The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1896-02-07
WOMEN AS CRIMINALS.
A Detectives testimony Regard.
ing the Sexes ia Crime.
There Are More W.. ~ Ien Than Won.
o.. Yet the Wnmc, ~ = More Cruel
and Deliberate III Their
Grimes.


"While man is undoubtedly as rule
the more prominent IN crime, woman,
on the other hand. is ut once more cruel
and cunning IN what she does" says
noted detective in the San Francisco
Post.
''From the circumstance that con-
siderable less number of women than
ence is drawn that in WV. 4 the :'riml-
nal propensities are weaker or under
better control Such conclusion is,
however, not borne out by the facts, for
when crimes have been trac... t. uomen
It has been found, in the ~ .iority OF
cases, that the guilty deeds have been
committed not only with sy teinatic
cunning, but also with co:lnoss and
cruelty which have seldom been attrib-
dted to men.
s'There are several reasons" cOntin-
aed the detective, ''why so few women
nave been convicted of crime. Mans
natural sympathy for her often causes
aim to overlook important points
against her If there are men in this
profession who are not susceptible to
woman's plea, 1, in my experience of
swenty-six years, have failed to find
hem.
Another thing: 1t is seldom consid-
fred that girls are watched more care
fully than boys, and are under greater
restraint Neither is it taken into ac-
count that older fer ales 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 always
If the best Many of the temptations to
crime come from business complications.
n which women have little orno share,
IS 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 take place in the street or
oarroom, and not in the parlor or sit
:ing-rOOm.
''Now as TO the cruelty and delibera-
lion of the female criminal. The his
;ory of crime shows that most of the
murders committed by women are those
oerpetrated by the administration of
poison. They show careful prepare
lion and great deliberation. In almost
svery instance treachcry is employed.
The victim being invited to partalle OF
refreshments supplied by one who is
presumed to be friend Murder by
The administration of poi, n is oonsid-
,red the most foul and t.: i,Iest of
Ill crimes, but it is the one 1ns.l women
nave been addicted to more generally
than men in all ages and countries.
"Another very remarkable fact" con-
:inued the detective, ''has recently been
mentioned in q London paper by the
chaplain of Clcrlzcnwcll Jail. 1t is that
some criminals are practically incura-
ole. From a table prepared by him it
was shown that during last year there
we're committed to the prisons and jails
If England and Wales $3.50 men and
9,764 women who had been convicted no
.ess than ten times previously You see
The force of the comparison.
GA partial explanation of this strange
state of things may be found in the fact
that women arc more thorough-going
N all things, good, bad OR .,tliirIcrcnt.
Than the mon. They do :: thi : by
valves. Be the matter the e Instruction
Of shortcake, the making of crazy
quilt or the poisoning of a rival, woman
devotes all her time, knowledge and
talent to what she has in view.
"Then, again, woman has less
chance of reformation than 4 man. The
latter can go to a strange or distant
place, raise whiskers or shave those he
had, assume different name and COM
mence life anew. He can generally find
employment, but with the woman it is
more difficult. Disguise is not SO easy,
and if she goes to q different place
some one is liable to recognize her.
"a strange woman is all AVS looked
upon with suspicion, rs it is presumed
that she would prefer to live in the
town where she was brought up and
where her old acquaintances are. A
man gets credit for his enterprise if he
goes to new country and engages in a
business for himself, but such is not the
case with woman. If she is once dis
covered her own sex are the first to
point their fingers at her, then up their
| doses, and refuse to associate with her.
the result of which is that she becomes
hardened and callous and is again driv.
IN to crime"