Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-04-26
Baby &ennsbtt Journal.
Augusta. Tuesday Morning, April 26
Intemperance and Crime.

The annual report publlsned Dy tne
Massachusetts Bureau Of Statistics, which
has recently been issued, devotes consid-
cradle space to statistics to show
the relation between intemperance and
crime. The management Of this Bureau
is very careful and thorough, and its
figures and statements can be relied upon
~ being as nearly correct As such stat
i-,ics well can be. Although it is
known even by what common observa-
ton teaches that intemperance causes
large share of the crimes committed, still
the result shown in the statistical report
above mentioned is almost startling.
The report for the year before the last
showed that sixty per cent. Of all senten-
ces for crime in the State during the TWEEN
ty years previous were for distlnctively
rum offences, such a the various classes
of drunkenness and liquor offences. But
the board were not content TO drop their
investigations at that point, and 80 during
the last year went on to ascertain what
cent. Of offences was directly traceable to
the use of liquor. The result is told in
the report Of the Board. which says: "a
complete investigation Of every case AS
it appeared in the courts Of Suffolk coun-
ty during the year ending September 80,
1880. was accordingly made. The total
number of sentences for the year of the
investigation-the distinctive rum Of
fences included-was 1851; l2,289 were
directly due to rum causes; l2,22l being
for sentences for the various grades of
without license, etc Thus, for the year.
the sentences for rum causes alone cOnsti-
tute y per cent. Of the whole. leaving a
small balance of y per cent. To discov-
er what was the influence Of incompetence
in the commission of this balance, formed
the object of this investigation. We
sought to compass the object Of our inves-
tication BY ascertaining the connection
between ram and the criminal in five
directions T. Whether the criminal
was under the influence Of liquor
at the time the crime was com
mitted. .. Whether the criminal
was in liquor at the time he formed the
intent to commit the crime. :. Whether
the Incorporate habits Of the criminal
were such as to lead to condition which
induced the CRIME. 4. Whether the in
temperate habits OF others led the crimi
nal to condition which induced the crime
=. What were the drinking habits of the
criminal whether total abstainer, moderate
drinkcr. or excessive drinkero
1t appears that 2.o97 of the i,GOS were
in liquor at the time of the commission o
the various offences of which they were
found guilty. This number is equal t.
~ per cent of the p per cent balance, o
to II per cent of the sum of all offences
for the year. the distnctively rum offences
included that .9ls were in liquor at thu
time of the formation of the criminal in
tent; that the incorporate habits of 1.sO.
were such as to induce a moral condition
favorable to crime that S2l were led to ;
criminal condition through the contagioi
of intempcrancc that, of the 1905 con
victions. the total abstainers numbered
I.15s. the moderate drinkers l.9lS. ant
the excessive drinkers l,3i1. 1t thus APP
pears that 81 per cent of all crime was du'
to the influence of liquor"
such facts n these ought to engage tn,
attention of the whole community. ant
deepen the feeling against the use of an,
traffic in ardent spirits. This Statement
is not mere windy defamation. nor a one
sided report. but statement founded OF
facts carefully gathered from the cour
records. and presented for no other pur
pose than to state the truth So that thu
public can see and read for themselves.