Perth Amboy evening news., 1922-02-13
. POPULARITY OF CRIME
HASKIN SUBJECT D
Daily Letter By Frederic J. Haskin

fhad murderous family feuds, lynch
ings, and, recently, the unique activi-
ties OF the Ku Klnx Khan. These
crimes are peculiar to this
Yet why should this be so?'
This student CT the question be-
lievcs that it. is largely because Am
orleans unconsciously possess a ratn-
err sympathetic attitude toward most
crimes. Robbery for instance, un,
less committed by a professional
burglar, is not frowned upon haif as
| vigorously as it should be. When a
bank clerk abscondS with the con-
tents of the hank safe he is seldom
| ha-shly ensured, unless by cas-
of his act the bank is forced to close
it's doors and money is lost by ms
friends ana neighbors. This indul-
gent attitude on the part of the pup
| lie, moreover, is usually reflected IN
the light sentences delivered by
| Judges for crimes OF this kind. In a
recent case, a man who stole $780,
| 900 from a bank was given only
seven years -,
Murder is another crime when
does n t inspire as much horror IN
the public as n might think. ms
is clearly shown by h numerous
| acouitte Is handed down by Juries IN
IlutleE tdstS IL 40
| cult to convict a man for wife MUIR
der. for instance, declares a proml-
nent criminal lawyer, and ONE are
/ scarcely ever convicted for Ikllllng
their husbands.
CurioIIs,y enough, this lawyer VINO
| heI;eves that too much lenlency Is
shown toward criminals. does not pc
Ieve in capital punishment for muir
der, because, he says, 1t simply ilaNoS
a hero Of the defendant and Is re-
spoasible FOL more acqult1ais th""
| any other n thing. u
"As the state authorizes hanging
or oIectrocution," he declares, "a
sentimental, attitude is created from
the berinning. The state seems 10
he seeking Il life, and everybody "a
sympathy for what may have peeh
done merely in the heat of passion.
It is an old and well known fact IN
Jurisprudence that acqult-
tails inc. ease when penalties appear
ZOO severe, and that a crime can
oftan b made less frequent by re-
ducipg the punishment. In
words, whenever there is a STEADY IN
crease in acquittais, the first PROP
able cause OF it is a public dislike VI
the penalty. ezh;,r
line SDGCIdCiS VI q 49,
for his life appeals strongly to the
sentimental character of u people,
and at every murder trial n news
napers and the public abound III
such ~stateraents as He is maxim a
fine fight for his life" -.
Crime is also undoubtedly greatly
encouraged in this country py LILY
practice of bonding criminals n by
the long waits that occur peiors
cases are brought to trial. A~ccordlns
to Commissioner Enright of the New
York Police Department.. tn ease
with which criminals obtain PAL -
one Of the Creates evils the poitSe
must contend with. He cites tne
cas-, of a man who was arrested
three times durin+ the past year anu
every tine mad his bail ready.
"All three cases" he said, were
awsiting trial against him. A re"
weeks ago we again caught him req
handed az a hold-up trick. some
what surprised, l asked him what ne
was up to. trying another trick whlie
out on bail il three cases. His n
wer was that he needed the money
to pay his bail bonds and his lawyer.
, Hoard Gains for BAN
1t is this experienced type or GRIM.
nal who "kncws the ropes who Is
L 1 DlaElnR the lliOol
the crime wave. The first oftender
who has yet to leain the power OF
what the crooks call "fail
is unable to obtain q bond n mas
TO remain in Jail. AS the law r
vides that those held in jail must oe
tried first, his case coon comes uI
for trial, aid it is well known In tne
criminal world that q speedy trla
means a harsh sentence. -,
When the first otfe comes on,
Of prison after having served III.
term he knc VS. this. Hence, his mrs
act is ITO pull another job" that VII
bring in enough money for ball II
case he is 'again arrested. -,
every clever crook always ha'
this fall money slowed away to pro
vide his bail pond whenever he need
It," COMMISSIONS Enright says. "Ihe
old-.imer would no more think o
touching that money than Of hyins
even if he were starving. ina
money, or possibly the amount ma.
be IN Jewels is often deposited lont
before "a trick is pulled Then II IN
crook falls as they call it, he has hi