Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1922-03-14
WHAT Is THE CAUSEf

On the criminal docket Of the Court |
OF General Sessions which opened in
this city yesterday. werc twenty, |
eight cases. three OF which were IN
dictments for murder. Other indict- |
men,a we're on charges OF burglary,
larceny. violations OF the prohibition
laws and embczzlement
II has not been many years since !
murders were of rare occurrence In
our community. Now (, Is rare TO
one case OF murder IN ono degree OF
another.
II II also shown by the court rec
ords OF recent years thar II there has
been no increase I'm criminal charges
cf violent character. like burglary
and desperate assault and battery
there Il no dimlnution. Yet there has
been a complete cessation, for nearly
three years. Of the open and licensed
sale Of intoxicating liquors. which was
long heraldcd as the chief incentive
where Il was permitted.
True. the sale Of intoxicants has
not been entirely suppressed, although
largely restricted by prohibition.
Liquor Is sold Illegally I'm Wilmington.
"a IL attestcd by the appearance in
cur local court Of one or more cul-
prits charged with drunkenness
nearly evsry day. But the number OF
such csses IL hardly one-Tth. n that
proportion. Of the number that turned
up daily In the old days Of open sale
by license.
Nor does II appear that the limited
and hazardous dealing IN vile intori-
cants. such as undoubtedly prevails 70
a limited extent, 10 responsible for
The continuance Of violen, crimes. II
10 not charged. 30 far "a appears in
the reports OF these ofendingr. that
liquor was the Indictment To the
numerous murders and burslaries and
other serious crimes that are 80 per-
sistcntly and alnrmingly in evidence.
Some attribute the crime wave 10
- t,~A Al
result OF which 20 many men are
without gainful occupation. But we
have no direct evidence that the
crimes are committed by men made
desperate by inability to secure profit
able employment. Occasionally this
plea is advanced by a culprit, but
without assuring foundation.
Also, We have the evidence that dur.
ms periods OF depression IN the pas
there Was no marked increase in VIC,
lent crime In our community. During
the Ions and dreary prevalence OF tn,
panic OF 1879. when workingnen II
Wilmington struggled desperately ant
vainly for employment and there wer
no such agencies Of relief and assist
ance "a are In operation today, Their
was no serious outbreak OF violen
crimo In Wilmington. Nor was Their
during later periods OF Industrial an
business depression. not one Of which
however. was so protrac,ed, or so dis
sstrous IN effects as was the memor
able one OF nearly half century age
There are some, and their numbe
seems 10 be increasing who see rea
sonable cause for crime increase {
the lsniency that has been extende
e. criminals In this State for severs
years. Hanging for murder has almos
gone out OF fashion. Until recent.
the whipping post had been nearl
abandoned az a penalty for certai
kinds OF crime. by reason OF the man
opportunities for clemency In respe,
OF thi. form OF punishment provide
by legislative enactments. Now. how
ever. we note a disposition on the pa
OF the court TO resort to the impos
ZION OF corporal punishment moi
generally in passing sentences tina
has been the custom for long Will
But In what manner the punishmei
u actually administered these da,
may be an interesting question.
Changed conditions at the worl
house also are held by some 20 be 9
announcement TO crime. Imprisonme
there has been robbed OF many OF Il
attributes OF punishment for crju
Life within its walls has been ma,
even pleasant to a certain exter
Criminals have been known 20 e
press no fear OF its impositions. al