Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-04-24

The habitual criminal is writing his
autobiography.
Day after day behind the high con-
crete walls of Howard Hall, the abode of
| the criminal insane at ST. Elizabeth S
Hospital, F. w. x. is pounding away on
his ypewriter-trying to express in
elusive words why he has spent about
80 per cent Of his life since he was 8
years old in one Jail after another
He is making good progress despite
| what he describes as days at time
when I pass over into a world of phan-
tasy which I have had to develop in
order to endure life at all the way
have lived it."
Many criminals have written their
autobiographies as warming to others
not to follow in their footsteps. But
F.. w. x. is different. He doesn't want to
reform anybody or warn anybody. He
hasn't reformed himself in the usual
sense of the word, although he insists
he is through with crime. He hasn't
the interests of society at heart, al
though he insists he has no particular
grudge against it. He is simply trying
as cold-bloodedly as possible, he says,
to present a complete picture of an
interesting psychiatric specimen, purely
in the interests of science and not Of
reform. Let the world draw whatever
oeuucllonS IL pleaSeS.
Planned Crimes in Prison.
When he was years old, he recounts,
he went down the main street of a
little Kansas town throwing stones
through the store windows. He did this
deliberately. so that he would be sent
to reform school, to which most of
the gang" with whom he had associated
had been committed.
HE accomplished his purpose and
since then hasn't been out of a prison
of some sort very long at time. He
has been burglar and counterfeiter
convicted and served his sentence. Dur
ing his imprisonment he has planned
new crimes.
But x doesn't pose as a colorful
master criminal He hasn't any sob
story to tell about the influence of evil
companions. and all the rest. He
doesn't like policemen, but has no
theory as to how the world could get
along without them. He thinks society
is to blame for crime, but bears no par
ticular grudge against society.
Next month noted criminologists from
all over the world will gather in Wash
ington at the first world congress on
mental hygiene to discuss the reasons
for the criminal and how to cure him.
x, loking with purely objective
eyes over the high walls at the world
outside and into the depths of his own
mind, offers himself as type speci-
men. He is the sort that has gone on
committing crime after crime, perfectly
aware all the time that it didn't pay.
Finds Sensible Attitude.
"When I was first transferred to st.
Elizabeth's two years ago." he said, 81
had my plans all made to escape and
then commit some real crimes in Wash
ington. This town sure would have
heard about me. But failed to make
my escape and I am glad of 1t, because
here for the first time have come in
contact With the sensible, scientific at
titude on crime. Nobody has treated
me as if were wicked, vile creature
and pounded me over the head with
club. Nobody has pampered me or tried
to reform me by appealing to my better
nature. They have faced the facts and
tried to find out what was the matter
with me-"
AS result, x says, he has ar
rived at condition that never could
have been brought about by an emo
tional appeal-an understanding of the
forces working within himself such that