The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1918-01-22
ARE $500 MURDERS
IN U. S. EVERY YEAR
FIVE CITIES IN SOUTH HAVE
HIGHEST RECORD. ATLANTA
NEAR THE TOP OF LIST.

The homicide record of 81 Ameri-
can cities for the year 1916 indicates
no change for the better, but quite
tbe contrary. AS compared with the
average rate, "a to 100000 for the
wears 1911-15, 1916 shows a rate of
90. or an increase of 9.5 per cent.
There appears also to have been
steady increase during the last de-
cqde, the years 1911-15 showing
rate of 8.4, as against for 1906-10.
These facts compiled for an arti-
Gle on the homicide record for 1916,
which appears in "The Spectator"
weekly insurance journal, leads the
writer of the article to the conclu-
sion that certain general national
traits and special economic and So
cial conditions are responsible for
the excessive degree of homicide
frequency. 1t may be conservatively
estimated, he says, that there are not
less than $500 homicidal deaths an
nually in the continental United
States, and deplores this needless
sacrifice of life" "To the extent"
the writer continues, chat murder
trials are unduly prolonged, and that
y the public gives the weight of it's en-
sdorsement to wrongful actions, the
Tendency to murder in American cit
sies derives its utmost encourage
lment at the present time. The prob
lem Of murder prevention and con-
.trol is, however, a most serious and
Sinvolved one, in the solution of which
Flife insurance companies have a di-
rect interest in view of the fact that
The murder of insured persons is by
BIO means a rare exception and that
premature mortality losses on ac-
count of homicides constitute a meas
.urable element of cost to the policy
Aholders."
Southern Cities Highest.
The five cities with the highest
homicidal record are in the south
Memphis, Atlanta, New Orleans,
Nashville and Charleston. The five
cities with the lowest rate during the
year were: Newark, N. j.; Provi-
Hence, R. l.; Rochester, N. Y; Mil
yankee, Wis, and Reading, Pa. All
bf these cities are representative in
@lustrial centers, with a large proper
fon Of the foreign-born population.
Whey not only show low rates, but
Rlso, and without exception, a de-
Grease in the rate during the year
E916, in comparison with the preced-
8ng five years. They are all of the
horth and the central west, in con-
&rast to the five cities with rates far
&bove the average, which are all of
Ahe south.
AS has been the case in former
Years the highest homicide rate pre-
Nails in Memphis, the usual extreme
IN high rate having increased to the
almost incredible proportion of 1919
No 100000 of population. The pre-
Rminence of this city for it's murder
Record is emphasized by the fact that
Atlanta, with the next highest rate,
shows only 81 to 100000, while Bos-
Mon has only 4.
East Has Lowest Rate.
Geographical distribution of cities
IN districts shows approximately the
Same situation. Eastern cities have
fte Of 40; central cities, 1874;
buthern cities, 21.7; Pacific coast
Ntes, 90. Distribution by states
Bows roughly the same conditions.
Both the state of Connecticut and
be city of Hartford have an envia-
e position in these tables. Connect
ept has a homicidal rate of SO, with
NhIy eight states as good or better.
Where are only six cities with rates
y good as, or better than, Hartford's
IN to 100000.
The high murder rate of the south
m cities and states is partly, but not
molly, due to the negro population,
#cording to the statistics. The aver
.&e white homicide rate in the south
n states for the years 1856 was
3, while for the colored it was 30.4.
Pat this is not the sole cause is
%own, however, by the fact that
%emphis, with its extraordinary num-
" of homicides, shows a white rate
26.7, as against 1887 for the col
2Eed population.