Produced by MWS and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries) MODERN PROBLEMS.—V PSYCHOLOGY AND CRIME _MODERN PROBLEMS_ I. LETTERS FROM JOHN CHINAMAN By G. Lowes Dickinson II. RELIGION: A CRITICISM AND A FORECAST By G. Lowes Dickinson III. RELIGION AND IMMORTALITY By G. Lowes Dickinson IV. FROM THE ABYSS: OF ITS INHABITANTS By One of Them V. PSYCHOLOGY AND CRIME By Thomas Holmes PSYCHOLOGY AND CRIME By THOMAS HOLMES SECRETARY OF THE HOWARD ASSOCIATION AUTHOR OF LONDON POLICE COURTS, ETC. [Illustration] LONDON J. M. DENT & SONS, LTD. MCMXII _All rights reserved_ PREFACE Sincerely do I hope that the issue of this little book may prove useful in drawing the attention of the public to the mental and physical condition of the unfortunates who form such a large proportion of our prison population. To our authorities the sad plight of this mass of smitten humanity is well known. Year after year our Prison Commissioners, in presenting their reports, have not failed to impress upon the State the great part physical and mental afflictions play in the production of crime. So far, the information given by the Prison Commissioners has produced little or no effect; neither have their representations led to any alteration in the treatment of unfortunate individuals whose infirmities are in reality the root cause of their delinquency. To the official information I add the result of my own prolonged experience. This experience has imbued me with the conviction that the present methods of dealing with suffering humanity are neither wise, just, nor efficacious. I have seen the helplessness of so many that are called criminals that, in writing these pages, I am animated with a keen desire to hasten the day of sensible reform. Surely the day cannot be far distant when the State will take mental and physical infirmities into consideration when it has to deal with its erring children. Thomas Holmes. _Howard Association, Devonshire Chambers, Bishopsgate._ CONTENTS CHAP. PAGE I Psychology and Crime 1 II Physiology and Crime 13 III Is there a Criminal Type? 34 IV Epilepsy and Crime 48 V Women and Crime 63 VI Prisons—Why they Fail! 71 PSYCHOLOGY AND CRIME CHAPTER I PSYCHOLOGY AND CRIME I hope that no one will be prevented from reading this chapter by its title, for let me say at once that I am not the least bit scientific. Whatever I have to say will be expressed in very simple language, and further, that in the writing of it I am animated with the desire of conveying to thoughtful and non-scientific readers some of the personal causes that lead individuals to commit actions that are deemed criminal.