New Iberia enterprise and independent observer., 1906-02-24
The CHIEF CAUSES OF CRIME.

the State Health Conference a
Alexandria. the other day. presi
b dent lrion, of the Louisiana Stat
Board of Health. took occasion t,
speak Of the supreme importanc,
to health of good cookiag, and h,
, declared that improperly prepare,
food was the cause of many crimes
Without doubt, the origin ot
many serious diseases is to be trar
ed to uuwholcsome aud iudigestihlt
food, and person suffering from
| dyspepsia often feels miserable and
desperate enough to commit any
crime, no matter how outrageous.
but it is doubtful if the annals of
the criminal courts record many
crimes that are properly attrihut-
able 10 defective cuisine. When
we come to strong drink the record
is vastly different. 1t is probably
not an eXaggeration to say that
four ffths of all violent crimes are
the result of excessive use of intCX-
icating liquors. The following
scene from Chicago police court,
but which might have happened in
any large city is from a recent
Chicago paper:
"Fred Taylor. 35 years old, who
asserted he was an alumnus of
Harvard University, was sent to
the Brldewell for ffty-three days
yesterday by Justice Mahoney, in
the Sheffield Avenue Police Court.
He did SO at Taylor's request, the
latter pleading to be sent to some
place where he could recover from
the effects of drink.
"PleaSe. Your Honor was his
plea, ''lf you wish to save an hon
est but unfortunate man from be
coming either criminal or a sui
eide send me to the Bridewell long
enough to get the whisky ont of
me and to keep me away from the
cursed stuff SO may overcome the
habit.
Taylor entered the Sheffield
Avenue Station Tuesday night thin
" clad, cold and hungry. He wore
no hose and most of the sole was
off one of his shoes
Il am a human wreck, an out
cast of society," continued Taylor
in response to Justice Mahoney's
questions, "My parents are
wealthy aud among the most re
spectacle in Massachusetts aud |
have a wife and two of the prettiest
little girls in the county. They are
now dependent on the charity of
my wife $ mother, when they should
be living in a home of their own
and riding in their own carriages"
"1oung man, your story inter
ests me, said the Justice 81 will
grant your request and send you to
the Bridewell for fifty three days.
IF at the end of that time you feel
strong enough to resist the craving
for liquor and are still of the same
resolve to once more become "A man,
come to me aud will help vou.'
The drunkard will commit any
crime in order to secure the means
of gratifying his depraved appetite.
So also will the miserable wretch |
who is addicted to the use of mar
cotic drugs When overcome by |
the demand for qualification, both |
men and women are transformed |
into creatures that descend lower
than the brute beasts. They cast |
behind them every human quality, |
charactistic and capability, and are
driven by one all-controlling APP
petite
OF course, all crimes are not
chargeable to liquor aud drugs.
The scientific burglar and "safe-
breaker" the forger aud the in
genious and plausible confidence
swindler, need cool heads, strong
nerves and steady hands. SO does
the gambler. They would be ruin
ed by the excitement of an artificial
stimulent. The intelligence aud
lntrepidity required to carry on
their operations are exciting
enough, aud they are universally
temperate aud sober, if they are
70 be successful, hut the man or
woman who comes under habitual
to liquor or drugs is
creature who retains only
he human form aud but little of
proper human characteristics Pic.
IItdid IF Strong Uedicines.
Many people suffer for years from rheu-