THE YEAR 1905 by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Company · MOUNTAIN VIEW, CALIFORNIA · Feb 14, 1906

THE YEAR 1905.

By Editor

Its Fearful Criminal and Casualty Record.

THE Chicago Tribune, noted for its yearly statistical number, tells us that it has been a banner year in all lines, and in this disasters and crimes have not been exceptions.

There were lives lost in fires 1,018, in water 1,757, in explosions 1,122, in mines 546, in cyclones and storms 467, in falling buildings 297, by lightning 158, and by electricity 127. Among the greater causes, marine disasters 1,538, railroad disasters 3,142 killed and 15,904 injured, while on electric roads in addition 464 have been killed, and 2,622 injured. It would certainly seem that many of these could have been prevented.

Suicides numbered 9,982, a gradual increase since 1899, in which year they numbered 5,340. About twice as many men commit suicide as women, last year 6,556 men, 3,426 women. Among professional men physicians head the list. The various causes given for the great number are as follows: despondency 4,134, insanity 1,826, domestic infelicity 1,524, disappointment in love 958, ill health 411, liquor 375, business losses 32. Doubtless liquor had to do with more than half of all the cases.

The number of homicides from violence of every kind in 1905 shows a considerable increase over 1904. We would remark in passing that this report is only brought down to December 27 of last year, and includes only those reported by telegraph. There were many others doubtless that never either came to light or were caught by the Tribune people. And in this also there is an increase, 9,212 as compared with 8,482, in 1903. And the startling feature of the report is the increase of murders committed by highwaymen, burglars, and hold-up men,—that particular class of criminals being 582 as compared with 464 in 1904, 406 in 1903, 333 in 1902, and 103 in 1901, deaths of this character leaping from 103 in 1901 to 582 in 1905. More than half of these were the result of quarrels, 579 are laid to insanity, and not one comes under the head of lynching.

Lynchings are placed in a class by themselves. Reports for 1905 are only 66, the smallest number since 1885. Of the victims of these lynchings 61 were negroes and 5 white. The leading crimes alleged were murder 34, rape 15, 2 were for unknown reasons, and 1 innocent victim was hanged. The lynchings added to the homicides brings the murders up to 9,278.

There were 133 legal executions as compared with 116 in 1904. The crimes for which there were executions were murder 24, rape 9.

Embezzlements, forgeries, defaultings, and bank wreckings show a large increase over 1904, and altogether the largest since 1897. It totals $9,613,172.

The Tribune remarks on the increased number of murders committed by burglars, thieves, and hold-ups, "It would be some compensation if the killing of these enemies of society kept even pace with their deeds, but only 59 of the 582 were punished." The Tribune likewise remarks, "The number of executions has decreased since 1885, while the number of murders has increased. In 1885 the number of murders reported was 1,808, and the number of hangings was 108, while in 1905 the number of murders was 9,212, and the number of legal executions was only 133.

It may be well to supplement this with two scriptures. Jesus said of this time, "As it was in the days of Noah, even so shall it be also in the

days of the Son of Man." Luke 17:26. Of Noah's days we read: "And the earth was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence." Gen. 6. Have we not about reached that time?