The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-10-24

Norfolk by means of the Binet measur-
Ing school for intelligence These
! show the childs mental development
| graded at normal and at one, two and
three years above and the same levels
! below The presence of feeble mind
I cd among those backward in studies
! was clearly shown. At Laurel Indus
ward boys were tested. and their mem
tai age was found far below their ac-
| tual age. showing that these boys, now
. held responsible for crimes, are dis
| tinctly feeble minded, and therefore
not responsible for their acts and not
criminals at all.
The report is full of such illuminat-
, ing facts. gathered during the year
Just ended by the secretary, DR.. j. r.
Mas,in. with such assistance as the
board has been able TO give him.
atnny Are Imbecilcs.
According to statement recently
made by DIR. Goddard, of the New Jer-
sey School FOR the Feeble Minded, one
fourth of all criminals are imbeciles.
If this report is correct. there are $50
imbeciles confined in the jails of Vir-
ginia for crimes they could not help
committing, and 600 others wearing
stripes that mark the feion.
One who cannot exercise prudence
and foresight and who is, therefore
destitute" says the report lis an inn
beetle who deserves and should receive
the sympathy and support of the State
One who can but will not exercise or
binary prudence and foresight, and who
therefore becomes dependent. is a vag-
rant and should be forced to earn his
bread by the sweat OF his brow. The
important questions after 1t has been
proven that a person has committed
crime. are not: How shall he be
punished? What shall be the length
of his term? but Is he responsible?'
Will he commit this crime again.
Will he propagate his kind?' And the
greatest of these is the last"
In his letter OF transmission to the
Governor. DR. George II. Denny, chair
man of the board. says:
Review by DIR. Denny.
After three years of investigation
and study of the work committed to
us by the General Assembly, we be.
lieve that. in order to enable the State
to effectively prosecute. at the least
possible expenditure of money. its
work for the dependent. the delinquent
and the defective, classes, four re-
forms are Indispensable: % Provision
for the custodial care Of and the pre- ,
vention of procreation by the feeble |
CD provision that all pris- |
oners shall be given healthful. profit |
able employment that will not put
them in competition with honest labor; :
go the classification of drunkards as
diseased people instead of as crimi- |
mails, and provision to give them re-
munerative employment with adequate !
medical treatment; and ca such super
vision of dependent and delinquent
children as will ensure for them ade- +,
uuatc religious instruction and ade-
quate mental training in f:ealthful
and moral environment.
While we are able to report" com
mcnts DR.. Denny. that our jails and
almshouses are improving, and that
those in charge of them are. as "A rule,
faithful and honest our dnty 10 the
commonwealth compels us to declare
that our almshouses are not, In most
adequately providing for the /
needs OF the inmates and that our
iails. in general, do not adequately .
meet the demand of modern economic
standards. or the requirements of an
enlightened public conscience. The /,
bad sanitary conditions. the idleness.
the enforced evil companionship, the
enormous expense. concerning which .
there is SO much complaint. are inner /
ent in the Jail system. These evils i
cannot be remedied. They should be
abolished"