The Lake Charles echo., 1893-01-20
FEMALE CRIMINALS.
A DETECTIVE SAYS THAT WOMEN
ARE MORE CRUEL THAN MEN.

In Reality There Are as Many Female
Criminals As There Are Male, but Cir.
cumstances consptre to Shield the wick
cd Woman--wornen Seldom Reform.
Theodore Q. MetzIer, the well known
San Francisco detective, has not had
tyenty-six years Oh experieneein his pro-
fession without obtaining some very
strong impressions and opinions in regard
to crime and criminals.
"As a sort Of text" said Mr.. Metzler,
"for what have to say on this subject,
| will state that in considering men and
women as criminals, between whom and
their deeds comparisons are to be made,
consider that, while man is undoubted.
ly, as q 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
snce Is drawn that In women the Grim
lnal pFopensities 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
II 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
Eul for fear he might do her injustice
and injury, Men in the detective pro-
tession may pretend to have no sympathy
tor q woman, yet a good looking face
and q bewitching smile always find a
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 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 or mingling |
with persons whose habits are not al |
ways the best. Many of the temptations |
TO crime come from business complica-
tons, 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 their homes and
families, as violent quarrels generally
rake place in the street or barroom, and
not in the parlor or sitting room.
"Now as to the cruelty and delibera-
ton Of the female criminal The history
Of crime shows that most of the murders
committed by women are those perpe-
trated by the administration of poison.
they show careful preparation and great
elaboration. In almost every instance
Ereaehery is employed, the victim being
invited to partakesof Refreshments by
2ne who is presumed to be friend.
Murder by the administration of poi
ion Is considered the most foul and the
iarkest of all crimes, but 1t Is the one
hat women have been addicted TO more
generally than men in all ages and
Another very remarkable fact" CON
inued the detective, ''has recently been
mentioned in q London paper by the
haplain Of Clerkenwell jail. II is that
ONE criminals are practically incurable.
rom ? table prepared by him it was
hoWn that during last year there were
Committed to the prisons and jails of
England and Wales 1886 men and 9,784
women who had been convicted no less
ban ten times previously. You see the {
oree of the comparison.
"A partial explanation Of this strange
tate Of things may be found in the fact
hat women are moro thoroughgoing in
i things, good, bad or Indifferent, than
20 men. They do nothing BY halves.
2 the matter the construction of o
portcake, the making Of a crazy quilt :
+ the poisoning Of q rival, woman de-
otes all her time, knowledge and talent
what she has in view.
WIhen, again, woman has less chance =
reforming than a man. The latter =
~ 90 to a strange or distant place, ;
liss whiskers or shave those he had, as.
llne q different name and commence \
fe anew. He can generally find en- =
,oyment, but with the woman 1t is =
ore dificult Disguise is not so easy, 2
ld If She goes to a different place some 2
le is liable to recognize her. a
"A Strange woman ii always looked Y
] with suspicion, as It Is presumed that y
e would prefer to liYe ii the town Q
here she was brought up and where =
y old acquaintances are, a man gets 4
edit for bis enterprise ii he goes to q
Nv country and engages ia a business
? hinaself, but such Is not the case
Lth p woman. II she is once discoy- 9
ed her own sex are the first to point 3,
eir fingers At her, turn UP their noses Y
q refuse to Associate with her, the re- z q
It Of which Is that she becomes hard Y