The Batesburg advocate. [volume] (Batesburg, S.C.) 1901-1911, 1907-09-06
A SOCIOLOGICAL
EXPERIMENT.
tOriginul

"What do you think OF the evidence
In the Dodge caseT" asked Professor
Barnicoat of Professor Nourse The
first occupied the chair OF chemistry
and the latter of sociology nt the Uni
versty OF Il.
Haven't read it," replied Nourse
Il take no interest In present methods
of handling the criminal problem"
What do you meanI"
"Why are people criminals2 There
are three distinct causes-first, hercdi-
ty; second, environments: third, neccs-
sity. Under these three heads you may
manufacture criminals al libitum."
"Oh, that's newfangled bosh and is
leading up to a lot of sentimental op-
position to the punishment of crime"
You haven't studied the matter as
thoroughly as l have. You are inter-
csted In chemical problems, while my
duties have led me to investigate
those IN criminology. l find that TN
der certain conditions people become
criminals In far greater proportion
than under other conditions. For in
stance, Il large percentage OF the chill
dren of foreign born parents become
jailbirds. Now, If you saw q CORE
spending result in the chemical world
you would look for n cause"
Rats. Donald, Good is good and
ways viii be-"
After much 3" 1iI.pe se
Professor BarnicoG y, onverted.
He was sitting m !, e -4, night at
home reading when there was ring
at the telephone, and he received
message from Professor Noursc.
come over as quickly as you can
I've caught n fine specimen OF the
genus criminal, and well experiment
with him"
Barnicoat lost no time In joining his
friend and, going up into his bedroom
saw him covering n burglar with re-
volver The burglar was sitting IN
chair waiting to be turned over to the
police.
is he heredity case?' asked Barni-
coat
1--WE shall see. Sit down"
! Nourse made an examination of his
/ prisoner, with the result that lie came
/ under the third head the professor had
! laid down lie had been strained be
yOnd endurance. He had wife at
home with sick baby. He was out
I of work. There was no doctor for the
/ baby, no medicine and no food for any
| OF the family. The husband end IA
| thcr had gone out 10 steal something
! TO provide for his wife and child. See.
| ing window open on Noursc's Iiazza,
he stepped in and groped his way up
! stairs t. NourScs bedroom. Noursc.
| herring him In his room. reached down
| under the bed where he kept rcvolv-
or, turned on the electric lights and
! covered the thief.
The two friends conferred together
in an uMdcrtonc.
81 claim" said Noursc. that this
fellow has the godlike element III him
that would lead him to give his life for
! love"
81 don't believe it." Whispered
! BamicOat.
Wen try him." With that he turn
! ed to the man. who sat the picture of
misery "ITavc YOU anything to sly
why should not call the police?"
ooh, God, what will she and the child
do:"
would YOU be willing to secure re.
lief for them by sacrificing yomsclf?"
"If YOU Will relieve them I'll go To-
| Jail willingly"
The alternative must be W 3rSc for
yoT than that. Your family i; limo
cent You are not You must he pun
lshoi. Now, if yOu will save the state
The expense of Il trial and takln-; care
of YOU for the rest Of yoUr lifc-aS it
will certainly have to do now that you
have started on Il criminal cnrcer-by
punShing yourself | and my friend
will sign Il paper obligatinG ourselves
10 provide for your family for ten
years"
How do you want me to punish my
SELF"
by blowing out your brains"
You cont mean that That not
the punishment for burglary"
1T is my alternative"
Nourac spoke with icy coldncss. and
the man turned pale. He was given
time 20 consider, while Noursc pointed
ont 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 a life that
would be far worse than dea,h. FiPal- |
ly lie said. hoarsely and family:
81 accept 4nc. N,t - p"
Nou - at once p .6coat on
guard and, going iI,Y i. IA .tooTo, re-
turned with the agreement he had pro
posed in writing and he and Burnicoat
signed it. He had also 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 boual To carry out their agree.
ment but the burglar finally waived all /
this. The friends waited silently for
him to put bali In his brain while
he clock licked away ten minutes
Then there was an explosion. The
burglar tottered and fell in heap on
the floor
Get up, man; you are not hurt. You
fred blank cartridge"
They raised him, and he looked at
oil.