happened. however, in this county.
that the physical vigor of the particular
family traced preserved some of its men,
bers for their evil destiny, and enabled the
investigator to trace them during six gen.
erations of wickedness and misery. Some
seventy years ago young girl named MAR
garct" was left adrift in one of these villages
1T docs not appear whether through the
crimes Of misfortunes of others. There was
no almshOuse in the place but she was a
subject OF outdoor relief, probably receiv-
ing occasionally food and clothing from the
officials, but never educated, never kindly
sheltered in home. She became the moth.
er of long race of criminals. and paupers,
and her progeny has cursed the county
ever since. The county records show 200
Of her descendants that have been crimi-
nails. In one single generation OF her un-
happy line there were tweRty children; of
these, three died IN infancy, and seventeen
survived 70 maturity. OF the seventeen
nine served In State Prison for high crivues
an aggregate term Of fifty years, while the
others were frequent inmates Of jails, peni-
tentiaries and almshouses.
OF the 900 dcsccndants, through ak gen
erations, from this unhappy girl, who was
left on the village streets and abandoned in
her childhood, great number have been
idiots imbeciles, drunkards, lunatics, pau.
pers and outcasts but 200 Of the more
vigorous are on record as criminals. This
neglected little child has cost the county
authorities, in the effects she has transmit.
ted, hundreds OF thousands Of dollars in the
expense and care OF criminals and panpcrs,
beside the untold damage she has inflicted
on property and public morals. When we
think OF the multitude Of wretched beings
she has left upon the earth OF the suffer
ing, degradation, ignorance and crime that
one child has thus transmitted; OF the evil
she has caused TO thousands Of innocent
families, and the loss to the community, we
can all feebly appreciate the Importance TO
the public Of the care and education OF
single pauPer chlld.--N y Tmes