The New York herald., 1875-12-16
INVESTIGATING CRIME.


CAUSE OF CRIME = PRISONERS SHOULD
woRK-vERY INTERESTING TESTIMONY FROM
DRs. ELISHA HARRIS, WILLARD PARKER SIN
CLAIR ToUsEY AND OTHERS.
Before the Assembly Committee on Crime, yester-
day. DR.. Willard Parker Of the Bnghamton Inebrate
Asylum testified TO the effects Of alcohol the sys
tenn in destroying the corpuscles OF the blood. This
renders the brain incapable OF any healthy Junction. it
destroys the kidneys, produces what is known as
Brghts disease impairs the liver and the ncrves, and
is most destructive agent generally when taken into
the stomach. The number of patients in the Insane
Asylum whose insanity could be traced to the
sve use of alcohol from twenty-five to thirtyfve
per cent Drunken parents cannot beget healthy chill
dren; an unhealthy system cannot beget healthy
system; like begets like The continuous OF liquor
tends TO overthrow Will power There Is, undoubtedly,
such thing alcoholic insanity, and he thought
certain drunkards should be held responsible for
what they might do when drunk Alcohol is invaluable
as remedial agent In old age glass OF good old
wine is wholesome, but IL should not be taken on an
empty stomach Witness described the different
classes Of drunkardsthe steady topper, the social fe
low, who drinks for conviviaity, and the periodical
swiper," who goes spree every now and then and
remains on for a week or So Men of education and
brains were the most easily cured of drinking He was
in favor or legislation getting rid OF distilled liquors
and tho
SUBSTITUTING FERMEyTED LIQUORS.
The general of lager beer and light wines would
be most benencent in It's general results Alcohol was
discovered by the Arabans in the eleventh century He
thought It worse than useless TO be sending
regular and constant drunkards TO tho Island
for ton days The use Of liquor as IT Is used
in this country is alarming it must In some way be
stopped or our civilization goes out This is the chief
rriun nd
insanity we have in the country and which appear to
be progressing every day.
Superintendent Walng OF the police force, being
recalled stated that his duties executive; he
ceives orders from the Commissioners through the
Chief Clerk he did not think any member from Super
ntendent down, should be removed except for cause;
the power 70 remove po,Is. su%marily MN was In the
isto late superintendent Kennedy; Mr. kennedy
stepped out of way and resgned he thought ward
detectives should be selected by the Superintendent
instead Of the captains and the Headquarters de-
tectyes are under tho orders the Superintendent he
should have the power TO remand them to post duty.
The witness described the mode OF examining candi-
dates for promotion and approved OF the plan heartily
Under law OF 1864 that gives the superintendent
power TO warrant TO examine suspected houses
Of i'll repute and gambling, the witness said
IL. as he found that the evidence could usually
be obtained without this last resort; there are
about seven hundred detailed who do not perform
par oil duty there should 900 night patrol every
night-at least GOO more than now; as to tho
THE POLICE PoRCM
the witness did not approve the proposition; he
reason why one should receive more pay than
other the service yet the grading OF the force
might induce spirit OF energy on the part Of those
anxious for promotion; roundsmen should get 81, 800
per year. captains $500 moro than they now get and
detectives should got 81 600 each instead OF the 81 200
paid patrolmen force of secret detectives only
known to the heads OF the department would be bene
fetal and he would confne their duties to procuring
formation and not make arrests except in of
sudden emergency; Mr. walling approved the propo
sitlon to place convicted persons under surveillance
and make it misdemeanor to give alias.
Commissioner Townsend Cox, OF the Board OF Char
tes and Correction, testified that he considers the
Tombs in good condition; out of those confined last
year there only sixteen deaths and three OF them
were suicides; he believed II the law permitted the
commission to contract for the labor of the prisoners
on the islands, they would be self supporting; he did
not believe in incbriate asylums; the asylum on
Wards Island has been failure; are reformed
he hoped law would be passed so that they could
utilize the abors of the convcts he thought drunkards
should be committed for longer time.
Dr. Elisha Harris Registrar Of Vital Statistics, testi
fed that the percentage Of criminals under twcntyone
increases very rapidly; we have now little .short OF
1000 elons including those under twentyone years OF
age the number up from this city is out OF all pro-
portion az compared with the increase OF population in
the State this city and Brooklyn are the great points
crime against property the part of young ielons;
told that there were "a 900 tramps walking over
Massachusetts, last summer, many OF wnom are crni'
nails and the identification of criminals should be
pete the first requisite TO get accurate stas
tics as to cme the records OF the Prison Association
i shVW shab tuo pTOpOEtlVu Vi
| FoREGN CRIMINALS
is very largo, and that they chiefly guilty OF crime
] against property; the tenement house dcns, u Is
learned the birthplace very generally OF the young
criminals who hll the penitentiares the improvements
in the tenements OF the Sixth and Fourth wards shows
corresponding decrease in arrests and crime; the wit
stated that in Glasgow the city spent about mil
lion year for seven years 10 clean the tenement
rookeries, by purchasing property and its improve
meht, and they now have sinking fund TO carry on
these improvements; tho statistics show that crime
decreased wonderfuy the arrests for crime In 1867 be-
fore the work OF publication began 10 S99 and In
1873 II fell on 1863; the for petty thefts
1867 were 1872 and they fell or in 1878 to 264 there
is no health law that will prevent the crowding OF
tenements in this city; right opposite the Health
Board office, in Mott street, 10 building where
the families live in darkness; they cannot be clean,
and II cleaned by police authority twice day they
would be dirty still Is good place for thieves to
take refuge for thieves love darkness rather than
light; thievng constitutes ninety per cent OF all the
crimes In the State, except such crimes as com
mitted Of drunkenness; in crowded tenements
thevng springs almost out of the atmosphere; IL is
the result OF condensng population; to prevent the
crowding Of houses OF the departments Of the
city government should be empowered TO pre-
| vent crowding certain area and
air supply, and have q law enabling them
| 10 take possession OF certain buildings and remove
ehon,. thara certain tauement that