Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 38, Number 44, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 February 1906 — AWFUL MURDER RECORD. [ARTICLE]

AWFUL MURDER RECORD.

With Exception of Italians, Americana Are Moat Homicidal Nation. According to the unofficial statistics gathered in 1905, as in previous years, by the Chicago Tribune, there were 9,212 homicides committed in the United States during the twelvemonth just ended. This country remains on the bad eminence it has long occupied in the history of crime; indeed, we have increased our lead, for the number of homicides was greater by 840. in 1905 than it was in the previous year. The record constitutes a shocking indictment. With the single exception of the Italians, the American people are the most homicidal nation in the civilized world. In fact, we are running neck and neck with Italy with respect to the ratio of violent crimes resulting in death. In the latter country the homicides number 105 per million of inhabitants per year; in this country last year the ratio was 115 per milliop. A comparison with the criminal statistics of other leading nations will servo to emphasize the indictment and make it positively terrifying. Thus the annual average ratio of homicides to population is 13 per million to German, 19 per million in France and 27 per million in the United Kingdom.