The Washington times., 1901-07-14
SOCIETY And THE CRIMINAL
Methods for the detection and Pre-
ventiOn of Crime.
Fifth international Congress of
Criminal ARthropoIoEy to Meet at
Amsterdam Next Septembcr-Im-
portant Questions to BE Considered

ne ItpdIlHltHl VI Ctdlt ms IttEiNtN
a note from the Minister of the Neither
lands stating that the Fifth International
Congress of Criminal Authropology will
be held in Amsterdam from September
to September "A. 1901. The principal
questions to be discussed are: First, an
atomical and physiological characters of
criminals, descriptive studies; second,
criminal psychology and psychopatholo-
gy, criminals and lunatics. theoretical
considerations, and practical measures;
third, criminal anthropology IN it's legal
and administrative application. principles
to be followed, preventive measures, pro
tective measures, penalties; fourth, Grim
inal sociology. economic causes of crime,
criminality and socialism: fifth, criminal
anthropology and ethnology compared
Special questions viii also be considered
Criminal anthropology is a new science,
having had it's origin in Italy less than
twenty years ago. II involves questions
of vital Importance in the welfare of ma
tons, and is. in the opinion Of many emf
nent minds of the day. worthy Of the
widest and most prominent recognition.
The objects of the science are, briefly.
the causes and prevention Of crime. 1t
is interesting to observe that. in the study
of these essential points. the most subtle
and even apparently far-fetched ques-
tions have been involved. Thus Signor
Lombroso, the great Italian eriminologist,
who paid a visit to this city not long ago,
has written a very curious paper in which
he shows the relation of the bicycle TO
crime, proving statistically that since the
popular use of that vehicle murder and
other crimes have materially increased in
Italy. II would seem, therefore. that the
relation of the motor vehicle with crime
would be next in order Among the re-
markable conclusions reached by crimino-
logists may be mentioned that of Jolly,
who declares that the physiognomy of
criminals loses the stamp OF type of their
nationality. Ottolenghi has found that
the nasio babiaI wrinkle is a characteris-
tic of the criminal; also that female criTni-
nails differ among each other as much as
the men, but lack characteristic wrinkles
common to the latter. According to the
same authority, certain classes have a
Jargon OF dialect among themselves. as
well as a style of handwriting. which has
been confirmed by hypuotism- The pc
cuuarities OF criminals he proceeds, "ex-
tend even to their art. They excel in me-
chanics and precision of detail, but lack
in ideaHty. The study of molecular
changes has given some curious results.
The average temperature is much above
the normal in criminals 1t presents but
slight variation in pyretic maladies."
NJ. Benedict, of Vienna, has expressed
the opinion that criminals are sick men.
either in body or spirit. and that If one
examine the exterior mcrphoIogic signs to
explain and account for the existence of
crime in the conduct of a given individual,
it is equally necessary to investigate the
molecular trouble in his cerebral struc-
ture.
Prof Thomas Wilson. OF the Smithson-
ian Institution, who is probably the most
distinguished criminal anthropologist in
this country, is of opinion that only by
the adoption OF a general and efficient
plan for gathering statistics. and making
a collection and classification of reports
for purposes Of comparison, can any
really valuable and certain results be at
tanned New York and Massachusetts
are the most prominent States in gather
ing and keeping records OF criminal data,
says the professor but each works upon
its own plan and without relation to the
other. In most of the States of the Union
there has been only slight attempt to
keep vital statistics. Marriages. births.
deaths. conviction for crime are intended
to be made a matter of record, but the
panaIty provided by law for the neglect is
so slight and so rarely enforced as to be
Intellectual Ours is a new country; our
people have never been accustomed to
stFictness in making or keeping such rec
ords. The population in many localities
is sparse, compared with the densely
populated nations of Europe; the people
change their residence often, they go and
come at will, there is no military service
demanded of them, and it is exceedingly
rare for a pauper to be returned to the
place OF his original domicile that he may
be supported at public expense. So the
needs which exist in Europe for such rec
ords fail in the United States.
The only necessity for such statistics
l believe to be for historic or sociologic
PURPOSES There are also other reasons
why this country has not kept pace with
European nations in the collation. of such
records Compared with those European
which are distinguished in their
efforts at gathering minute sociologic
data, the United States has a vast extent
1t was also, as compared with those coun-
tries, discovered only a few years ago. 1t
has had only about a hundred years of
life. one hundred years ago it had but
8. 900 souls; it extends from the At
lantic TO the Pacific, a distance OF near
ly 5000 miles. and its centre OF population
remained, until within sixty years or so,
practically on the Atlantic coast. Our
had TO be rescued from the pos
session of the barbarian, and people
thus engaged had but little time and less
inclination to keep records and statistics
which, in their opinion. have only senti-
mental utility. So it has as yet been
attempted. We may accomplish
it after a time; not at present.
The difficulties are increased by our
form of government. We have that anom-
ally Of two sovereignties over one peo-
pie. Since each State in the Union has
its own jurisdiction over crime. the
United States Census is dependent large
ly for its criminal statistics upon the
State authorities. In the case of a State
census each Will be separate and distinct,
and it may be different from any other
The wonderful system of personal
Identification discovered by DR. Adolph
BertilIon is now practically in universal
use IL was intended by it's inventor as a
means for identifying the criminal ma
ture, although it's only employment at
present is for purposes Of general identi-
fcation."
FYPTORATT0NS I'M ECvpT