New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1918-01-04
MURDERS INCREASED
IN THIS COUNTRY
DURING LAST Year
STATISTICS COMPILED BY
AN INSURANCE JOURNAL
SHOW HOMICIDES IN.
CREASED 9.5 PER CENT
OVER YEAR 1915

The homicide record OF thirty-on
American cities for the year 1916 in
dicates no change for the better, but
quite the contrary. As compared with
the average rate, "a to 100000 for
the years l9ll-l5, 1916 shows rate
OF 81, or an increase of 95 per cent,
There appears also to have been a
steady increase during the last de-
cadc, the years l9ll-l5 showing a
rate of 8.4, as against 8 for l9O6-l0.
Fisyres From Insurance Journal
These facts compiled for an article
on the homicide record for 1916,
} which appears in "The Spectator, !"
) weekly insurance journal leads
the writer of the article to the con-
clusion 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 saws, that there are
not less than $500 homicidal deaths
annually in the continental United
States, and deplores this needless
sacrifice of life" ITO the extent"
the writer continues, that murder
trials are unduly prolonged, and that
the public gives the weight of its
endorsement to wrongful actions. the
tendency to murder in American
cities derives its utmost encourage
ment at the present time. The prob
lem of murder prevention and con-
troll is, however, a most serious and
involved one, in the solution Of which
! life insurance companies have di-
rect interest in view of the fact that
the murder Of insured persons is by
no means rare exception and that
premature mortality losses on ac-
} count of homicides constitute a
measurable element OF cost to the
policy holders"
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.;
Providence, r. l.; Rochester, N. Y;
Milwaukee, Wis, and Reading, Penn,
All OF these cities are representative
: industrial centres, with a large pro-
portion. Of the foreigiI-born popula-
/. ton. They not only show low rates,
but also, and without exception, a
decrease in the rate during the year
1915, in comparison with the preced-
ing five years. They are all of the
trast to the five cities with rates far
above the average, which are all OF
the South
Memphis Leads All
As has been the case in former
years. the highest homicide rate pre-
walls in Memphis, the usual extreme
" high rate having increased to the
almost incredible proportion of 500
to 100 900 OF population. The preem-
inence of this city for its murder
record is emphasized by the fact that
Atlanta. with the next highest rate,
shows only 81 to 100000, while Boston
has only 4.
Lowest Rate In East
Geographical distribution Of cities
by districts shows approximately the
same situation. Eastern cities have
a rate OF 40; central cities, l24;
Southern cities. 2l7; Pacific Coast
cities, 81. Distribution by states
shows roughly the same conditions.
Both the State of Connecticut and
the City OF Hartford have an envi-
able position in these tables. Con-
necticut has a homicidal rate of SO,
with only eight states as good or
better. There are only six cities
with rates as good as. or better than
Hartford's to 100000.
Not Wholly To Color