The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-05-24

able 10 agree on tho distinctive traits
which they attribute TO criminals,
whose complexion Ia oftcner dark than
light, and whose hair Ia rather smooth
than curly, according TO some, on tho
Importance 10 10 given to tho greater
frequency OF the depression on tho
middle line Of tho occipital bone, which
has also been met with in Arabs and
Jews, whose crime average Is better
than that Of Europeans, and on tho
value 10 be ascribed to tho existence OF
so.callcd marks OF heredity.
Whatever may DO the action on the
organism OF 4 murderer OF tho kind Of
life which he leads, this kind OF criml.
nal have all n special physiognomy
which has no resemblance at all to the
habitual expression OF young prisoners
which has been modified by tho diiler.
cnce OF their present surroundings
from those IN which thoy had lived
previously. By their Imagination, in.
t%elltgoncc, s~onsibility, will power and
moral sentiments they create a place
between the savage and tho child, on
the ono hand, and tho insane individual
on the other. Since they form, like
the latter, q natural family, there Is
such agrcat resemblance between all
criminals lhowevcr different n muir
derer may DO from n dynamiter or un
inccndinry) that 1t would almost DO al
lowablc to create u science OF general
criminal psychology in addition to that
Of general normal psychology.
rU2zLiSG PROBLEMS.
An attempt has been mado to explain
crime by n lack OF adaptation between
criminals and society; but this is rather
n definition OF crime than an explains
ton. Tho desire which leads n man 10
commit Il crime can DO compared with
tho irresistible impulses Of epileptic
and degenerate individuals. All moral
sentiment has disappeared in the mil.
lority OF professional among them n
state OF Inconsistencies OF tho wicked
ness OF the deeds they have committed.
The,criminal is u man with excessive
passions which he cannot resist and
which he cannot satisfy by legal means ;
no has neither the courage to become
resigned to his fate nor that OF setting
to work or 10 struggle lie wishes to oc-
cupy life, but he wishes to do so with
out effort, and by deceit or violence he
will get possession OF what ho wishes,
all OF this because hes belongs to tho
class Of individuals apparently healthy
in mind. but VINO in reality are affected
with some hereditary faint or stigma.
Intellectual disorders heaped up by
successive generations, or else diseases
OF the nervous system'i in general, trans.
mittcd from father to son, have had q
disastrous influences on the offspring, Of
which they have lessened tho capacity
OF Judging, or rejecting. by stopping
the natural intellectual growth. Tho
genealogical study OF criminals is there
fore indispensable. We must not only
look for the direct action OF heredity,
which exists sometimes, rs is prove6by
our knowledge OF whole families OF
murderers. but also fornny other mani.
~festation OF n cerebro-spinal complaint,
OF whatever nature it may be; and VIC
shall then find that even il q person
does not bear within him tho germ OF
crime, which has been disputed, he has
at any rate that OF insanity, which is
not so eusily contested. -,