Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1888-09-13
SEX AND CRIME.
MEN ARE MORE PROMINENT, GRIM
INALLY, THAN WOMEN

Reasons to Be Taken Into Consideration.
The History of Crime and What 1t
Demonstrates "A Remarkable Fact.
Neutrality-suspicious.
From the circumstance that a much
smaller number of women than men are
convicted of crimes the conclusion is
drawn that their criminal propensities
are weaker or are under better control.
1t is seldom taken into consideration that
young girls are watched more carefully
than boys and are kept under greater re-
straint. Neither Is it taken into the &C
count that older females spend almost all
their time at home while males of their
own age are on the street or mingling
with persons whose habits are not the
best. Many of the temptations to crime
come from business complications, in
which women have no share. As women
spend most of their time at home with
their children and female companions they
are less likely to be tempted to do acts of
violence. Most hOmicides are the results
of anger melted when persons are away
from their homes and families. Violent
Suarrels generally take place in the street
and not in the sitting room.
The history of crime, however, shows
that most of the murders committed by
the administration of poison are perpe-
trated by women. They show careful
preparation and great deliberation. In
almost every instance treachery is en-
ployed. The victim is generally invited
to partake of refreshments supplied by
one who is presumed to be friend, and
does so without the slightest suspicion.
Murder by the administration of poison is
the darkest of all crimes, but it is the
one to which women have been addicted
more generally than men in all ages and
countries
Statistics in relation to crime have
never been carefully compiled in this
country, and till recently little attention
has been given to classifying them. In
Great Britain, however, the matter has
received more careful consideration. In
an extended review of criminal matters
there during a period of fifty years the
singular fact has been ascertained that
men generally commit their crimes before
they are forty years old, while women
commit theirs after that period in their
lives. In other words, men generally
cease to commit crimes at the age when
women commence.
WOMEN CRIMINALS INCURABLE.
Another very remarkable fact has re-
Gently been contributed to a London pa
per by the chaplairs of Clerkenwell jail. 1t
is to the effect that women criminals are
practically incurables. He has prepared
table extending through ten years and
showing how many men and women have
been convicted of offenses more than ten
hof io1 10
year there were committed to the various
prisons and jails in England and Wales
$3.50 men and 8, 764 women who had been
committed not less than ten times pre-
viously. Such is the case at time when
crime is rapidly decreasing; when the
number known as criminals is constantly
diminishing, and when there are 5000
fewer inmates of prisons than there were
in 1886.
A partial explanation of this strange
state of things may be found in the fact
that women are more thoroughgoing in
all things-good, bad or mathematician
men are. They do nothing by halves. Be
the matter the construction of a short
cake, the making of crazy quilt or the
of rival, she devotes all her
time, knowledge and talents to it.
Doubtlessly a woman finds more diff
Guilty in reforming, if she desires to do
so, than man does. The latter can go
to a strange or distant place, raise whis-
kers or shave off those he had, assume a
name and commence new life.
If he is skilled in any branch of work he
can generally find remunerative employ
ment. A strange woman is always looked
upon with suspicion, as it is presumed
that she would prefer to live in the town
where she was brought up and where her
old acquaintances are. A man gets credit
for his enterprise if he goes to a new
country and engages in business for him
self. Such is not the case with women
Chicago Times.