The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1890-04-24
PROFESSIONAL CRIMINALS.

policemen which recently appeared in the
Daily News, of Detroit, Michigan. Those
opinions are given in answer to the cues
ton as to 'Whether or no professional
criminals ever do reform?" There is much
more in the answers than a simple negative
or ALTERNATIVES; but they all express the
opinion that very few professional criminals
ever do reform. Some answer the question
in such an off hand manner as to make it
evident they had never given the matter
serious consideration, and it is they who
answer in tie negative. EX-Warden Green,
of the Kings county On. ~ penitentiary
said. that in all his experience he only
knew of one case of genuine reformation of
a hardened criminal. His is an extremely
dark picture; but it is relieved somewhat
by William F. Howe, New York's GEL
ebrated criminal lawyer, who points out
several living examples of reformed men
who were once noted professional criminals,
and says that he might name many more.
But nearly all assign as the cause why so
few professionals reform, after leaving
prison, to be the unfair manner in which
they are treated by the world. One judge
goes so far as to say: 1.-The professional
criminal cannot be saved. Society has is
sued one of those intangible, but most I'M
yielding laws which forbids their rising
from the sea of vice into which they may
have plunged possibly by accident" Look
inO of Of inf Of
observation we cannot fully agree with the
judge. The professional criminal can be
saved, that is, reformed. for we have living
examples. 1t is true that society fixes a
imperative laws which is equivalent to the
mark Damaged" placed upon goods that
have passed through fire, but they will
command respect just in proportion as they
display improvement of character until they
reach the boundary beyond which none but
those supposed to be without spot or bem-
ish are permitted to pass. The best element
of mankind does sincerely wish to see the
criminal rise from the ''sea of vice" and ex-
tends helping hand whenever the criminal
shows sincere desire to conform to the
laws. There is class who look upon
themselves as superior persons. and whom
society regards as eminentIy and severely
proper. that shun the least contact with
any one whose garments have been sOiled
by the laws condemnation. This class it
is that issues the fiat which makes a man
''Once a criminal always criminal" in the
eyes of that mouth piece of society, Mrs.
Grundy. These judges, wardens, etc., say
that the reason why more professional crimi-
mails do not reform is not because they do not
desire to reform, but because society will not
give them an equal opportunity with other
men to gain respectable livelihood. In
other words. society prefers to endure them
as criminals rather than as associates.
And we will offer here as the base of the
criminals reasons-and they are reasons
natural to human beings-fOr preferring to
continue in criminal career that he
would rather continue desperate and los
ing warfare than to give it up and live the
life of whipped cur-a being whom all
may kick with impunity. and excuse them
selves by saying that he is known to be a
dangerous man. This, of course, is not the
way all criminals look at the matter for
there are many who are insensible to hui
initiation and pursue crime by instinct.
But the class who are usually regarded as
professional criminals are men of brains and
have clear conception of right and wrong,
and have profound respect. or perhaps it
would be better to say. admiration for pur-
ity and honesty as manifested in others
they can see the worth of such virtues more