Evening journal., 1912-06-10
MONDAY. JUNE 10. 1912
TUBERCULOSIS AND CRIME.


TT ARvEY BROWN, negro life-termer in the New
4 Castle County workhouse, who has become VIC
tim OF tuberculosis is murderer His victim was wo-
man He had threatened kill her and when she refus
cd admit him to her home, he broke in, pursued her
to an upstairs room and shot her in the back. The
wound Of such nature that she fingered IN agony
for almost month before death came to her relief
The circumstances surrounding the crime we're so
atrocous that while the slayer escaped the gaows
he convicted and sentenced 10 life imprisonment
Therefore in discussing the question of the wisdom or
unwsdom Of pardoning him aud permitting him TO re-
turn TO his relatives that he may die the element Of
public sympathy has little for play. The fact
that the woman against whom he entertained deadly
grudge had opportunity her hours sootbed
u relatives was due to part OF his plan but rather
to poor Workmanship II he could have killed her
without giving her time to make peace with her Maker
Tor TO have word Of farewell with her relatives, he
would have done f. lie tried and failed
Hence we do not think there is any necessity
for anyone becoming worked up especially In favor
Of such man To way Of thinking, however his
case involves principle which is Of great importance
10 the public
The Anti-Tubercuosis Society objects to the dis
charge Of this man, not the ground that he is
criminal who committed oowardjs murder, but on
the far-reaching ground that il discharged. he will
become menace to the public health and perhaps
communicate 10 many other persons the tuberculosis
which is sapping his own life No one doubts that tu-
berculosis may and is communicated by person
to another doubts the unselnshncss Of the work
that is being done by the Ant-Tubercuosis Society
90 stamp out the white plague Nor viii anyone who
knows Of the work that s being done by Miss Emily
p Bssell the president and her associates in the
society question the public interest that underlies
their protest against the pardon and the discharge Of
Brown
The question arises. however that n the principle
for which they contend be applied TO Brown. where
is its application 10 cease? In the last analysis It.
would mean that criminal who Is sent 10 our work
house and who develops tuberculosis be dis
charged The establishment Of such principle as
that would do unless 1t we're followed by the
establishment OF the farreaching principle
that child who has tuberculosis
either IN its incipient advanced stage has legal
right TO he at large in tho community We have IN
State today hundreds hundreds Of infected per-
sons who freely among their fellows. In many
instances practically precautions taken to safe
guard those not infected. II the Anti-Tuherculosis
Society attempt by legal process 20 segregate
all those persons; TO incaroerate them in public nsu-
tuons and 70 keep them away from their relatives
and friends there would be revolt in all three coun-
ties And yet It would be the practical thing do
the plague to be stamped Tests might disclose
that members OF the Anti-Tubercuosis Society
who moving about freely among their fellows.
infected The principle sought TO be established
by the society in the case Brown is SO far-reachine
that il should be handled with great care, notwh-
standing admittedly is right segresae those who
afflicted with tuberculosis for the safety Of those
who are not But this Brown is drop il
the bucket There IS not city, town, village
rural district in state that has not its tuberculosis
germ carriers who freely all directions scatter
ing the germs they go Such carriers certainly are
greater to the community than Brown woulC
be be released from prison in a dying condition
and removed TO some place where he might die peace
fully.
In the treatment Of such broad question the on
raised by the society the element Of consistency
BE taken into account It scarcely consistent t.
make vehement protest against the discharge Of on
dying from prison and at the time q
take steps against hundreds Of other oonsumpuve
who are spreading germs all over our State.
This is no plea for the pardon Of Brown II merel
Is warning against the Board of Pardone establish
Ing the principle that If who commit
even petty orense and who is sent to prison, eve
for short term, develops tuberculosis while in prsol
be she must be kept there for life because us
tice has net been satisfied but because dschsrs
would constitute menace to the health Of the con
]sV at large