Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-03-27
DAILY STORY,
A SOCIOLOGICAL EXPERIMENT.
fOriginal.1


Barnicoat of Professor Nourse. The
first occupied the chair of chemistry
and the latter of sociology at the Uni
vcrsity of 3.
Haven't read it," replied Nourse.
Il take no interest in present methods
of handling the criminal problem"
What do you mcanT
"Why are people criminals? There
are three distinct causes-first, heredi.
ty; second, environment; third, ncces-
sity. Under these three heads you mag
manufacture criminals al libitum."
"Oh, that's newfangled bosh and is
leading up to a lot of sentimental OPP
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 to investigate
those i'll criminology. l find that I'M
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 n CORE
spending result in the chemical world
you would look for a cause"
Rats. Donald! Good is good and
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 ring
at the telephone, and he received a
message from Professor NOurSe.
Come over as quickly as you can.
I've caught Il 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 Il burglar with a re
vOivcr The burglar was sitting in
chair waiting to be turned over to the
police.
is he heredity case?' asked Barni-
coat.
I'VE 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 n wife ut
home with Il sick baby. He was ont
of work. There was no doctor for the
baby. no medicine and no food for any
of the family. The husband and IA
Their had gone out to steal something
TO provide for his wife and child. See
ing a window open on Nourse'S piazza.
he stepped in and groped his way up
stairs To NourSeS bedroom. NOursc,
hearing him in his room. reached down
under the bed where he kept Il rcvolv-
er. turned on the electric lights and
covered the thief.
The two friends conferred together
in an undcrtonc.
u claim" said Nourse, that this
fellow has the Godlike element in him
that would lead him to give his life for
love"
Il don't believe it." whispered
Barnicoat
Wen try him" With that he turn
ed to the man. who sat the picture OF
misery. Have YOU anything to say
why l should not call the poicc:"
VII, ND'ly W nat W III anu Alt' NlliAi!
do?"
would you be willing to secure re-
lief for them by sacrificing yourseIfT
IF you will relieve them I'll go to
Jail willingly"
The alternative must be worse for
YOU than that. Your family is innO-
cent. You are not. You must he pun
;rl = will ~, Ct =,
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 criminal Career-by
Furnishing yourself l and my friend
will sign u paper obligating ourselves
to provide for your family for ten
years"
How do you want me to punish my
self"
by blowing out your brains"
You don't mean that. That's not
the punishment for burglary"
at is my alternative"
Nourse spoke with icy GOODNESS, and
| the man turned pale. He was given
time to consider, while Nourse pointed
proposed, the giSt of which was that
his family would be taken care of and
he would be saved from a life that
| would be far worse than death. Final
| ly he said. hoarsely and family:
Il 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 pistol in his
hand. Turning the burglar with his
| face to the wall, he handed him the PTS
| toll and told him to perform his part
of the contract There was some tai
about the parties of the other part not
| being bound to~carry out their agree
| ment, but the burglar finally waived all
I this. The friends waited silently for
| !, mt hnll I'm hic bIo in IvbiIn