Tonopah bonanza. [volume] (Butler City [i.e. Butler], Nev.) 1901-1909, 1907-09-07

iod between the censuses. An idea
of existing conditions may be better
obtained, however, by considering
the figures of commitments during
the calendar year 1904.
Exclusive of the juvenile delin-
quents in special institutions and the
persons imprisoned for the non-pay-
ment of fines, 1861 sane persons
at least 5 years of age were s~entenc-
ed to civil institutions during that
year. In each million of the estimat-
ed population 1871 were committed
to serve a sentence.
The number of prisoners in each
million of population varies very
widely in the different states. In
1904 Nevada reported 1886; Califor-
mia, 5,234; Massachusetts, 4,S23;
New Jersey, 4,199; and Connecticut,
4,143. At the other extreme are
Oklahoma with 500; District of Co
lumbia with 419; Arkansas, with
552; Alabama, with 557; Georgia,
with $50, and South Carolina with
5S6. A mere glance at the figures
will indicate, however, that they are
no index of the relative criminality of
the different states. They merely re-
fleet the extent to which term sen
fences are used in dealing with GER
tain minor %offenses. In states where
drunkenness, d%isorderly conduct are
severely dealt with and sentences of
long imprisonment, the ratio of pris-
oners to population will necessary
be higher than in states in which a
more lenient course is pursued.
For example, the north Atlantic di-
vision has the highest ration of pris-
oners to population, while the south
central has the lowest. In the for
, mer division persons guilty of drunk
} enness, disorderly conduct and vag,
rancy formed 66.9 per cent of al
= prisoners committed, while in the
2 latter they formed but 17.9 per cent
MINOR OFFENSES MOST COMMON
In the country as a whole 34,75,
persons were sentenced for drunken
ness, 2S,339 for vagrancy and II,
I 264 for disorderly conduct. In othe
= words more than one-half of the tota
e number of prisoners committed dur
ing the year were sentenced for som
e one of these three closely allied of
S lenses. No less than 25,09S prison
ers, 1913 per cent of the total mum
Der, were sentenced for larceny; 10,
SIT, or 7.3 per cent, for assaults; an
It 1857, or AS per cent, for burglary
l. or the remaining offenses. homicid
" showed the largest number-2,44+
st or 1.6 per cent of the total.
l. MANY SHORT SENTENCES I'M
D.. POSED.
Is Since such a large proportion {
AZ the total number of prisoners ha
lie been committed for minor oTense
$ Il naturally follows that d large ~,
n portion were commit:~I fNr shoI
N terms, In continental United STATE
42,755. or 2S.G per cent of the tot
RS number, were sentenced 10 imprisol
Id ment for less than thirty days, al
T. 97,759, or 65.4 per cent, for less tha
I'd four months. The proportion of sho
IN sentences varies widely in differeI
he states, but this variation does n
a. stand i'm as close relation to the pr
st portion OF minor offenders as mig
or be expected. The figures, in fact,
&C. dictate wide divergences between d
As ferent states In the length of senten
no imposed for similar o%ffenses.
in The severity Of the penalties il
err posed seem in many instances to be
he little relation to the gravity of {
as crimes. OF the prisoners commit
so for adultery, 2l.3 per cent were Sc
IN fenced to terms Of less than thiI
days imprisonment. The maximr
J. penalty for this offense was thr
years. while the crime of fornicati
he was punished in a number OF
az stances by Imprisonment for peric
an of from three to fifteen years and
yo- some cases even longer. 1t is a
tly curious to find the offense of dis
80 DERBY conduct meriting imprisonm'
of from six to nine years and violati
of the liquor laws calling for eI
m severer penalties.
80. loo DEATH SENTENCES.
l., OF the 100 persons committed
Of prison under death sentences SO
& been committed of homicide, 4 OF
ro- sault, 9 of rape, and one of a dou
wn crime. murder being n of the
the Two women paid the death pena
md for homicide.
no Life sentences were imposed III
AZ Gao prisoners, of whom 6S6 "
ted convicted of homicide, 2S of rape
ted of burglary, 4 of robbery, 3 OF
ceny, . Of arson, ] Of assault, |
the crime against nature, ! OF |
ike iury. / Of an unelassiied CIR
cas- against property, and l OF a or
ers. not stated. Twenty women W