DRINK AND CRIME.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IX, Issue 662, 6 November 1902, Page 20

DRINK AND CRIME.

Mr J. F. Deegan says that the timehonoured theory of the liquor abolitionist is that- drink is responsible, for all,, or nearly all. the crime irt the world. By

“ drink ” he. presumed was meant drunkenness, for even the most reckless teetotaller would hardly assert- that moderate drinkers were necessarily . criminals. There was no logical relation between drink and crime. Sometimes a wretched drunkard in his delirium would commit an act of violence, but the most dangerous criminals were either teetotallers, or they were abstemious. A drunkard was not necessarily, and a criminal was seldom, a drunkard, any more than .a teetotaller was necessarily honest or virtuous. Of the two classes, the teetotal criminal twas infinitely the more dangerous. His criminal instincts worked methodically, deliberately and cunningly. The cares less, free-drink-ing, loose-tongued rascal, if he committed a theft, or forged a cheque was pounced on forthwith, but the sober criminal frequently escaped. It would -be a good' thing for society if the only criminals were drunkards : there M ould be less serious crime, and it wqflld be more easily discovered and dealt with. Air Deegan, at the meeting where he delivered the above, proceeded to give instant es of notorious' criminals who were teetotallers, or practically such.