The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-11-27
PROBLEM OF DEGENERAcY.
MEN ACCUSED OF CRIME EXCEP-
TIONALLY MORAL IN YOUTH.

Case of Robert j. KnOx-Educated
and Reared AmfGSt EIeVating Ia
huences He Is Now Suspected or
Neutrality-suspicious. Fail From
| Observation-Disclosures Gangs Alleged
Leader Held High Positions OF
State-A Psychological Defense for
Accused New York Men-Banks ST.
lent ON Swindles.
| From the Philadelphia Press.
New York. Nov. 2l-If Robert ]. Knox
should be compelled to stand trial in Pitts
| burg, or in Connecticut or Rhode Island
| upon charges of swindling, his counsel
| would have abundant opportunity 10 estab-
| Hsh a defense in entire sympathy with tho
views recently set forth by Lambroso in
! his work on criminology. Accusations are
said to have been forwarded 10 the Gov
ernor in the form of requisiton papers
| alleging that Robert j. Knox, lawyer of
this city. is one of that most expert band
| of swinders who operate by methods that
seem to have taken the place of the bank
| burglars plan. and to have been first
practiced successfully by the Bidwen gang
| in London.
Not only Mr Knox but at least one
of his alleged accomplices who is also
under arrest, and has been under arrest
many times may furnish to the counsel
employed in the defense an opportunity
| to elaborate a psychological defense
which, while 1t may not have any weight
with the jury, may possibly give occa-
sion for most careful study and investi-
CATION of that mental and character de-
| generacy that produces unexp.ainable tur-
| pitude in those whose early environments
| and associations and some of whose tenn
perameutal qualities would justify the be-
| lief that they We're the last persons de-
| hberately to begin a criminal career
| Wanted Opportunities.
Some such defense as that may be Of
| fered in the MoiineuX case, which Is now
progressing before Recorder Goff, al
| though the crime of which Molineux was
| accused and the motives which led to 1t
| are recognized by students of abnormal
chara cter development as something that
no man can feel absolutely sure that he
will ever be free from, since the motives
! of jealousy and revenge are among the
most powerful to which human nature IS
subject.
If ever a young man had every encour-
! agement through early association,
/ through 1dmny Dflue, NltOhbn INC ANN
! straining influences of education, and
through natural abilities which are con-
siderable. to life which would be sure to
gain the respect of the community, and al
most equally sure to provide a comforta-
bic income, that man is Robert j. Knox.
Some of the members of his family were
! distinguished men. His uncle, the late
John jay Knox was the second controller
| of the currency, and held that office for
many years, long enough to make his inn
press felt upon the rational banking sys-
tenn of the United States. When he re-
| signed from that office he became presi-
! dent of a national bank in New York,
and his associations were with men of the
| highest cultivation, especially with those
Of broad scholarship.
The father of Robert j. Knox was even
more widely and favorably known within
another field of action than John ].
| Knox was. The father was the Rev. DR..
william Knox, for many years pastor of
one of the most prominent OF the Presby
terian churches Of Central New York,
man of national influence within the de-
| nomination, and of a singularly, kindly.
gentle and refined nature. He was
| scholarly man and his children were
brought up amid all of the refinements
and culture which high scholarship, moral
atmosphere and certain honorable pride
of family station always create.
DR. Knox sent two of his sons to coy
] leBe. JONI, dil OiQtT DIOllcE OI INDDtIl
j., and Robert ]. Knox. In college these
two Knox boys distinguished themselves
for unusual intellectual abilities, and 1t
was freely predicted of them that great
careers or at least fairly successful fu-
cures awaited them.
Queer Stories Told.
BY what perverslty of q latent kind In
iheir natures or by what moral obliquity
they were impelled to such a line of con-
duct as caused them to be most anxious
Nv talked about by their friends may be
subject of intense interest TO the alienists.
At all events, there were very unhappy
stories told of John Knox, INVOLVING, II
they were true, almost complete loss of
self-respect and a total over-shadowing by
these regrettable impulses of the infu-
ences in which he had lived from child
hood 20 maturity.
Robert ]. Knox came to New York, prac-
ticed law, and those who knew him were
of the opinion that he had the qualities OF
intellect and character that would bring
TO him a career even more brilliant than
that which seemed in store for Flihu
Root who was, il is understood, a college
mate of the Knoxes. Al all events, he
was a graduate only few years ahead OF
them.
Now come affdavits, which, If sustain
ed on trial, would establish the fact mat
| Robert j. Knox has been the intermedi-
| that elaborate and almost magnificent
scheme Of swindling by means OF spurious
drafts and checks which the gang known
| by the name of whitman" has so sue
cessfully carried out i'm various parts of
| the United States. That Knox was assoc
ciated with this gang, at least through ac-
quaintance, seems to be established for
he was arrested while in the company of
one of it's members. The police here de-
clare that there can be no doubt that he
furnished that part of the capital which
entailed legal knowledge. familiarity with
banking methods and adroitness, GOODNESS
and polish, such as were necessary to in
Spire the confidence of the bank officers
whom this gang proposed to rob
The Whitman Gang.
The Whitman gang II the accusations
now made against its members are found
to be true at any one of the several trials
that different state authorities desire To