The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-07-25

1 the record of murder, burglary and
other crimes could be shown by baro-
! meter mathena tically constructed for
the purpose just as accurately as the
weather is now shown by the common
| barometer, the writer set out upon d
little journey of inquiry among the
meteorological sharps 10 ascertain just
how much of truth and how much of the
zeal of a scientific specialist was con-
tanned in DR.. Dauchney's statement.
| In what degree the French savant was
right can best be decided after a pc
rusal of the facts in hand.
HOT WEATHER PRODUCES CRIME.
The statistics of the weather bureaus
prove, first, that men and women who
live in high ATTITUDES have in their
mental and physical makeups much
more of the animal than have their
brethren of the south, and in ccnse-
quence, while the southerner is easily
discouraged and losing heart takes to
suicide. the man who was born and
lives in the north revenges himself
upon his fellow beings rather than
upon himself; and, secondly, that crime
is generally Dremeditated in warm,
cloudy weather, While the deed itself
is executed under clear and bracing
meteorological conditions. The reports
of the department of agriculture on this
SuDJcCls luOQSn llOl DIS tAndQSllNC StS
one might wish, are at one with En-
glish and French facts and figures of
the same find. Our native investigat-
ors say that during excessively hot
weather. when there is a great deal of
humidity in the atmosphere and per-
sons perspire more freely, when there
is little or no relief for sweltering hui
manity, the mind becomes to a certain
extent deranged and the commission Of
crime results.
DARK DAYS MEAN INCREASE OF
MURDER.
After a thorough study of the ques-
ton, Professor 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 faculties.
Dark days and muggy weather means
an increase of murder, robbery, rape
arson and suicide" DIR. S. A. K. Stra-
han, who, next to Lambroso, ranks as
one of the foremost criminologists of
the deay, says, relative to the effect of
weather upon those who are morally
oblique: The popular belief is that
the winter months, and especially
dreary November is the season in
which crimes occurred most frequently.
Like some other popular beliefs, this
has proved upon inquiry to be with
out foundation in fact. The examina-
ton of a large collection of statistics,
although not establishing a constant
proportion for each season, shows
clearly that in all countries from which
statistics can be obtained, the maxi
mum is attained in one or other of the
spring, or early summer months" DR..
Strahan further states that it is when
skies are lowering and there is much
humidity that the commission of crime
is greatest
Another interesting fact is this: A
man or woman who lives much alone
is. in 90 per cent of the cases inVesti
gated, 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 hearted. The
clearing of a 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 sudden changes of
weather, the climatic influence upon
human character and action is a fac
tor of no little importance. There is an |
annual rhythmic rise and fall which |
affects the animate nature. With the |
approach of spring and the increase of !
temperature there is a general awak- |
ening from the winters period of COM |
parative rest. With this awakening |
every function is excited to its most !
vigorous action. This has a profound |
effect upon the whole organism, which |
begins TO work at a higher tension.
Mind and body is more active than al |
3; -
normal, healthy creature. this period of |
activity has only the most benign eff
feet, but upon the abnormal creature it
acts as an incentive to unnatural acts.
Hence during 1896 New York shows an
average record of over 1000 crimes per
month during April. May, June and
July, and the largest number of en-
tries at the police station were made
on the cloudy or rainy days Of those
months.
WHAT MR.. DUNN SAYS.
In speaking of the peculiar effect of
conditions upon the hui
man system Weather Forecaster Dunn
of New York, who is among the best
in the world, gave as his
upon the subject much
data. He says: During
the passage of a storm, when the tenn
perature is excessive and the atmos
pbere is thoroughly saturated with
moisture, such an atmospheric cDndi-
ton is bound to make more or less of
an impression upon a certain class of
persons of susceptible temperature. We
al recognize the fact that on some
days we feel energetic and capable of
doing almost anything, while on others
there is a Discrimination to work or
make any exertion. person feels
what is commonly called "out of sorts