Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1907-03-20
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4. Sd. EXPERIMENT..
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Barnicoat of Professor Nourse. The
first occupied the chair of chemistry
and the latter of sociology at the Uni,
versity of B.
+ Haven't read it," replied Nourse.
II take no interest in present methods
Of handling the criminal problem"
"What do you mean?' :.
"Why are people criminals? There
are three distinct causes-tirst, heredi-
ty; second, environment: third, neces-
sity. Under these three heads you may
manufacture criminals ad hbitum."
"Oh. that's newfangled bosh and Is
leading up to lot of sentimental op-
position to the punishment of crime"
"You haven't studied the matter as
thoroughly as have. You are inter-
ested in chemical problems. while my
duties have led me kto Investigate
those in criminology. u find that un-
der certain conditions people become
criminals in far greater proportion
than under other conditions. For in
stance, large percentage of the chill
dren of foreign born parents become
jailbirds. Now, If you saw a CORE
spending result in the chemical world
you would look for cause"
s'"Rats, Donald! Good Is good and
bad Is bad; always has been and al
ways will be-"
After much more of this dialogue
Professor Barnicoat left unconverted.
He was sitting up late one night at
home reading when there was a ring
at the telephone, and he received a
message from Professor Nourse.
"Come over as quickly as you can.
I've caught a fine specimen Of the
genus criminal, and we'll experiment
with him.
Barnicoat lost no time in joining his
friend and. going up into his bedroom.
saw him covering burglar with re-
volver. The burglar was sitting in a
chair waiting to be turned over to the
police.
"1s he heredity case?' asked Barni-
coat.
1--WE shall see. Sit down."
Nourse made an examination of his
prisoner, with the result that he came
under the third head the professor had
laid down. He had been strained be-
yond endurance. He had a wife at
home with sick baby. He was out
Of work. There was no doctor for the
baby, no medicine and no food for any
Of the family. The husband and ia
ther had gone out to steal something
to provide for his wife and child. See
ing window open on Nourse's piazza,
he stepped! in and CROPPED his way up
stairs to Nourse's bedroom. Nourse,
hearing him in his room, reached down
under the bed where he kept revolv-
er, turned on the electric lights and
covered the thief
The two. friends conferred together
in an undertone.
II claim,'' said Nourse, that this
fellow has the godlike element. in him
that would lead him to give his life for
love-" -"
II don't believe it," whispered
Barnicoat.
.'.We'n try him." With that he turn
ed to the man, who sat the picture Of
misery. "Have you anything to say
why I should not call the police?"
"Oh, God, what will she and the child
do?"
"WQuld you be willing to secure re-
lief for them by sacrificing yourself?"
IF you will relieve them I'll go to
Jail willingly"
"rhe alternative must be worse for
you than that. Your family is limo
cent. You are not. You must be, pun
ished. Now, if you will save the state
the expense of trial and taking care
of you for the rest of your life-as it
will certainly have to do now that you
have started on a criminal career-by
Furnishing yourself I and my friend
will sign paper 0bligating ourselves
to provide for your family for ten
years"
''How do you want me to punish N.Y.
self?'
by blowing out your brains"
'You don't mean that. That's not
the punishment for burglary"
ut Is my alternative i,
Nourseg spoke with icy GOODNESS, and
the man turned pale. He was given
time to consider, while Nourse pointed
out the advantages of the course he
proposed, the gist of which was that
his family would be taken care Of and
he would be saved from life that
would be far worse than death. Final
" he said, hoarsely and family: =
II accept They will be saved
Nourse at once placed Barnicoat on
guard and, going into another room, re-
turned with the agreement he had pro-
posed in writing, and he and Barnicoat
signed it.. He had also a pistol in his
hand. Turning the burglar with his
face to the wall, he handed him the pis.
tol and told him to perform his part
Of the contract. There was some talk
about the parties Of the other part not
being bound to carry out their agree
ment, but the burglar finally waived all
this. The friends waited silently fol
him to put a ball in, his brain while
the clock licked away ten minutes
Then there was an explosion. The
burglar tottered and fell In q heap o.
the floor. =:is Z :s. I. :..5s SO ~
''Get up, man; you are not hurt. You
fred q blank cartridge" .s
They raised him, and he lookedya
them dazed, slowly gathering hi.
forces. e ~ Ell. ". .5s.
".Go home. Take this" handing him
4 bill. "I'll send a doctor. Well STAR
you on an honest career" 5.5.s
When the two friends parted, Barni
coat admitted that the professor Of