Pueblo chieftain., 1922-02-13
the POPULARITY OF CRIME

- hero Of the defendant and Is re-
. sponsiblc for more acquittals than any
other ono thing.
''As the state authorizes hanging
or electr!cution," he declares "a sem
timental attitude is created from the
beginning. The state seems to be
seeking n life. and everybody has SYM
pathy for what may have been done
merely In the heat of passion. II Is an
old and well-known fact in criminal
Jurisprudence that acQuittals Increase
when penalties appear too sever. and
frequent by reducing the punishment.
| In other words. whenever there IL a
steady increase in acquittals. the first
probable cause OF II Is a public dislike
OF tho penalty.
"The spectacle OF . man fighting for
his life appeals strongly TO tho scnti-
mental character of our people. and
Mt every murder trial tho newspapers
and the public abound in such state
ments A. He Is making u fine fight
for his hfe!'
| Crime Ia also undoubtedly ereatly
encouraged in this country by the prac-
tice OF bonding criminals ana by tho
long waits that occur before cases are
brought to trial. According TO Com
missioner EnriSht of the New York po-
lice department. tho case with which
criminals obtain ball is one of the
greatest evils the police must contend
with. He cites the case of man
who was arrested three times during
the past year and every time had his
bail ready.
IAN three cases. he said. were
awaiting trial against him. A few
weeks ago we again caught him red
handed at a hold-up trick. Somewhat
surprised. asked him what h. was
up to. trying another trick while out
on hail In three cases. HI. answer
was that he needed tho ronyc TO pay
HOARD GAINS FOR BAIL
II is this experienced type Of crimin-
al who knows the ropes who Is play
ting the most conspicuous role In the
crime wave. The first offender. who
has yet to learn the power OF what
the crooks call fall money. In un-
ablc TO obtain bond and has to re-
remain in jail As the law provides
that those held in jail must be tried
first. his case soon comes up for trin1.
and II Is well known in the criminal
world that a speedy trial means a
harsh sentence.
When tho first offender comes out OF
prison after having served his term
he knows this. Hence. his first act is
ito pull another Job that will bring In
enough money for bail in case he Is
again arrested.
Every clever crook always has this
fall money slowed away to provide
his bail Lond whenever he needs it,"
Commissioner Enright says, The old
timer would no moro think OF touching
that money than Of flying. even II
no We're starving. That money. or
possibly the amount may be in Jewels
is often deposited long before "a trick
is pulled Then II the crook falls
as they call it. he has his bail In
stantly at hand
Commissioner Enright does not be-
iicve that prohibition has had any ef-
feet upon the increase IN crime. Ncith-
or does he believe that 1t can hc cut
down by arming the police with gas
bombs and airplancs. The New York
Police have never been moro efficient
ly armed than at present. and there
has never been higher mortality rate
in the service. The sreat remedy lies
In speeding UP the procedure by which
the crook is removed from private life
into prison.