Crime in France

New Zealand Tablet, 1 October 1908, Page 23

Crime in France

Commenting on a Reuter Press Agency's telegram which is quoted elsewhere m this issue, the Liverpool Catholic Times of August 2 i remarks:-' When Reuter's news-agency tells us anythiqg d,squ,et,ng as to the condition of France under the rule of M. Clemenceau ,t may be taken for granted that the source of the trouble is deep. Its telegram stating, th«t the enormous increase of juvemle crime in that country is causing alarm to cnmmolog.sts ,s a clear symptom of a desperate condition of affairs. There can ,n truth be no dispute that the French people are face to face with a terrible evil. Amongst all classes cnmmal practices have rapidly multiplied, and the old respect for life and property is disappearing. Youths of- from sixteen to

twenty years are conspicuous for disregard of the law They we responsive for 4 . ?0 per cent. of. the whole of the crimes on he police calendars. It has . been ascertained from / statistics that the number of crimes in proportion to population has almost doubled in thirty years, and one of the worst features of the situation is that the criminals display so much art and skill in their sins against society that the detection of the outrages they commit has become exceedingly difficult. They have had mental but not sound moral training. . The authorities are seriously puzzled as to how they can be dealt with effectually. In all the departments during the assizes the juries have been recommend.ng the maintenance of the death penalty. Behind the juries are the better members of the population crying out for protection from the hands of assassins who are terrorising