The Chesterfield advertiser. [volume] (Chesterfield C.H., S.C.) 1884-1978, 1920-02-19
STATISTICS
FOR QUARTER OUT

Columbia, Feb 14.-The State
Board of Charities and Corrections
has completed it's analysis Of the
crime statistics Of South Carolina for
the quarter ending December 81,
1919. This analysis shows reports
from 81 per cent. Of the counties.
There are no reports from Calhoun,
IGeorgeton, Horny, Lexington, Mari
on, Pickens and Richand. 1t says:
"a startling condition of affairs cx-
lists in this State The gravest crimes
have had a marked increase over the
preceding quarter. 1t was expected
that crimes would decrease in the
face of prosperity among people and
because of the leadership of the Gov
ernor and his helpers for diminu-
ton of felony. However, despite the
efforts of the constituted authorities
and the vigorous protest of the press,
life and property have been violently
ASSAULTED
The last quarter shows ninety
four commitments for homicidcs i'm
thirty-eight counties. This is more
than homicide a day. Perhaps in no
other part of the civilized world
where war and tumult does not exist,
IS there SO high a percentage of ho-
mIcidcs. During the quarter immcdi-
ately after the war, when passion was
running high and the war fever had
not abatcd, the number of homicidcS
In the State was 81. Popular in
tcrcst was kindlcd by this revelation
and great anxiety about the condi-
ton of affairs was shown. Now peace
seems to have settled down on the
State, and yet Il murdcrouS spirit is
running uncurbcd through the land.
We're all those that were killed bv
their fclloW-mcn in South Carolina
in the peaceful year 1919 stood up in
Main street with their hands stretch
ed out touching one another the line
would extend from the Jefferson Ho-
tel to the State House. Were the
''hi''H VI ''''H' ptoI'l' llal were MIL
ed at the hands of their fellow -citi-
Zcns piled one upon another the grew
some stack would be over twice as
high as the tallcst skyscrapcr in the
State.
"Not only human life has been
held lightly, but property has also
faired i'll at the hands of the lawlcss.
The number of those committed for
larcency was 304. The highest num-
bcr committed prior to the December
quarter was 2Ol, which were commit
ted in the June quarter. Burglary has
also thriVcn; tn" report shows that
96 commitments were made for this
crime. This increase of thieves and
the grounds of want, for the State
was never more prosperous than it
is now. There is r!rnty Of work to bc
had, and at good wages too
"Thc violations of the prohibition
law were 245. The officers of the
law have pursued with great energy
those who distilled alcoholic liquors
but it seems that wherever rabbit
can exist still is set up. Every brush
heap is an object Of just suspicion.
at may be of interest to know that
besides the crimes enumerated in tn"
preceding paragraphs there were 81
commitments for forgery, l3 for as
sault, SO for Vagrancy, 81 for fraud,
| z for arson and l6 for rape. There
were | ,7G5 commitments; not an cX-
cesSivc number, yet composed Of such
ugly elements that its evil character
lstartlcs us.
''Thc underlying cause for this evil
state is the utter contempt that many
of our people have for the law. They
do not feel that the State of South
Carolina has any power to curb them
in their evil passion, or their un-
righteous greed. The courts of JUS
ticc are challenged. the sovereignty
Of the State is nOutcd and the pro
lection of life and property is men
accd. Charleston News Il Courier.