Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-02-28
Dr. E. W. Lee Explains Why We Should Kill Crmnal

NR. EDWARD WALLACE LEE, OF New
York, recently made address before
the Medical Association of the Greater
City of New York In which he declared that
Il very large proportion of criminals could DO
cured by medical or surgical treatment. and
further stated that those who were hopelessly
incurable and n danger to society should be
eliminated.
This subject is one which Is interesting many
doctors. scientists and social reformers just
now. The new warden of Sing Sing. Thomas
Mott Osborne, has just started regime OF
Good treatment for convicts. he explained
recently in these columns.
a representative OF this newspaper asked
Or. Lee to explain his views and the treat
mcnL and cure of criminals for the benefit OF
the general public.
DO you, n medical man and scientific
crimnologist. approve Of Warden Osborne's
plan to make prison comfortable, to put an
onion in the hash. TO brown it nicely, to give
him real coffee. and SO on?' inquired the in
terviewer
81 am entirely in sympathy with Mr.. o.
borncs plain to treat the prisoners humane
ly,' said the doctor but do not believe he
pays sufficient attention to the science OF
criminology. For instance. he is reported to
have said: 'LombE:JsO measured the and
the brows and the bodies of imprisoned Grim.
inals and told with lucid detail what kind OF
criminals they were. Then Englishman be-
gan to measure the people outside OF prison
and found that they had the same kind OF
ears ana DrO"S ana DOUlcS.
From this statement we must assume that
Mr.. Osborne considers Lombrosos doctrine OF
congenital criminal tendencies disproved. But
how does Mr.. Osborne or his Engllshman
know that those people outside prison with
peculiar and brows and bodies did not
nave criminal ienA-"cics? How does he know
that they would not have committed all kinda
OF crimes II they had been placed in surround
ings which led them to crime?
From my own observation believe, no
doubt, that the majority OF criminals
because OF physical defects or illnesses. These
defects may be inherited. Lombroso has
argued. or course, II these defective persons
are in very prosperous circumstances. they
may not go wrong, for there Will not be any
motive to commit ordinary crime such as
stealing a pair OF shoes or hitting a citizen on
the head
Crime is mental disease due to a physical
injury. Injuries to the brain. hardening OF
the arteries. internal diseases and menin.
gus are common causes OF crime. in fact any
thing that interferes with the normal cell &C
ton.
Malaria has very degencrative physical
ana moral effect. II OF the principal
degenerativc factors the fall Of the Roman
Empire. Such diseases are also the cause
or vast number OF crimes know person.
any OF at least fifty crimes that can be traced
TO this cause.
indigestion IS n cause cf much crime Food
improperly prepared hastily eaten produces
iohg ine OF symptoms interfering with moral
anu physical stamina. Food, improper in dual.
ity or quantity has produced bad dreams which
have suggested criminal acts that were carried
TO execution. have been told that Dore
acquired dyspepsia in order to illustrate Dapte.s
Inferno
I'm considering physical defects as a fac,o,
In the cause of crime. let us remember that the
potentiali;y for crime exists in every human
being. In the savage. for instance acts
which ne now consider misunderstanding,
killing and greed--were necessary to his e1.