Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1879-07-10
CRIMINAL EPIDENIC,N.

| O@AAB
Several years ago the little cOmmunit,
comprising Bozeman and Vicinity wa
startled by series of murders committed
within its limits during tIespace OF few
months, most, if not all, of which wer,
brought about by the use of the knife
Within eighteen months suicides were O
such frequent occurrence in Montana-nt
less than three or four attempts having
been made in Bozeman-as to lead som,
of its newspaper writers to remark on it
epidemical form. Within eight months
past. Montana has been afflicted with &
mania for numbering by the use Of thu
pistol, and several lives have been sacri
feed in the Territory within a compare.
lively short space Of time.
The epidemical form in which these
manias appeared may not have been SC
apparent to some rs to others who were
perhaps, better informed rs to the events
constantly Transporting. and this latter class
will readily see the point we make, if they
have not already observed it.
Taking the history of the United States,
we see that criminal epidemics have not
been of unfiequent occurrence. At differ
ent times the epidemic takes on different
forms and phases. and while, fortunately.
they are generally not Of very long dura-
ton, hardly year passes but one or more
prevails. Take the resent--year.. for in
Sfanon SiOno tho ~
demic Of suicide has prevailed, but at pres
ent seems to have. subsided. In its stead,
for month or more past, we have been
afflicted with an epidemic in two forms
wife murder and child murder. Hardly a
daily paper can be opened but contains an
account OF murder in one or both of
these forms. Some Of them, too. Of the
most brutal nature. as, for instance, that
OF man in Dubuque beating his wife's
head to a jelly and then, whiIe.~she was
still living, pouring boiling hot water on
it.-A Philadelphia man cutting his wife's
throat and arm with a dull razor. and
watching her slowly expire from pain and
loss Of bloOd.-The murder of his three
children by John Kemmler in South Hol-
yoke, Mass.
1t was undoubtedly this subtle influence
Of one morbid mind over another, aided.
perhaps, by the bible story OF Abraham
and Isaac that was the handspring of the
action of Freeman in numbering his daugh-
ter, case that has attracted universal at
tention, and striking popularity noticed
in this ease is that his wife. "a tender
mother" and a sect of bible believers in
the same town approved the action.
Bearing directly on this subject is the
following which we clip from late num-
Der of ''Thc Youths Companion -
"a common comment on the matter has
been that It was impossible for all these
people to be insane on such subject: but
the truth is that morbid affections of the
mind are contagious, and havef Frequently
become epidemic to frightful degree,
I'm 1884, when the black death was raw
aging the world, band of frcnzied men.
robed in black, covered with red crosses.
began their march through Europe, scour-
aging each other as they went until the
blood streamed. and singing maddcniny
songs. both religious and licentious. This
moral epidemic spread just as the plague
had done. Thousands of noble women
and men, and multitudes of the poor
Oined the mad band.
Forty years later the dancing mania be- |
came epidemic in Europe, which was
speedily Overrun with hor(les of Gelirious /
men and women. wllrling in frantic dam
,es, until they fell, exhausted, and often
lied. The most violent and cruel punish
nents failed to check their frpnzicd waltz.
"Epidemies of suicide have been COM
non. In Naples. during the sixteenth
century. the PATIENTS says Lecky. 'tlrong-
- to the sea, and chanting a wild hymn.
'ushed with passion into the waves AT
mother time, the women of the CITY of
lyons, without cause. drowned themselves
y t':s .-ndsels and Mfrfa ,e hoeiv ~ I shs
uici(le. '"'''H VI .'le
Another strange delusion was that of a
,ody OF fanatics in Germany, who believed
nat God, to punish them. had turned
hem into wolves. They ran upon all
ours, parked, and even tore children" I
The above are but a few of the MANY in
tances Of like character we might refer .
,. History abounds with them. And. {
Will be seen by the above, those pro-
'ssing religion are not less liable to these
pade'nlcs than other classes, save and ex- ..
'pt hardened criminals alone. The early :
STORY Of Christianity confirms this. and i
La er phase is shown in the revival S
ork if'aagurated by Moody and Sankey. il
llich at one time was epidemic in nearly $
cry section of the United States and
ngland. Later still, religion and tenn n
rance combined has had an epidemic in Il
work of reformed men'-men I'M II
IDLY, 'unlettered and incorporate being . .
formed and ''callcdn to leave manual or :, :.
her pursuits in which they were engaged ii
labor for Christi That epidemic is. NJ
over, or, at least, subsidized, as
also the revival mania, evangelical alli- ~
ce, prayer meetings, crusades. etc. r.
" nat form the next epidemical mania et
j assume remains to be seen. That it til
Il surely come is evidenced by the his
y OF the past. Let us hope that the
Re is not far distant when all epidemics
sing from morbid states of the mind.
especially those working injury to the
nan race, as the criminal ones, will be co
ever past. And while all must regret De
deprecate the cause and result of these w
Iieinics, let US endeavor to find and ap- M
the remedy, remembering that,
q fro apparent ills our blessings rise:
Ct well your part, there all the honor lies ,,
- Ste
PACIFIC YELLOW.STONEs. .
~ -. -. to
from the Bismarck Tribune, 2lst nit. cit,
:. rarr win Carland) has gone to the
IS City to settle. =
'mes Leighton, of Ottumwa. Iowa. is oar
ling friends in Bismarck. .T' a.. a.,
ne Government freight for Fort Ben Jur
has been nearly all forwarded. Dor