The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1910-08-11
CRIME INCREASING.


cides. At the same time there are
many citizens who would abolish the
death penalty altogether.
For lesser crimes than murder the
New York judges are trying the eff
cacy Of suspended sentences, and In
diana has a convict parole system. Ac-
cording to the Hoosier board of state
charities, Indiana is far in advance Of
the other states in the matter Of deal
ing with prisoners.
Warren +. Spaulding of Boston.
secretary Of the American Prison as
sociation. warmly commends the In
diana system in a recent article in the
Journal Of the American Institute Of
Criminal Law and Criminology as
follows:
That this system reduces crime is
proved by the fact that since II
went into effect, in 1897, there
has been decrease OF 10 per
cent in commitments to the In
diana state prison and the re-
fOrmatOry, IN spite Of an increase
of about Is per cent OF the popu-
lation OF the state.
system Is favored for sentimental
reasons, because it results In
greater leniency to the prisoners.
IL should be said that the period
OF Imprisonment was longer than
il was under the old system.
Time is required TO fit an un-
skilled, undisciplined man for
free life. and the expense is lar
ger. but the saving FAR over
balances the cost.
In the eleven years ending April 1.
1908. the Indiana system had been in
operation paroles had been granted TO
S.9s3 men. During the time they were
on parole they earned $1.O7s.S75. and
saved out of its 1868.
The claim is made that habits Of in
dustry. established while these men
were under parole. were fairly perma-
nent after restraint ceased, and the con-
clusion has been reached that when
a man has learned to earn and has
experienced the satisfaction which
comes from saving. he is not likely 10
return to the thriftless habits which
had much to do with making him a
criminal"
All Of which may be true as re-
CARDS the Indiana parole system. The
New York plan OF suspended SEN
fences. however. does not work out 50
well. many criminals who should be
locked up being turned loose to prey
upon the public Magistrate House
recently said:
This country Of ours is nothing but
a paradise for thieves and crooks.
Why is the percentage of crime
so much higher in Manhattan
and the Bronx than in Brooklyn?
The reason is as plain as "A pike
staff over there il is known
among all whom it concerns tina.
the judges punish more severely
than here and indulge far less
IN the suspension Of sentence.
Magistrate House went on TO say
that there is such a thing as an
abuse Of power. and am sorry TO say
that this country is a soft spot for the
inclined. and the criminal
ly inclined know 1t. They say. in their
own language. it is an even break
that they Will get at least one sus-
pended sentence"
The district attorney and his assist
ants see little hope OF putting a stop |
TO crime so long as criminals are
turned loose by the courts. Charles c.
Mott. jr.. one Of the assistants. giving |
two notable examples. as follows:
The defendant, with a record Of sew |
eral convictions of felony, at /
night knocked down man who |
was returning with his wife from /
the theatre; he then struck the |
woman in the face and robbed |
the man Of his watch; was caught |
running away; was out on prior |
suspended sentence. The presid- |
ing judge announced that he was /
about 10 suspend sentence, say !
ing that his heart was moved |
with pity for this unfortunate /
defendant Upon the district at 4
tOrney's appearing personally and |
protesting, and stating that he /
should test the judges right TO 4
suspend sentence on a second Of /
fender under the provisions OF /
Section y Of the Penal Code. the /
judge finally sentenced the de- 4
PENDANT to TWO months in the /
penitentfary.
In the other case the defendant was
lawyer. He invested money 1
OF his. clients in bogus mort
cages. the total amount thus L
stolen being nearly 100000. For
one Of these larcenies he served |
one year in New Jersey. He was
indicted in New York for the |
larceny OF $4,000. One of his
victims was an old scrubwoman
with a glass eve. From her he
had taken s4.30O-all her savings
and she was forced 10 resume |
her scrubbing. He had made
restitution OF a considerable
amount On his plea of guilty
sentence was suspended
No sane man will contend that a
sentence OF two months in the peni-
entiary was adequate punishment for
he thug who had long criminal rec
'rd and who continued TO rob as a
means Of gaining a livelihood. And the
awyer who robbed the scrub woman!
Does any one believe his sentence