Evening star., 1925-09-09
DEATHFOR insane
SLAyERS IS URGED
Three Atrocious Killings by
Recent Asylum inmates
Arouse New York.
BY ROBERT T. SMALL.

NEW YORK, September 9.--While
distinguished and expensive COM
mittee is being organized to study the
theory of crime prevention through
all the country, the metropolitan dis
trict of New York is in the throes of
the most battling criminal problem
with which the authorities have had
to deal in many years. Within a week
three murders have been committed
by men but recently released from IN
sane asylums. AS Is always the ca Sc
with the criminally insane, the kill
ings have been done with the utmost
Indifference to consequences, a COM
plete Sangfroid
The crimes have aroused the peo-
pie of the district to a pitch of ex-
citement which is quite natural in the
circumstances, and there is an outcry
from all quarters for some sort of
protection from this new menace. Va
rious inquiries are proposed as to the
responsibility of the asylum authori-
ties in the release of the murderers-
to-be, for 1t Is known that in the case
of one young man accused of two
particularly atrocious homicides, he
had shown murderous symptoms be-
fore having actually attacked his own
father with hatchet
ScIuOt1 ENfDedtS.
There is also rising tide of public
opinion in favor of some more direct
method of dealing with insane crimi-
nails than their mere Incarceration in
an institution.
1t is argued. and seemingly with
some degree of reason. that If II be
proper to execute a sane man con-
victed of murder. why should not the
insane and irresponsible man be put
out of the way, In the same effective
manner. This, of course, is opposed
to the theory of the law fixing de-
grees of crime and responsibility
therefore. but after all is said and
done, the sane murderer Is not half so
likely to break out again as the insane
person, who has a murderous slant.
Over in northern New Jersey. the
populace is demanding the trial and
punishment of Harrison W. Noel, the
20-year-old boy. who kidnapped little
6-year-old Mary DAILY. only to shoot
her to death even before he had de-
manded the $4,000 ransom from her
distracted parents. The boy also is
accused Of numbering the negro
chauffeur, whose taxfcab he used in
the abduction and subsequent disposal
of the bodies.
Asylum Is Blamed.
There is a further demand that
some degree Of responsibility be placed
upon the asylum authorities, who re-
leased young Noel the end of June.
or upon the boys father, who is under
stood to have assumed custody of the
lad.
The evidence shows that this feeble.
minded youth was permitted to drive
cars and TO roam at large at will His
crimes throughout have been marked
by an unmistakable note of insanity
the killing of the little defenseless
girl before demanding ransom. the
declaration that he would not accept
one penny less nor one penny more
than the $4,000. the sum fixed in his
delirious brain, and various other de-
tails which need not be mentioned.
The young mans father. Dix w.
Noel, a New York attorney, goaded
into action, has denied that any re-
sponsibility should attach to him and
places all the blame on the officials
of the Essex County Hospital for the
Mentally Afflicted The doctors there.
the father says, assured him the boy
would be entirely well "in time" The
father also states he will stand by his
son and see that he gets a fair trial
or recommitment to the asylum.
Slayer sale lnder Law.
The county authorities are proceed
ing with the Noel case as if it were
an ordinary crime, but they know
that under the law. as 1t exists. their
efforts to obtain capital punishment
Will be in vain. They know that If
boys like Loeb and Leopold in Chicago
could escape the gallows on the f1imsi-
est sort of insane tendencies there is
no chance to punish a lad who has
been actually confined in the asylum
and whose mental condition unques-
tionably Is unsound.
Coming on top Of the Noel case has
been the Staying of a man named
Adam Lukaski, by 24-year-old Stephen
Krynovoak, released just 10 days ago
from the Manhattan Insane Asylum
on Wards Island. The slayer ex-
planned that he had held a. grudge
against his victim for seven years and
shot him the very first opportunity
which presented.
The insane killer said he had to
wait several days to get his victim
alone, for he did not care to run the