The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1916-02-28

rural communities OF the Southern states
have made the same progress in crime
as the official records reveal at the CEN
tiers Of population, the year 1915 was the
bloodlest and most dIsorderly that the
South has ever experienced. Crime al
the centers OF population shows an in
crease Of fully Is per cent over the preyi-
GUS year. In some communities the in
crease Is yet larger, and scattered re-
ports from rural communities almost JUS
tify the statement that the country has
kept pace with the cities in high records
Of crime.
These records have been compiled since
the first Of the year, and they reveal a
condition that is regarded as serious by
conservative newspapers and sane think
ers in the cities Of the South. Among
the newspapers that decline to ignore the
matter longer may be mentioned the
Memphis Commercial Appeal the Nash
Vile Banner, the Atlanta Constitution
the Macon Telegraph, and the Chatta'
nooga Times. All of these newspapers
recognized throughout the country as
reputable and trustworthy publications.
have commented from day to day upon
the increase of crime in the South and
urged that steps be Immediately taken to
combat what they recognize as a shame
full condition
Memphis leads all cities Of the United
States in serious crime This statement
is not disputed even by the Memphis
press and public officials. The fact is
carried prominently in all publications
throughout the country that gather anc
disseminate crime statistics. There were
63.7 murders to 10000 Of population in
Memphis in 1914 and the percentage will
be higher for 1915 when the official tabu-
lation is completed. No other city in the
United States has so high a record fol-
murders. Lesser crimes are correspond
ingly heavy in that city. There was ap-
prOximateIy 1900 arrests in Memphis
during 1915, for all offenses, against
( about 1900 in 1914.
Some surprise is occasioned by this
large increase Of arrests for 1915, in view
OF the fact that during the whole of that
year the saloons were closed, whereas
during 1914 they were open the entire
year The Memphis Commercial Appeal
in its issue Of January g said in an edi-
torial article that the increase of crime
in 1915 was due to low dives in many sec
tons of the city where blind tigers are
operated. It seems that the vigilance of
the police department has been goVd but
the Illicit traffic in intoxicating liquors
promotes more crime than the licensed
saloon.
Crime Increases without Saloons.
Nashville. Tenn. of about the same
large a per cent Of murders. but Nash
Vile ranks sixth among the cities of the
country, having twenty-five murders to
10000 of population. However, Nashville
made a new crime record in 1915. The
books at the Police Court in that city
show that the arrests made last year
total 1890, and never before in the his
tory OF the police department has the
number of arrests exceeded 1900 a year.
For the year 1914 there were approx
mately I1.O0O arrests.
AS in the case of Memphis, saloons
were running wide open in Nashville in
1914, but they were all closed the first of
January. 1915, and remained closed durfng
the entire year Nashville also has a
high record for divorces. During the
years 1914-16. a total of 3.oSI marriage
licenses were issued in that city, and
court records show that Loo suits for
divorce were instituted.
Chattanooga also broke its highest
crime record in 1915 This city has a
population Of about 1000 and no saloons.
Last year the city and county officers
arrested 1921 people for various ofrenses,
most Of them being Of the class that
are usually charged to the liquor traffic.
The increase of arrests in 1915 was 9 per
cent over the record OF 1914 1t will be
OF interest, doubtless. to note that in 1914
there were about 100 beer saloons in oper-
county Jail closed behind All prisoners
during 1915, which Is !, 3S4 more than for
1914
OF the number confined in the Jail dur
ing the past year 1.O32 were charged with
drunkenness, as against 691 for that Of
Tense during the year 1914 Drunkenness
alone showed an increase of s. per cent
last year. A large per cent OF the total
arrests did not find their way to the
faf1 nj them
their cases before a justice OF the peace
and taking their punishment without an
appeal to the higher courts. These fig
ures were never excee led in the history
of the county.
BootIeggers Infest City.
A few brief extracts from reputable
newspapers published in the crime zone
show that notwithstanding the prohi-
bitiOn laws, liquor is plentiful and
cheap in Tennessee. TT is a fact" says
the Nashville Banner in its Issue of
January 8. that the city is infested
with bootleggers, and that liquor is
sold freely to all who seek it and have
the money to buy. This IS not said to
Censure the police authorities for not
outstanding the many arrests made by
the authorities the traffic goes on"
Further along in the same article, the
Banner says: Notwithstanding the
closing Of the saloons a year ago,
liquor remains and appears to be sold
mostly in pint TASKS. and some thou
sands of such well filled receptacles
must have been sold in Nashville with
in the past week"
The Chattanooga Times of January 9.
discussing crime in the South said:
There has been more crime and secret
vice in Tennessee since the attempted
enforcement Of prohibition laws upon
Memphis, Nashville and Chattanooga
laws that were opposed to the control
ling sentiment Of those cities-than
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