Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1896-04-30
WEATHER AND CRIME.
The Atmosphere Has . Marked Influence
on Those Who Violate the Law.

The Atmosphere Has Marked influences
on Those Who Violate the Law.
The weather has been cursed ana
praised alternately for centuries and 10
an ever fruitful topic Of conversation,
but lately 1t has been stigmatized as
being the indirect cause Of much OF the
crime that Is committed, and II this Is
SO It must bear New York a particular
" severe grudge.
French scientists now declare that at
certain seasons Of the year the barom-
eter might be taken as a criminal
register, just as well as guide to at
mospheric disturbances, because under
certain conditions Of the atmosphere
suicides were bound to be more plenti-
full than under other conditions, and
that murders were just as sure to null
tiply at other seasons of the year owing
to another vagary Of the weather.
A Journal reporter interested In the
question found that it had given rise to
some discussion and considerable
thought even on this side Of the At
lantic. Sergeant Il. b. Dunn Of the
United States Signal Service, has given
this subject careful attention. When
asked for his opinion on the matter, he
During the passage Of a storm
where the temperature is excessive, the
atmosphere being thoroughly saturated
with moisture, and possibly holding
1t full, which Is 100 per cent, person
perspiring very readily finds no relief
from evaporation, atmospheric condi-
lions being least at such time. In
consequence a person naturally feels
very much depressed. This feeling
should affect more especially persons in
weak mental or physical condition,
and at such times the atmospheric cleo
tricity must necessarily play very i'm
portant part, inasmuch as the atmos-
phere, when very moist, is better con-
ductor of the electric current than at
other times. 1t draws from the person
the natural bodily electricity, which has
tendency to destroy their vitality"
And under such conditions Of the
weather what crime or crimes would
be most prevalent?" Mr.. Dunn was
asked.
"Self-destruction,principally. In sum-
mer everything is more favorable for
areas Of low pressure, and / think that
you will find that suicides are more
frequent in hot, muggy weather, when
all nature seems sombre, than at any
other time
"Do you believe that the atmosphere
has any effect in conducting to the COM
initial of murders and burglaries, or
any Of the other common crimes?"
Il think that a man intending to COM
NIT deliberate murder would plan it
out on bright, clear day, rather than
in the suicide weather. Burglaries, too,
l think would be planned in a bracing
atmosphere, rather than in dark,
gloomy weather"
Theodore Roosevelt, president of the
Board of Police Commissioners, said:
Now that you have called my atten-
ton to the matter, l have noticed that
suicides are more frequent during such
periods of low pressure as have been
described by Mr.. Dunn. If am not
'HiSe"hNh' NioSc, misty VI lduy udyS
in summer generally produce a larger
crop Of suicides than are reported on
any other days. / have also noticed
that suicides in summer are more fire.
quent by drowning. or by poison, or
shooting, the self-destroyers choosing
parks and other public places. AS a
rule they take to gas, or the rope in the
fnn ay,1 IL III.
ders committed on the impulse Of the
moment are ever influenced by the
weather. York Journal.