DEADWOOD DICK.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 310, 29 December 1908, Page 4

DEADWOOD DICK.

AND OTIIEU LITERATURE, Every now and again, but not infrequently, cases come before the Magistrates or before the Judges i.L which the crime, whatever it may be, has clearly been suggested lo the perpetrators by the reading of a certain class of literature. Only last week Mr. Justice Chapman had lo deal with a notorious vs.ample of ihe inlluence of this kind of reading matter. A youth entered a dwelling-house at Muritai by night 'brandishing a couple of revolvers and ordered the inmates to hold up their hands. They refused, and ho retired without further ceremony. His object in this ease was not lo obtain plunder. It was apparently simply to gain experience of certain sensations. The bold, bail ritiliaii was himself an author, a playwright of sensational plays, which he intended to stage. His mind had beejv monopolised by the fixed idea of a career of exciting adventure in the terrorising of law-abiding society by force of arms.

Now, says the Wellington Post, the case of this misguided young mini is liy 110 menus uniijue. ilardly a montii passes at the Magistrate's Court without the appearance of boys ami youths on charges of theft, apparently instigated by the stimulus of the deteetiv? story. 0.1 Wednesday two youngsters not yet in their teens or anywhere near it were sercrely lectured by Dr. .UcArtluir, S.il., for purloining a eadet rifle from the .Mount Cook School and "potting" at domestic animals iu the vicinity of Brooklyn. The exploits of the feather <iang, the Kilbirniei Tigers', the \\ adestown Brotherhood, Hie lv.irori liueeaneers, and tile juvenile K.dly gang are still fresh in tlu: minds of the publie. In every ease the original source of suggestion can be traced to outside influences in the sjiape of sensational melodramas, sensational cinematograph pictures, and most of all to sensational literature of the order that deals almost solely with erime| Koine samples of the detective yarn, tlie "Dick Turpin" story, and the tales of Bull'alo Bill were investigated by a representatives of the l'oat. The hooks were obtained uL various shops mostly on the outskirts of the principal thoroughfares, where this class of "literature" is seldom stocked. According to several 'booksellers there was a large sale, for this kind of publication. Boys and youths were the chief purchasers, but adults arc not unknown. Some !>oys were gluttons for them, and cam'! round again and again to see if there were anything fresh in the line. Til! | price is low, and for a modest shilling one can buy enough reading about detectives and criminals and outlaws to last a week or two. As forms of "literature" the stories are all exceedingly crude. In many cases the authors are anonymous, and apparently turn out tlvcir quota of tales mechanically week by week to supply the unceasing demand. Still there are some writers, who make known their identity. In one series alone there are 500 volumes to date, and most of them pass under tie name of one man, who is also the detective, who defeats the machinations of desperadoes. To the adult these stories are as amusing as a "blood-and-thunder" melodrama. They treat of a life "that never was on land or sea." Tlicy are simply ridiculous, a mere collection of impossible situations, sheer thrills and astounding fatuities. The characters are .simple puppets infixing in a maze of I'ortuous incidents, further befogged now and then by stilted dialogue. The books might have been turned out of a kind of sausage mill of narrative. Tliat is what lliey are to the adult, whom experience lias given a reasonable idea of the society in which he lives. What are they to the callow youth or the schoolboy, with an imagination plastic to the rough mould of such distorted

notions? They simply- transform bint from a normal individual of t)io human

species juvenile into behig of a dream which lie gradually materialises into practice. lie imitates the deeds of tbe. dsii-iiijjr desperadoes, and runs headlong against tlie law that protects society from its enemies, He perforins all limaner of amazing feats, and then tomes the rude awakening in u court of justiee. It may prove a salutary, or drastic lesson, or tile ideas of tlie class of literature lie lias been readm" .may have sunk too deep. He is then On the high road to a criminal career.

"Undoubtedly," said a distinguished police ollicer, a man experienced in criminology, when interviewed by the Post representative, "that class or literature has heeu clearly shown to have heeii -in many rases an incentive lo j-rime. The hoys gets hold of the stones, devours them, and is immediately lircd with ambition to emulate the exploits of his particular favorite. He need not he a had hoy at the stall

many oi the juvenile oU'endeis got over Ihe wild stage and make respectallel citizens." ' 1

The detective himself confessed .to having read iu liis youth a number o| detective yarns, and got not a few hints [ atterwards of use. It was not to ] J( . supposed that tile criminal or criminal would not prolit technucaliv irom hiK ))o infc of view. There were many wrinkles in such books. Far woj-.se in their cllVct than the lU'tectivu. story were indecent publication*. Allybody addicted to reading these. beeamf' physically, morally, and socially a wrecj--a degenerate often absolutely irr«. i claimable. LACK OF CONTKOU j

Ami I lie remedy? "Would von s.Vi«gest Stale-prohibition by Jaw?'-' d(deeli\e was asked.. || ( . expressed hiuiself in favor of action | JV y, t . ii v divid«al lallier than by the Slate. *Lack] of parental control/' he. said dually. "j„ s pons vide for most juvenile, crime ■fjiit 'I parents l„ok after (heir beys more eai'C--fully, and see pcrsoi.ally |l, ;l t sueti literature is kept away fmjn them, the. trouble will always exM." J 1