Evening journal., 1893-01-07
FEMALE CRININALSg
A DETECTIVE SAYS THAT WOMEN
ARE MORE CRUEL THAN MEN.

cd woman--w Women seldom Reform.
Theodore c. Metzler, the well known
San Francisco detective. has not had
twenty-six years Of experience in his pro
fession without obtaining some very
strong impressions and opinions in regard
to crime and criminals.
Gas a sort Of text, said Mr.. Metzler,
"for what have to say on this subject,
1 win state that in considering men and
women as criminals, between whom and
their deeds comparisons are to be made,
/ consider that, while man is isundoubted-
ly, as a rule, the more prominent in
crime, woman, on the other hand, is at
once more cruel and cunning in what
she does.
"From the circumstance that a con-
siderable less number Of women than
men are convicted Of crime the infer
ence is drawn that in women the Grim
inal propensities are weaker or under
better control. Such a conclusion is,
however, not borne out by the facts, for
when crimes have been traced to women
it has been found in the great majority
Of cases that the guilty deeds have been
committed not only with systematic
cunning, but also with a GOODNESS and
cruelty which have seldom been attrib-
uted to man.
'There are several reasons" /" continued
Mr. Metzler, ''why so few women have
been convicted of crime. Mans natural
sympathy for her often causes him to
overlook important points against her,
and then again he is always extra care
full for fear he might do her injustice
and injury. Men in the detective pro-
fession may pretend to have no sympathy
for a woman, yet q good looking face
and a bewitching smile always find
tender spot in their hearts.
"Of course there are exceptions, but
they are very few. If there are men in
this profession who are not susceptible
TO a woman's plea, /, in my experience
Of twenty-six years, have failed to find
them.
Another thing: It is seldom consid-
cred that girls are watched more care
fully than boys and are under greater
restraint. Neither is it taken into ac-
count that older females spend more of
their time at home. while males Of their
own age are on the street OF mingling
with persons whose habits are not al
ways the best. Many Of the temptations
to crime come from business cOmplica-
tions, in which women have little or no
share, as they spend most of their time
at home with their children and female
companions Most homicides, you know
are the results of anger excited when
persons are away FROM thcir homes and
families, as violent Quarrels generally
take place in tho street or barroom, and
not in the parlor or ting room.
''Now as to the CT rlelty and delibera-
tion Of the female cr ninal. The history
Of crime shows that ost Of the murders
committed by women are those perpe-
trated by the administration of poison.
They show careful preparationand great
deliberation. in almost every instance
treachery Is employed, the victim being
invited to partake of refreshments by
one who is presumed to be q friend.
"Murder by the administration Of poi
son is considered the most foul and the
darkest of all crimes, but it is the one
that women have been addicted to more
generally than men in all ages and
countries.
Another very remarkable fact" con
tinued the detective, ''has recently beer
mentioned in a London paper by the
chaplain Of Clerkenwell jail. 1t is thai
some criminals are practically incurable
From a table prepared by him it wa.
.l,r...,, t1.,h 1-.,.s,,,. l,eE ,-ao-. 4l,o,o .nf
committed to the prisons and jails o
England and Wales 5.6S6 men and 9,7G
women who had been convicted no les
than ten times previously. You sec tn
force of the comparison.
"a partial explanation of this strang
state of things may be found in the fac
that women are more thoroughgoing il
all things, good, bad or Indifferent, thar
the men, They do nothing by halves
BE the matter tho construction Of
shortcalSe. the making Of a crazy quill
or the poisoning of a rival, woman dc
votes all her time knowledge and talen
TO what she has in view.
"Then, again. woman has less chanc
Of reforming than q man. Tho latte
can go to a strange or distant place
e raise whiskers or shave those he had, as
sune different name and commenc
p life anew. He can generally fiud en-
, ployment, but with the woman it
d more difficult. Disguise is not so cas-.
and If she goes TO a different place som
one is liable to recognize her.
o "a strange woman is always locke
i on with suspicion, as st is presumed th'
j. she would prefer to live in the tow
;, where she was brought up and whel
/. her old acquainteNces are. 4 man ge
"a credit for his enterprise If he goes to
new country and engages in busine
n for himself but such is not the ca
= with woman. If she is once disco
x cred her own sex are the first to poll
their fingers at her, turn mp their nos
4 and refuse TO associate with her, the r
b suit OF which is that she becomes har
Y ened and callous. and is again driven
crime san Francisco Post.
As Tar As Looks Co.
'Thsy've raled in a pretty tough loo
a' inu lot this morning. haven't thew o