Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-10-23
CRIME A DISEASE.
DIR. WHITE on TREATING DELIN-
QUENT DEGENERATEs.
The Criminal, His Social and Legal
status, and the Philosophy of Re-
formatiOn-Paper Read Before the
New York Medical Association.
C\e,y- York TimeS.)

'Jne CRIMINAL, itlS Sot'"i anu SNe"'
Status. and the Philosophy of Reforma-
tion." were the subjects OF paper read
before the New York State Medical AS
ISOLATION by Dr. William A. White, OF
Broome county. at the Mott-Memoriai
Hal. The paper was at once an am
plification. corolary. and complement OF
ex-President Austin F'lint's discourse or
Friday night, while the questions were
more broadly, not TO say daringly, treat
ed.
Summed up, DR.. Whites views on
criminaity were that delinquent degene-
rates were the outcome OF social maia-
dies, and should be considered as pa
tents, to be cured by environment; that
our jury system and legal procedure are
faulty; that reformation OF criminals is
possible. and that the best system OF
reclamation is exemplified in the Elmira
Reformatory. and Superintendent Brock
way. while retaliative punishment is con-
demned.
"Degeneracy," said DIR. White. in be-
Ginning his address, is with specialists
in psychology the leading topic OF the
day 1t may be said TO date with Oar
wins Origin OF Species and has been
championed by the Italian scholars,
among them Lombroso. in La Donna De-
linquente,' and other works.
Degeneration" he continued, 'is a
danger that threatens the social struc-
ture All of our delinquent classes are
largely composed of deinquents, and.
through their increase society Is threat
ened with a sort of revolution. Society
nj 10 nn N tg
subject TO disease. and such a disease as
degeneracy, of which crime is a symp-
tom"
Discussing the causes of degeneracy.
Or. White said that 1t might be traced
to widespread or local disaster such as
financial or manufacturing crises or dis
aster or any unstable condition or atalrs
which would result I'm suffering. loss or
prosperity and lowering of moral tone,
or anything that would be in the way
Of A sound mind in sound BODY. IN
dviduals on whom such conditions ran
most heavily may become degenerate. IN
community whose resources were us
sipated the children ushered into the
world in such unfavorable circumstances
become our future criminals.
is IL strange" asked the speaker,
that the uneducated and neglected
should become other than good cltizensE
Classifying crimnality on grade from
insane impulse to the wage-worKer torced
10 steal through lack of employment,
and the woman bread winner. swayed 10
immortality by starvation, Dr. White SAID
that the habitual and professional crlinl-
nails were the most interesting 70 the
crimlnologist. These degenerates constr
tute our criminal hierarchy ana IL Is OF
primary importance to formulate signs
hsr Nfh
ease can be recognized and the grades OF
deseneracy differentiated.
OF the anatomy Of degeneracy DR.. White
said that in the brain We snould
expect TO find evidences OF degeneracy
and in the osseous structure ALTERNATIVES
which should be unerring signs or de-
generacy In considering the question OF
criminal types, Or. White said that the
Italian students maintain that II can De
determined If one can become criminal
L.ombroso holds that chirography viii es-
.ablish criminal trend. Investigation
7 may in the future accurately establish
| that degenerates possess signs that I'M
erringly distinguish them from the ordi-
nary man Of probity.
! or our duty to degenerates the speaker
/ said that the balance OF responsibility was
| constituted in three factors: the quality
| Of the action. the forces competing ac-
ton. and the forces TO inhibit action, or
As a mathematician would say, three IN
dependent variables.
citing several cases OF criminals VINO
were absolutely ignorant of right ana
wrong DIR. White quoted the Penal Code
20 show that the criminal law taxes no
coenizance OF the abnormality OF these
three factors in degeneracy. and said:
How far in the rear of the frontier oil
legal science our legal brothers are
The question Of responsibility. he main
tanned. is a medical science of expert
testimony. He said tina because OF the
Sinking Of jury duty by men OF attain
ments and social position the ordinary
juryman understands but a small part OF
technical evidence, while its manipula-
ton is such as to mystify, disguise, or
conceal.
This" DR.. White exclaimed. "is a
method OF procedure bristlng in faults
so that we should not wonder at miscar'
rage of justice. But | am not trying to
tear down the judicial Notifications, but
To show where they are weak.
Placing the causes OF crime in environ
uent. Or. White cited strikes as the
crimes of crowds. or the remedies, ne
said that q judicial body could only deal
with results Schools of law would have
10 give attention TO sociology, and the
public should be aroused 10 deeper sense
Of obligation to citizen duty in jury SER
vice. This should not be shrked by the
educated and intelligent.
In dealing with the convicted crimlna
one should. Or. White said, never lose
sight of the fact that he is dealing with
a degenerate, an abnormal, who has
done an anti-society act And only one
effort is TO be employed. Scientists are
convinced that here they have socta
evil TO deal with. and retaliation has
no place in II.
What TO do with the released crimi-
nails. the incorrigible-many believe that
he should be quietly deprived or lie