The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1909-06-24
SPECS AS A CURE FOR CRIME
DIR. RICHARDS REFORMS you BY
MAKING YOU SEE STRAIGHT.
He Has Put Glasses on Hundreds Of 0f.
tenders with Good Resulta- Examines
Eyes Of women in Night Court and
Finds an Odd Case In Go0Soe Nellie.

AAo Shes Wv s~8ENs ~
tenders with Good Resulta- Examines
Eyes Of women in Night Court and
Finds an Odd Case In GoeSoe Nellie.
Cain did not wear glasses. II he had
he might not have killed Abel. A number
OF other ca~tastrophes might have been
averted by the timely application Of a
pair Of spectacles. II you want to re-
form q criminal clap o pair Of glasses
on him. for the chances are that detective
physical vision has impaired his moral
views. Such Is the theory Of DR.. William
M. Richards Of 22s West Ninety seventh
street. and he hopes inside OF q year to
be able to back his theory with statistics.
In compiling his statistics and in the
search for subjects DR.. Richards has
visited the District Attorneys Office,
several police courts, the Elmira Re
formatory. the Magdalen Home and
various other institutions. At the Elmira
Reformatory he found that most OF the
boys were suffering from abnormal
vision. that in the majority Of cases poor
Q esight had led to truanoy. truanoy to
bad companionship and that to crime.
At the Magdalen Home ne fitted glasses
to twenty inmates. and every one OF these,
he said. found work on getting out and
kept 1t. One girl in particular had never
been able to keep q job more than a few
days. She was considered stupid and
lazy. Since leaving the home two months
ago wearing a pair Of glasses she has
been steadily employed by a firm Of whole
salers and is still working there. AT
the time he examined her she was unable
to make out the largest type on the test
card ut a distance Of four feet.
DR.. Richards is now trying his scheme
or some 200 second offenders. burglars.
holdup men and grnfters OF various
degrees. and he hopes that u they &c not
lose their eissses the{ ~ni s ne aes'f from
seolusion. Most Of the glasses are pro
vided BY the Shaarath Israel, which Is
much interested in the work.
Early yesterday morning Dr.. Richards
visited Magistrate Barlow in the night
court and examined the eyes OF some 81
the womsn prisoners; III hhe rsss.. Sno' |"
in had something the matter. with their
eyesight, and it was entirely possible
that II their vision were restored to the
normal they themselves would be able
to lead q normal life. As the prisoners
were arraigned he scanned zach closely.
% tSs hos a00 sESs, S MisS rattle. e w'P Promi 1lS%
eve y car came pup, up the doctor could not re-
strain hia enthusiasm.
Look at herI Look At herr he ex-
claimed d%eughtedly. SHE. a blind as
a bat! She can't see a thing!.,,,
DR.. Richards led the bewildered and
somewhat fearful Nellie into the exarniha-
'ac DO o09 gou like to read'' he asked her
Googoo was nonplussed. Never before
in all her long police experience q any.
thing like this happened TO hhr. Not
knowing what fatal consequences nigh
follow q reckless answer she muttered
something inaudibly while her loot traced
what kind Of books do you read3'
persisted the doctor; History. biography
fctiou-whst?'
Nellie was in a quandary.. Should sht
give the preference to biography Of
| History? Fiction was out Of the question
There was a disparaging curl 70 TN
warned her TO steer clear Of 1t. But il
she said historical or bio-bio-whatevel
Il was. why, he might AJAX her what books
she had read. She resolved 70 take
safe middle course and avoid the snare; j..
Il don't care much about readin'.
she admitted finally. an don't get tme
to read much outside Of the newspapers,
and then in q brilliant attempt. to escape
| from the cross examination she added
Jennie out there reads more'n 90.
She's a great reader, Jennie is. Why.
Won don't hardly over see Jennie but what
she's got a book under her arm ,
The doctor refused the bait so craftily
offered. however, and proceeded to q few
simple tests Of the eyes which convinced
him that Googob's eyes were a prime
factor in her waywardness. =,
sNow come around and see me, he said
az he finished. and you'll soon be able
Ia read as we'll as Jennie and be able to
get steady employment and keep Oh
the street as we'll
Sure said Nellie. slowly and without
eagerness.
Several more were examined and prom.
ised to come and be saved from theil
eyes.
failed to make out a case against hel
| and abe was discharged