Crime in New York City

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 21, 1873

Crime in New York City.

The following from the recent message of Gen. Dix, governor of New York, speaks for itself. Just before the coming of the Son of man it was to be as in the days of Noah; Matt. 24:37-39; and in the days of Noah the earth was filled with violence. Gen. 6:11. Let no one say that we are alarmists for calling attention to these things, when the evil has reached such gigantic proportions that “vigilance committees” are talked of in the metropolis of this nation, and the highest executive officer of the most populous State in the Union calls aloud for some action to be taken whereby the safety of life and property may be secured. Shall we say with the scoffer, “All things continue as they were from the beginning”? Or shall we mark the omens that God is about to arise in controversy with the nations, as he will do, when the fast filling cup of their iniquity is full, and prepare for the issues of that day?

Gov. Dix says:—

The alarming increase in frequency of the crime of murder in the city and its environs demands your most serious consideration. Scarcely a day passes without witnessing a brutal, and in many instances a fatal, assault upon the persons of unoffending individuals, usually in drinking saloons, often in the most frequented streets, and sometimes within the purlieus of justice. According to the reports of the Secretary of State on the statistics of crime there were less than three convictions per annum for murder in the State during the nine years from 1830 to 1838 inclusive. In one of these years there was not a single conviction for that crime. Since then the number of cases in which life is taken has accumulated with fearful rapidity.

This deplorable increase is due to a variety of causes. Among them may be enumerated the failure to convict, from the reluctance of jurors to bring in a verdict of willful murder involving the punishment of death; the difficulty of obtaining juries of competent intelligence; the incapacity or criminal negligence of prosecuting officers; and the delays in carrying sentences into execution by the interposition of legal technicalities. It will be in vain to hope for the suppression of crime, unless the retribution is prompt and certain. The leading objects of government are the protection of life and the security of property. No political system can retain the confidence of those who live under it unless these objects are effectually accomplished. The lamentable manner in which both have been frustrated in the city of New York has forced upon the minds of many thoughtful persons the unwelcome question whether their lives and property would not be better secured under a less popular form of government.

Nothing can be more deplorable than the suggestion of a doubt as to the superiority of our own institutions over others of a less liberal character. Under this view of the subject the duty of securing property from depredation and life from felonious assault becomes the more imperious and connects itself closely with the durability of our political system; for if the machinery of the law proves inadequate to effect the fundamental purposes of government, it will soon be made to give way to the arm of force.

The difficulty to which I have alluded, in obtaining juries of competent intelligence, arose from the existing rule of law, which had its origin in a period of comparative ignorance, and under which it has been almost impossible to impanel a proper jury in a capital case. The universal distribution of the press brings to every man’s door the narration of passing events, and every intelligent person rises from the perusal with a distinct impression in regard to them. If such an impression is to be treated as an opinion not to be modified or changed on a hearing of the evidence on both sides, intelligence and reflection, the very qualities needed to pronounce a righteous judgment would disqualify most of our citizens from serving as jurors when a murderer is to be tried.

Under the act passed at the last session of the Legislature a jury has recently been impaneled without unreasonable delay, and it is to be hoped that this enactment will prove in practice a remedy for the difficulty referred to. The further obstacle to the prompt punishment of crime, after conviction, through the interposition of legal technicalities, needs to be removed by some proper and effective provision of law. In framing our system of criminal jurisprudence the merciful purpose of protecting the innocent from unjust conviction was kept chiefly in view. It is worthy of consideration whether in carrying out this purpose we may not have created impediments to the punishment of the guilty, and given a rein to crime through its impunity.

Sanctified Sins.

That church-fairs with their lotteries, raffles, prize packages, grab-bags, &c., are great nurseries of the appalling sin of gambling, a terrible reproach upon the cause of Christ and a terrible evidence that those churches which indulge in them have departed from the high standard of piety of former days, has long been the conviction of those who are striving to maintain the simplicity and purity of the gospel.

It is a matter of congratulation that men of high official position are coming to the support of this sentiment by declaring that laws should be enacted sufficient to suppress this iniquity. The Governor of Wisconsin so speaks. A late Detroit Post, in an article headed, “A bold Governor,” says:—

The Governor of Wisconsin is a bold man. If he were here, we should shake hands with him, and dub him “the bravest of the brave,” not excepting Gen. Grant, Gen. Sheridan, or any other hero. Why? Because the Governor of Wisconsin, in his annual message, has had the moral courage—and a most desperate courage it is in a politician—to declare, point blank, the too-long whispered truth that church fairs, charitable raffles, concert lotteries for charitable and other purposes, prize packages, “grab-bags,” Sabbath-school and other religious chances by ticket, are nurseries of crime, inasmuch as they promise something for nothing, are games of chance, and are really gambling. The governor says that the pernicious spirit of gambling is fostered, encouraged, and kept alive by these agencies to a degree little known by good citizens; and that, but for them, the ordinary laws against gambling would be much less violated and much more easily enforced. He says these practices ought not to be permitted any longer to debauch the morals of the young. Think of the row this plain speaking will stir up! Think of the courage necessary to say this in a public official, depending upon the votes of the people for future official honors! Then think how true and well observed it is, and join us in crying: Good for Governor Washburn!

The following is an extract from this part of his message:—

“The laws of the State as applicable to professional gamblers are doubtless all sufficient, and only require to be enforced. But some law seems to be required to break up the schools where gamblers are made. These are everywhere. Even the church (unwittingly, no doubt), is sometimes found doing the work of the devil. Gift concerts, gift enterprises and raffles, sometimes in aid of religious or charitable objects, but often for less worthy objects, lotteries, prize-packages, etc., are all devices to obtain money without value received. Nothing is so demoralizing or intoxicating, particularly to the young, as the acquisition of money or property without labor. If you can devise some law to break up these practices and bring them into discredit, you will deserve the thanks of all good people.”