Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-07-24

Y
'NW ! to grapple with and
y solve. The direct re-
suits of their inves-
disclose some exceedingly interesting facts.
which, sborn of their technical language,
are here given. Secretary of Agriculture
James Wilson, who has vastly improved
the inner workings of the national depart
ment of meteorology, is conducting spe-
cdal series of Investigations in relation to
criminology. Elias B. Dunn of the New
York weather bureau has been making
number of observations on his own &C
count. In 50 far as Mr.. Dunns investi-
cations of the effect of weather upon the
weak minded or criminally inclined have
been carried, he is in perfect agreement
with his colaborers at the capital, who, in
no uncertain language, affirm that atmos-
pheric conditions have to a very considera-
BILE extent an influence upOn the conduct
of habltual criminals and persons Of I'M
sound mind.
That mans mental functions are to a
greater or lesser extent governed by his
physical condition is fact long ago dis
covered by psychologists. But to what ex
tent the shortcomings or evil doings of
mankind directly traceable to condi-
lions of the weather it has remained until
today for physicians, scientists and lay
men interested in such research to find out.
Irdeed, the majority of normal persons,
whatever their occupation, are swayed in
tellectually and physically by the prevail
ing state of the weather. and the police
records disclose a corresponding increase
or decrease of crime with the falling and
rising barometer. And these statements
are not haphazard, nor are they founded
upon superstition: they are matters of rec
ord and scientific fact, vouched for by the
10 fbf,ri loo
of the land.
A Criminal barometer.
When Prof Emil Dauchney of Paris
recently made the assertion that the rec
ord of murder, burglary and other crimes
could be shown by a barometer mathe-
matically constructed for the purpose just
as accurately as the weather is now shown
by the common Eal ometer. the writer set
out upon a little journey of inquiry among
the meteor illogical sharps to ascertain just
how much of truth and how much of the
zeal of a scientific specialist was contained
in DR.. Da:Ichney's statement. In what de-
gree the French savant was right can best
be decided after perGsal of the facts in
hand
The statistics of the weather bureaus
prove, first, that men and women who
live in high ATTITUDES have in their men
tai and physical makeup much more Of
the animal than have their brethren of
the south and in consequence, while the
southerner is easily discouraged and losing
heart takes to suicide. the man who was
born and lives II the north reVenges HIM
self upon his fellow beings rather than up
on himself; and, Sc condly. that crime Is
generally premedftated in warm, cloudy
weather, while the deed itself is executed
under clear and bracing meteorological
conditions. The reports of the Depart
ment of Agriculture on this subject, though
not as exhaustive as one might wish are
h I;.I,.
figures of the same kind. Our native in
Vestigators say that during excessively hot
weather, when there is a great deal of hui
Nudity in the atmosphere and persons per-
spire most freely, when there is little or
no relief for sweltering humanity. the
MIND becomes to certain extent deranged
anu the commission of crime results.
Dark Days and Murder.
After thorough study of the question,
Prof. Dauchney says: When very moist
the atmosphere is a much better conductor
OF electricity than at any other time. Then
the natural electricity is drawn from the
body, and this has a tendency to DESTROY
vitality and so weaken the mental facul-
ties. Dark days and muggy weather means
an increase of murder robbery, rape, arson
and suicide" DR.. S. A. K. Strahan who
next to Lombroso, ranks as one CT the
foremost criminologists of the day, says,
those
who are morally obique: 1.-The popular be-
lief is that the winter months, and espe-
ciaily dreary November, Is the season In
which crimes occurred most frequently
Like some other popular beliefs this has
proved upon inquiry to be without foun-
dalton in fact. The examination of a large
collection of statistics, although not estab-
l1sninS constant proportion for each ST a
son. shows clearly that in all countries
from which statistics can be obtained the
maximum is attained in one other of the
spring or early summer months.
Dr. Strahan further states that it is when
skies are lowering and there is much HUI
nudity that the commission of crime is
greatest.
Another interesting fact is this: A man
or woman who lives much alone is, in so
per cent of the cases investigated much
more easily Influenced by atmospheric
changes than are others. So a person who
has many troubles, and is constantly
thinking of them, is much more susceptible
to any sudden changing of the weather
than one who is care free and light-heart-
ed. The clearing of storm or a single
literal ray of sunshine would In hundreds
of thousands of cases, have prevented sui
eide and murder.
In regions like New York and Boston,
where there are so many and such sud
den changes of weather. the climatic in
fiuence upon human character and action
is a factor of no little Importance. There
Is an annual rhythmic rise and fall which
affects the animate nature. With the ap-
proach of spring and the increase Of tenn
perature there is a general awakening
from the winters period of comparative
rest With this awakening every function
is excited to its most vigorous action. This
has a profound effect upon the whole or
ganism, which begins to work at higher
tension. Mind and body more active
than at any other time of the year. Upon
the normal, healthy creature this period of
activity has only the most benign effect,
but upon the abnormal creature it acts as
an incentive to unnatural acts. Hence dur
ing 1896 New York shows an average
record of over 1000 crimes per month dur
ing April May, June and July, and the
largest number of entries at the police sta
ton were made on the cloudy or rainy
days of those months.
What Mr.. Dunn Says.
In speaking of the peculiar effect of at
mospheric conditions upon the human sys-
TEN, Weather Forecaster Dunn of New