The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-19

NEW YORK, March 1S.-The most COM
prehensive and thorough study Of crimi-
mails has just been completed by Or.
Charles Perrier. Or. Perrier is the physi-
clan of the great prison at Mines, and
during the last four years he has devoted
much time and attention to the study Of
the $50 criminals in that prison. These
cOnvicts came from all over the earth.
There were Frenchmen. Italians, Span
iards. Arabs. Englishmen, even Americans
among them. They came from every walk
Of life-from commerce, the professions,
the trades, and from the idlers.
The French prisoners were cheerful and
easily adapted themselves to prison disci-
pline. The Neapolitans and Sicilians we're
lazy, while those Italians from the north
ern provinces were industrious ana tract
able. The English were cool and correct,
thinking only Of making themselves as
comfortable as possible. They are as care
full in cleaning their teeth and washing
hands and face as if they were in their
own private bedrooms. Their ambition is
TO have clean work to do and to live peace
ably. The Arabs are supremely indiffer-
ent, sleeping all night long and all day IL
they get a chance.
The $50 conyicts may be grouped in sew
eral classes. First come the pickpockets
and sneak thieves. Most OF these have
little education, but are of quick intelli-
genee. They are bound together by a
strong freemasonry. hiding money and
fpharcn in
wonderful sharpness. They prefer light
work, and. as a rule, are clearly.
In the next class come the swindlers,
bsnkrupts, dishonest clerks and the like.
Usually intelligent they enjoy a certain
amount Of consideration from the others.
From among these the prison staff Of
clerks and accountants is supplied They
are distinguished by d certain sentiment
of pride; they are no common thieves.
In a third class may be put together all
the peasants. workmen. and others who
have been led astray more by accident,
by passion. and anger than evil intention.
Most Of these scorn the world in which
they are forced to live for awhile, but
they are tractable taciturn. and well be-
haved.
In fourth class are the thieves. per
jurers. and violators Of social laws. Most
of these are timid and lack all education.
They are always complaining. and are al
ways afraid that they will do too much
work
And then there are the Anarchists.
though most of these have been convicted
of other crimes than anarchistic ones. Most
Of them are Anarchists only to the. extent
of wishing to have the gold in other mems
strong boxes Two real Anarchists we're,
however. among the number. and they \
were most intelligent men. They did not
seek converts but we're very reserved
The crimes for which these $50 men suf-
fered were as follows: Theft, 4s9; sneak
thievinE and begging. 20; vaeabonds. Is;
assault and battery 90; inficting mortal
wounds Il: threatening murder. 8; at
tempted poisoning. I; attempted homicide
]; assassination. ]; attempted assassina-
ton. 2; murder, %: attempted murder y;
accomplices to murder 2; violations Of so
cisl laws. g.; sWindling. breach OF trust.
etc. 70. counterfeiting. y; arson, 8. and
making explosive engines. 1.
In studying the ages Of the malefsctors
it was found that 2lS Of this number were
between thirty and forty years Of age, a
rather surprising fact indicating that the
tendency to crime is grearest at this
period. .tit.,tFD, -tu .pt j
II these malefactors be grouped in four
classes. il is found that sos are guilty Of
thieving arson. counterfeiting. etc; -. Of
swindling and breach Of trust. lj2 Of at
tempts against human life. and 81 are vlo-
lators Of moral laws.
The immediate motives Of the crimes
form an interesting array OF facts, sug-
gCsting perhaps a method OF avoiding some
Of them. Discussions and disputes led TO
80 crimes demands for money led 10 10;
jealousy TO l3. and family quarrels 10 4.
The weapons used against their victims
were generally pointed instruments or
tools. firearms being used in only % per |
cent Of the cases
In studying he DAYS on which The crimes |
were committed Dr. Perrier found that the |
largest number took place on sundays. per- |
haps because idleness is the mother Of
many evils and even Of thefts, surprising
TO relate. more took place in the day time
than al night
In the crimes against property 1872 Of the |
criminals were from cities and PAS from
the country. but in crimes against persons
q were from cities and 125 from the |
A most important point for crimiuolo- |
gists is that only 252 Of all these convicts !
were convicted for the first time; 4OS
had been convicted previously from one
to five times. and 1879 had been convicted !
FIVE times and more Once criminal.
always a criminal
In those who committed crimes against
POS were drunkards and 49, we're |
sober. but among those who committed the
greater crimes against persons l2U were
drunkards and 80 sober. which would seem
to indicate that alcohol has much 10 do !
with crime The number Of il!terate /
criminals was very small. l26 out Of the |
$50. by far the larger number, ops being !
able to read and write It seems. TOO. |
that 5g3 OF the convicts were dark skinned, /
so the warning OF the fortune telleIs, |
Beware Of a dark man. is based upon
a knowledge OF this strange fact that a |
large majority of the malefactors are not /
blondes.
DR.. Perrier has found that pickpockets !
most often are English, and they are very |
expert at their business, receiving a spe- /
cial training in schools Of crime. The |
American thieves he finds. are men Of /
intelligence, speaking several /
languages The French are sneak thieves !
and have reduced begging to a science, |
inhrmlties and maladies with |
wonderful realism
Many Of the prisoners are constitution /
ally opposed TO working, which they call /
a prostitution. Many Of the prisoners were |
found to have considerable artistic talent, |
which il used legitmately. would have |
earned them excellent liyelihoods. Dr. |
PerrieT utilized their talent in Illustrating I
the volume Of statistics which he was !
compiling. On the walls Of the cells were |
numerous drawings and has reliefs Of con
siderable artistic merit though often the |.
tNmes were not the most elevating.
immortality and crime are but different I
names for the same lack OF self-contr9l or /
sin