Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1879-08-08
Crime and Criminals, from Physiological
Poiu. Of View.

author, Professor Lombroso, on Criminals
and the Increase of Crime in Italy contain
much food for thought, though some of his
conclusions may be questioned. Studying
the physical characteristics of habitual crim-
inals. the author finds among them a pre-
yalent resemblance to the Australian and
Mongol races. Among the commonest pecu-
liarties are scarcity of hair, smalness OF
Uranium, sloping forehead, large jaws, check
bones. i d frontal sinus, abnormal attach
ment of ears, hair black Quilted or curly,
obliquty OF eyes, black pupils, etc. An
other characteristic in which criminals rcsem-
Bile these savages is the habit of tatooing
which, as it is a very painful operation,
NJ Lombroso supposes to indicate in the sub
jects of il a certain obtuseness of scnsibilty
The courage of criminals is largely attri-
buted by him to this physical insenslbllity
and to certain infantile impetuosity, which
make them needless of danger. Hence arises
also the frequent disproportion between the
gravity of the crime and that of the motive;
also the cruelty often manifested by the
criminal. and the large number of suicides,
especially during the first months of deten-
ton. Prominent among the mental alice
tions of habitual criminals are vanity and ir-
ritability: they boast of their dexterity in
crime. and are readily thrown into wild pas
sion by little things. Then there is the pas
sion for drinking and gambling, cOvetousness
combined with prodigality, love Of dancing.
sensuality, etc 1t is not surprising that
Prof. L. fisds laziness TO be 4 common vice
among criminals. In Sicily and Sardinia
idleness and vagabondage are thought TO ac-
coun, for crime to the extent of 65 per cent.
The educated classes furnish larger con-
tingent to crime than the peasants. Literary
and artistic knowledge often renders possible
a certain refined and astuie type Of crime,
and the new desires it awakens often lead
into crime. NJ. Lombroso thinks the schools
instituted in prisons have thus contributed
TO the increase Of criminality, though culture
makes crime less ferocious. lie points out,
too, that criminals are often not without II
religious sense, as witness the crosses and
images hung around brigands' nccks. llered-
itary in fiuence is affirmed TO cause twenty
six per cent of the crimes. lIabitual Grimm
ais have no remorsc and the worst behave
best in prisons. Italian statistics prove that
sixty-siX men and eighty women of every
hundred in prison (bctwcen 1872 and 1870
have committed crimes repeatedly. Taking
into account deaths and crimes not proved,
he comes to the painful conclusion that the
number of those who fall back into crime is
nearly equal TO the number Of criminals who
TO prove IA physiological point of departure
TO those animal instincts which, checked for
a certain time by education, surroundings,
and fear OF chastisemcnt, burst forth ere long
under ihciniiucnce of special circumstances.
Among the latter he indicates first the sea-
sons, whose influence is SO evident that one
might make IA criminal calendar : next there
is the food question when the price of
wheat rises there is directly an increase of
crimes against property, and II diminution
of crimes against the person, and rice rersa.
He mentions also age, cclibacy, profession,
irritation SENSATIONS, lhlrinItles, passions,
and insanity. VI. Lombroso devotcs chap
'ei !" 'he curing VI ''iihe' Hoiuihs tha'
ai"'' ''i'''i'''i''S ~ i'''ui'''''' he "u'ocatcs
attacking the causes which lead TO it 4; invites
'esiS'"'''S " "''''i "''ai' 'ielr ""s 10
'''''''''' anu P''i''''9 "'o"'''H VI 'he
J'' NM ii''''i''H'S' III l'''i'Sii
h''i'' INV ""'ii'ioh vi inc PifuohiiS
power "S "lli''u 10 common crimes,
the scquesua'ioh oil habltual delln-
qHehtS' increase oil uuties on liquor,
prohibition oil sale oil II to minors,
uihiihuti"ho i inc huiii'cr vi laiis, markets,
(yj6,r,o0tor1 for Young offenders Thinking
if better that they should he tauoht , useful
trade than to read; does not believe in the
efficiency of societies which bcfricpd liner
a,ed prisoners: is opposcd TO TRANSPORTATION
and thinks establishments for incorrigibles
should bc formed. and nsylums for criminals
acquitted on the ground of insanity NJ
Lombroso considers that capital punishment,
is applied too rarely 10 be cfficacious and
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