The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1902-02-06
DEATHS BY vIoLENcE.IS 1eol.u

DEATHS BY VIOLENCE.IN 19Ol.u
The Chicago Tribune's annual record
of deaths by violence in the United
States shows an increase in 1901 as com.
pared with 1900 in the number of lynch
lngs and suicides and decrease in the
number of murders and legal execu.
tons. Specifically, the number of
lynchings was 1876 against IFS in the
previous year, Of suicides, Z ,245. against
6,754; OF murders, 1852 against 1926;
and OF legal executions 11S against l19.
The lynching record, through deplora.
ably large Is still below the average of
the previous ten years. The South
furnished most of the increase in lynch
ings, having "enjoyed" I'll of these
spectacles against 1O7 in 1900, but the
percentage of increase in the North was
larger, the number haying risen to IA
against in 1900. California, Idaho,
Montana, Kansas and Indiana were
the states responsible for this increase.
Minnesota, as usual. was free from
this sort Of blot on its scutcheon.
The principal causes assigned for
these atrocities were murder in 80 cases
and criminal assault in 10 cases. This
is about the usual proportion and shows
the falsity of the prevalent impression
that most lynchings are natural and
condonable exercise. OF vengeance for
cowardly and brutal assaults on woman
hood. Only small proportion spring
from sentiment which, through woe
fully misdirected, is at least respectable.
AS between whites and negroes the lat
ter furnished 107 of the 1876 victims.
The increase in suicides is almost un-
accountable. The record for 1901 is by
TAR the largest in the last ten years and
probably in the history of the country.
In 1892 the number of suicides WAS 81
$50, rising rapidly during the hard times
to $500 in 1897. But in 1898 there was
decline to 1920, and further decline
in 1899 to $3.50. In 1900 the number
leaped to 6,755, and to 1926 in 1901.
The only explanations that suggest
themselves are that men who found that
they could not succeed in good times
lost all hope; that the possession of
wealth induced indulgences that wreck
ed the mind, body or prospects of the
victim, and that speculation and disap-
pointment claimed larger quota than
in less active periods. Nor is light
thrown OH the problem by the proper.
ton of the sexes, $3.50 having been
males and 1896 females. The statistics
of the means employed are rather sug-
gestive. Poison was used by 3,1OO,
shooting by 2,476, hanging by GA,
drowning by 5l3, cutting the throat by
S56, jumping from heights by IS, throw
ing themselves in front of locomotives
by 80, stabbing by 81, fire by %, dyna.
mite by IL, and starving by 6. Consid
ering that water is plentiful and drown
ing this most painless of deaths, the
fondness of suicides for uncomfortable
| processes is rather peculiar.
Of the 1852 murders, l ,29l were fol
causes unknown, 4,646 the outcome Of
quarrels, $50 because OF intoxica ton,
2S4 for jealousy, l35 for resisting arrest,
and % in self-defense. Strikes claimed
20 victims and riots 36, and l39 deaths
were cases of infanticide. Most of these
crimes were committed in eastern cities
or in the south. On the whole, the
west appears to be the most healthful
region in which to live.-Pioneer P:ess