Increase of Homicides

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Oct 2, 1901

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 27, No. 40.

Increase of Homicides.

The New York World attributes the increase of homicides to the abolition of the death penalty. In a recent issue it says:—

This leaves twenty-two States—less than half—in which the death penalty without nullifying limitations is left on the statute books. And in the majority of those States, including New York, it is nearly abolished in practise, tho not in law. Figures recently furnished to the World by Dr. John T. Nagle, of this city's Bureau of Statistics, showed 130 homicides in Greater New York in 1900, only three convictions in the capital degree, and only one execution.

Considering these facts, why should we wonder that 39,872 persons perished at the hands of homicides in the United States in the five years 1896 to 1900 inclusive, a record of human slaughter not equaled or approached in proportion to its population by any European country, except Italy!

The real cause lies back of all this; it is decline of the faith and fear of the Lord. No mere penalties will check crime.