(_a_) The _bona fide_ working men in search of employment 17 per cent. (_b_) The casual labourer unwilling or unfit for continued work—the first to lose employment and the last to regain it as trade falls or rises 31 " (_c_) The habitual vagrant and mendicant 41 " (_d_) Old and infirm persons “wandering to their own hurt,” crawling from ward to ward, entering the workhouse infirmary only when compelled to do so, living by begging, and constant trouble to the police and magistrates 11 " --- 100 --- “Altogether 207 tramps were received during the above-stated period.” Pentonville “As in former years the number, especially of youths, imprisoned for minor—I will not say trivial—offences has been considerable. What to do with these lads is a problem of much difficulty, many are homeless and friendless. Their parents are dead, or have forsaken their offspring; living just anywhere or anyhow, one can only have for such a feeling of profound pity.” Wakefield “The steadily increasing number of the vagrant and feeble-minded is a subject urgently demanding special legislation. It is hopeless for any Discharged Prisoners’ Aid Society to attempt to do anything for these cases.” Wandsworth “The weak-minded have been collected and reported in each case according to Standing Order. Sixteen cases of insanity were also dealt with.” Can any words of mine add force to these terrible statements and convincing figures? I think not! Can any master of the English language add potency to them? I think not! so I let them stand in their bald simplicity as a proof of my contention, and as an indictment of our present methods for dealing with smitten and afflicted prisoners. CHAPTER III IS THERE A CRIMINAL TYPE? Is there a criminal type? After years of close observation, during which I have formed many friendships with criminals, I can only answer this question in the words that I have answered it before, and say that, physically, I have not found any evidence to show that a criminal type exists. In saying this I know that I shall run counter to the teaching of a good many people, and probably run counter to public opinion. For the criminal class and the criminal type have been written about so largely, and talked about so frequently, that the majority of people have come to the conclusion that our criminals come from a particular order of society, and that the poorest; or that there exists a type of people whose physical appearance gives outward and visible signs that proclaim the inward criminal mind.