The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-06-10
CLASSES OF CRIMINALS
Compnlsions by Nature to Violations
of All Laws.
Physical characteristics of IndiNid-
unls Afflicted With Evil Desires,
Beyond Their Control. to Commit
EcpreEcnsible Dccds-The Bcrtti-
Ion system of Identifying Offenders

The subject of criminal anthropology,
which had its origin as a science in Italy
fifteen years ago. though pursuing in its
more recent qualifications some rather
strange and outre lines Of investigation,
has for its goal and ultimate end the en-
lightenmeEt and lettering of humanity.
1t has been a question with some of the
most eminent men the world has produced
whether or not capital punishment serves
as a preventive OF crime, the opinions be-
ing in the cases of the most distinguish
ed and enlightened commentators in the
negative.
This however. is only one of the prob
lens which criminal anthropology has set
itself to solve. The causes and prevention
of crime are briefly the objects of the sci
ence, but in the study of these essential.
points the most subtle. and apparently far
fetched. questioned have been investigated,
as a recent magazine article by Signor
Lombroso. the great Italian criminologiet,
entitled THE Bicycle and Crime" may
serve to illustrate. The criminal anthro-
biologists seem entirely agreed that there
exists a distinct criminal class who. for
some natural cause explainable by science,
are compelled. as it were. to the commits
sion of their reprehensible deeds. Some OF
the more remarkable conclusions reached
by professors of the science may be men
toned Thus, Jolly has confirmed the
strange phenomenon that the physiognomy
af
their nationality.
Ottoienghi has studied and developed the
curious characteristics of criminals in r.
gard to badness or grey hair He his
found in them an enormous retardatln,
comparable only TO epiieptics AMI IDIOTS.
He also found the wrinkles 10 be more Lu-
meroue among criminals, and, above all.
the one nasio labial. which he remarked az
characteristic.
The female criminals" acco ding to the
same authority, differ among each other
as much as the men, and these cha ac.e:-
istics are almost entirely absent. The
criminals have a peculiar gesticliation
They have jargon or dialect among them
selves. as we'll as a caligrsphy, which Las
beer confirmed by hynotism.
The peculiarities of criminals exile d
even 10 their art They excel in me, hlnics
and their precision of detail, but they la k
in ideality. The study of molecular chan =
has given some curious results The av.r-
age temperature is much above the NOR
mai in criminals. 1t presents but slight
variation in pyretic maladies.''
To mention that these asserted ind ca
lions of abnormal natures have been Dis
puted as tests upon the ground Of their te-
ing mere physical peculigrities as common
to honest men as to animals, is scarcely
necessary. as such objections would nat1r-
ally occur to everyone.
NJ Boredikt, OF Vienna. has OK, ressed
the opinion that criminals are sick men.
either In body or spirit, and that If enc x
anime the exterior morphclog,c sigGs ex-
plain and account for the existence of
crime In the conduct of a given m n, it
Is equally necessary TO investigate tie mo-
lecular trouble in his cerebral structure.
In fact, no subject has probably awakened
SO much contention among sci.nt.sts S
criminal authropo,ogy. embracing as 1t
does. the investigation into that mys .eri5us
bcrderiand between the spiritual and ma
terial where human knowledge may still
be said to be in the dark.
Prof Thomas Wilson. OF The Smithso-
Man Institution, is OF opinion that only by
the adoption of general and efficient plan
for gathering statistics, and making a col
1etion and classification of reports for pur-
poses OF comparison. can any really yalua-
Bile and certain results be arrived at New
York and Massachusetts, are the most
prominent States in gathering and keeping
records of criminal data. but each says
Prof. Wilson works upon its own plan
and without relation to the other In most
Of the States of the Union" continues
Prof. Wilson. there has been only a slight
attempt TO keep vital statistics Marriages
births deaths conviction for crime are
intended to be made a matter OF record hut
the penalty provided by law for the neg
lect is SO slight and SO rarely enforced as
to be inffectual. Ours is a new country,
our people have never been accustomed to
strtctness in making or keeping such rec
ords. The population in many localities is
sparse. COMPARED with the densely popu-
lated nations of Europe; the people change
their residence often. they go and come at
Will. there is no military service demand
ed OF them and 1t is exceedingly rare for
q pauper to be returned to the place OF
his original domicile that he may be sup
ported at public expense So the needs
which exist in Europe for such records
fail in the United States.
The only necessity for such statistics
believe, to be for historic or socioloeic
purposes. There are also other reasons
why this country has not kept pace with
European nations iii the collation. OF such
records. Compared with these European
countries which are distinguished in their
efforts at gathering minute sociologic data
the United Statse has vast extent II
was also. as compared with those coun-
tries. discovered only few years ago 1t
has had only about hundred years OF life.
One hundred years ago il had but 5000 coo
souls; X extends from the Atlantic to the
Pacific, distance of nearly 5000 miles.
and its centre of population remained. un-
I'll within sixty years. practically on he
Atlantic Coast, and even now has not gone
beyond 600 miles to the westward. Our
country had TO be rescued from the pos
session of the barbarian, and people thus
engaged had but little time and less in
clination 10 keep records and statistics
which. in Their opinion, have only aent.-
mental utility. So ii has, as yet. been
scarcely attempted. We may accomplish
1t after time; not at present
The difficulties are increased by our
form of government We have that anom-
ally OF two eoyereignties within one coun-
try, two governments over one peopie.
Since each State in the Union has its own
Jurisdiction over crime the United States
Census is dependent largely for its GRIM
inal statistics upon the State authorities.
In the case OF State census each will be
separate and distinct and II may be diff
ferent from any other
THE wonderful system of personal
Identification discovered by DIR. Adolph
Bertillon tsometimes COMPOUNDED with the
- ndwriting expert who figured in the
Dreyfus trial.. and which is now in vogue
in most European nations. has had many
advocates Of its introduction into this
country. Although originally designed by
its inventor as a means for identifying
the criminal nature. its only practical
use. at present. is for purposes Of gen
eral Identification"