Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-07-15
HOMICIDE STATISTICS.
Facts Set Forth in q Recent Bulletin From
the Census once.


the Census once.
An interesting bulletin issued BY the census
Office and prepared by Mr.. Frederick H. Wines,
special agent, gives the statistics Of homicides
In this country in 1890. The bulletin states
that OF s2.329 prisoners in the United States
June 1, $780, the number charged with homi-
eide was 1886. or sT per cent.
Omitting IS who were charged with double
crimes, 6 ,95S Of them Cor 4.65 per cent? were
men and 393 Cor SIS per cent? were women.
As to color. LAS were white, 2,7ss negroes,
"a Chinese, 1 japanese and 90 Indians.
As to the nativity Of the 4, 425 whites, 3.157
were born in the United States, 1,21s were for
eign born and the birthplace Of IS is unknown
careful and accurate inquiry into the par
entage Of those born in the United States re-
suits in the mathematical conclusion that sc. IA
per cent of homicide committed by white men
and women is chargeable TO the native white
element Of the population. and 1886 per cent
to the foreign element. On the same scale Of
4,6l4 TO 1905, the negro contribution 70 homi-
eide is represented by 5,47s. A table ia given
showing the nationalities of the 3,605 foreign
born parents in detail.
More than one-half OF the foreign-born whites
are unnaturalized and nearly one-ffth are I'M
able to speak the English language. In respect
to age. prisoners charged with homicide range
from eleven to eighty-six years. One-sixth of
them are under twenty-four years and more
than one-half under thirty-three years Of age.
Their average age is thirty-four years and one
hundred and ninety-three DAYS. The lowest
averages are among the Indians. thirty years
and one hundred and eighty days, and
the negroes, so years and 279 days. The high
est are among the Chinese. 81 years and 246
days, and the foreign-born whites, Al years and
l59 days. The average age Of women charged
do sc a,I 1ax-a 10
ages ut which homicide was committed are esti-
mated to be at least five years below the aver
ages here stated.
Nearly one-half of this group Of prisoners
were found to be unmarried. The number of
unmarried was 3.6l5; married, ATS; widowed,
703; divorced, IA.
The percentage Of those who can both read
and write is 81. 70; Of those who can read only.
4.S4; OF those who can do neither, 49, 3. OF the
negroes, more than one-half can neither read
nor write; Of the Indians, nearly two-thirds.
The percentage Of illiteracy among the foreign
born is nearly or quite three times as great Us
that among the native whites.
The number who have receive q higher edu-
cation is 253, or 3.44 per cent.
More than four-fifths have no trade. The
foreign born and their children have much
more generally acquired trade than the native
whites and the native whites than the negroes.
The occupations of 6, 546 prior to incarccra-
ton have been ascertained and are grouped as
follows: Professional. 1902; official, 3S; agricul-
tural, 1888; lumber. 30; mining, 2l2; fisheries,
49, trade and commerce, 173: transportation,
$50; manufactures and mechanical Industries,
LOSS; personal service, $50; unskilled labor,
2,253; miscellaneous. 81
The number employed at the time Of their
arrest was 1858; unemployed, l,225; unknown,
467.
The habits Of 973, in respect of use of in
toxicatins liquors, are not stated. The remain
ing 6,37s are classed as follows: Total abstain-
ers, 1882: occasional or moderate drinkers,
3,S29; drunkards, 1,267.