CRIME IN FRANCE. Curious and Interesting Statistics From the Courts.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 215, 13 August 1887, Page 3

CRIME IN FRANCE. Curious and Interesting Statistics From the Courts.

Thl report published by the French Minister of Justice for the years I SSL to ISSS contains some curious and interesting statistics. The annual average ot charges befoie which came the criminal courts during that period was 4,382. The number of persons acquitted rose from 17 to 27 per cent., which leads us to conclude that French judges and juries have become more lenient. Aa usual, the number of capes in which the jury accorded the benefit of " extenuating circumstances " was very lar^e, being no le-s than 74 per cent. Of the yearly number of prisoners found guilty 29 were sentenced to death, 120 to transportation for life, 88 to twenty years of the .same punishment, 39l toB years,and3l Itolc^s than eight years. Five were condemned to perpetual confinement, three to twenty years' confinement, and (527 to 10 years and under. Among 1 the remaining cuiprits 1,310 were sentenced to a year's imprisonment and 272 to six months and under. As regards the death sentences, there was a considerable increase ; from 1870 to 1880 the number was 127, whereas from 1881 to 1885 the number rose to 148. Of the criminals on whom death was pronounced, seven only Avcre women ; 17 were aged from 16 to 20, 52 fiom 20 to 30, 41 from 30 to 40, 20 from 40 to f>(> and 10 from 50 to 00. Respecting the social position of the condemned to death, 70 were agricultural labourers, 48 workmen, J/5 commercial employees, 8 servants 1 a notary and 1 a private gentleman. 33 wfic quite ignorant, and 113 could read and write; 109 came under the class of old ofknders ; 14 were parricidiats. Only 27 of the total number were guillotined, the merciful President of the Republic having commuted the ponalfcy of fche remainder into transportation,