New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-12-16
SOURCES OF CRIME.

| TESTIMONY BEFORE THE ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE
Observation-Disclosures OF PRISONERS.
| Before the Assembly Committee on Crime
yesterday, DIR. Willard Parker President OF the Bng
hamton nebriate Asylum, testified as to tho effects oil
alcohol upon the system de said 1t destroyed the Doay
produced Brghs disease impaired tho liver and nerves.
and was destructive agent generally. From 25 to 80
por cent OF the insanity in the asylum at present hao
been caused by drinking He believed there was such
thing alcoholic insanity Drunken parents could not
beget healthy children. Alcohol was also remedial
agent and be believed that glass Of wine was some
times wholesome The witness thought the law should
regulate better the sale OF liquors and it should II pos
sble do away with distilled and substitute fermented
liquors The Witness who thought that drinking was
tho cause OF most Of the crimes committed said that
habua drunkenness ought be sentenced for more than
ten days
Police superintendent wallng testified that he Joined
the in 1s47, and had been superintendent since
1873 His instructions are received from the Ponce
Board and be may be removed from Office by simple
resolution Of that Board. without charges being
preferred The witness thought the Superin-
tendent should have more power, that the
forco should DO increased by GOO men. aud that
captains and detectives should receive higher salaries
Townsend Cox member Of the Board OF Charities and
Correction stated that he visited the Tombs every day
There is a classification OF the prisoners on BlackwePs
Island and in the Tombs partial classification There
are % keepers warden, and deputy warden IN the
IOmbS.
DR. Elisha Harris. Register OF vital Statistics, said
that all criminals ought to be Identified absolutely There
should be laws against persons taking aliases Inc
young criminals nearly all camo from the worst rene
inent houses in this city. He thought there should be
law regulating the number Of families in house In
Glasgow authorities tried this plan and also that OF
Keeping tenement houses clean, and the result was Us
follows: 1000
Total Grim reported in 1S61...............lGss9
Total crimes reported in lo7J.-.......-.-.-.. 1863
In State Prison 80 per cent OF the crimes are
crimes against property excepting those committed I'M
der intoxcauon The cas-. side OF the city is the worst
part of the city sanitary point OF view. Tie witness
said he knew OF "a families. with average Of 4i9 per-
sons each, living I'm house. He knew several houses
which contained As families.
Sinclair TolIsey, President OF the Prison Association
that the Association has been In action about 80
wears lie thought the Of crime found IN ten
elnenfa He believed here classification either Al
lie prisons the Island and further. he said dicness
Was the universal pursuit." lie believed That the prison
should he made To work IL hours day, ana t the
ISLAND Instead OF being place OF recreation should be
place to dreaded. All the prisons could be made self
supporting Since the Society began WORK, and aided dis
charged cOnyicts very nw Of these men nave drutcu
back to State Prison.