The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-10-11
The Home and State,

It is easy to get at some of the causes which
determine the relation of tho density of popu-
laton to the character Of crime. As wealth
increases in 4 direct ratio to the increase Of
population, where there is nothing TO pre-
vent tncre 10 more temptation TO dishonesty
in the thickly populated community. Where
men are thrown together moro they must
teach each other moro, and this gives greater
opportunities for the forms of dishonesty In
volving breach OF trust. And as in thickly
populated communities men rely moro and
moro on public authority and less and less on
themselves 10 protect their property, THEFT,
robbery and house breaking arc not attended
with such immediate danger as in the thinly
populated community. in which, with only
sheriff and q few deputies for many square
milss Of country, the people grow accus-
toned 20 the authorities not 40 means OF pro-
tceting thsm IN life and property but as
nrehoies for deciding their justification in tho
means used to protect themselves. In Boston
the householder relies on the policeman on
the block to protect him against the house
breaker. In Kansas he relies on 4 Winchcs-
ter. shotgun or revolver, which Is much
more certain than tho policeman. mainly
because the owner of II 10 accustomed TO the
thought OF using it, and incidentally be-
cause he has q practical knowledge OF how
to use it. it is the contemplation of tho pos
sibilty of being compelled TO commit homi-
eide "juEtihably" that makes tho feud and
the sudden fight with firearms Characteristic
of thinlv-popuinted localities. Whenever
there ia a trial for homicide every man in the
community puts himself in the defendants
place. What would / have dons Z" is the
unconscious question. And so overy one is
prone TO commit the homicide in imagination
and If in doing it he justihss himself be not
only makes IL easy for tho defendant 10 be
acquitted, but gets his own mind ready for
like action under what he considers
like emergency. This makes common law
which governs regardless of statutes. With
population OF A half q dozen or so TO the
square mile, every man is both Judge and
sheriff under this law of pub lie opinion until
the sheriff comes. His environment creates
perpetual, If remote. possibility that be may
of some ageressor, and consequently an ex-
hgSerated value is set on personal courage"
1t thus becomes hard to convict any muir
derer who gave his victim "a fair show OF
anything like it, even though it should fully
appear that he had planned tho killing. Men
who excessively admire the fighting quality
think moro Of tho character Of the
fight than of any crime in tho abstract
involved. For this reason it is a
graver crime in Kansas TO steal q horse than
to kill a man if the killing is done to his
face" but the gravest of all crimes there is TO
kill a woman. or a child or to shoot a man in
the back. This is because, where every man
is sheriff for his own protection in the
sheriff's absence. human life is better pro
tectsd than the property right ia horse left
III a pasture. The common sense or general
opinion of the community 10 that there must
be general cooperative action TO oaset the
great opportunities for horse stealing, and
under tins 'unwriitsn law" action is so sud
den stern and relentless that il does Offset
tho opportunities TO very great extent. |
If man steals horse in Kansas he knows he |
invites the disapprovsl of the community be- |
yond any question. while If 10 shoots a man |
from the front there is always a question |
which is Likely to be dsterrinsd in his favor |
ii he did ii fairly or "bravsly." In the |
community OF 200 and upwards 70 the square |
mile public opinion docs not imperatively de-
msnd this sort of courage except from the |
police. AID from them only in rare cases. II
grows more and moro unnecessary as help
grows clossr ct hand in case of an attack on |
the person. And, consequently. As honicidal
courage 10 less needed. it is less valued.
There being less of an established standard
governing the methods of private killings,
homicidss mako less attempts to comply
With 1t, and consequently the element If
courage" enters less Into homicide Those
who Kill at all are apt TO DO it IN the most
brutal way. showing no regard for public
opinion. because they do not expect 10 he
justified By II IN killing at al. A result in
,entrss OF population 10 an increase of muir
iers OF women. followed by suicide. and OF
similar crimes wsich do not involve tho fight
ne quality. but show merely the brutally
destructive instinct. A close examination OF
would certainly remove the error that tnere
= something in the air or climate OF local
~ TO determine the character of its crime.
" that there is any such thing as sectional
rhine.