"I have made a study of criminals for years, and I think that it is safe to say that in most cases that have come under my observation there were either congenital or hereditary deformities to which the special obliquity could be traced. Such has been the history of crimes in all eras, and one only has to turn to the medical history of the world to see that scientific men have even given greater cognizance to these causes than can ever be brought before juries composed of men whose training has not been such as to enable them to appreciate how much these physical conditions have to do with the commission of crime.

"I see men every day who would be criminals if the stress of circ.u.mstances forced them to it, and they would not be entirely responsible for their action. Crime has more origin in the head than the heart, and it is in the study of phrenology that we have the fact revealed."

A MURDERER'S MENTALITY.

Fritz Anschlag, a German Farmer in Los Angeles county, California, in 1888 murdered Charles. .h.i.tchc.o.c.k and wife, a highly respected couple living at Garden Grove in that county, to obtain possession of their farm, for which a deed had been executed to him, but not delivered, awaiting payment. He was tried, convicted, and sentenced to hang, but defeated the law by committing suicide. An interesting feature of his case was the receipt of a letter from his sister in Germany, before his trial, informing him of the fact that she, his parents and all his relatives had utterly disowned him and regarded him with no sympathy whatever. As this was done before he was proven guilty, and upon mere knowledge of the accusation, it is significant in showing that the whole family were as deficient in the social propensities as was Anschlag himself.

DOOMED ANSCHLAG.

A Phrenologist Examines the Murderer's Head.--The Brute Becomes Angry at His Visitors, But Says Nothing--A Report of the Examination.

[From the Los Angeles (Cal.) _Express_.]

This morning, through the kindness of Jailor Henry Russell, an _Express_ reporter was allowed to enter the cell of Fritz Anschlag, the condemned murderer of Charles. .h.i.tchc.o.c.k and wife, of Garden Grove, to witness an examination of Anschlag's head by Prof. William Windsor, a.s.sisted by his wife. Jailor Russell swung open the iron door of the death-watch cell and allowed the reporter and the Professor, accompanied by his wife, to enter, and then followed himself.

As the little party entered the place of confinement, Anschlag looked nervously around, and seeing the visitors, frowned and mumbled some incoherent words in German. The reporter was asked to speak to the murderer in German and make known to him the object of the morning's visit. Anschlag at first was not willing to have his head examined, but when a.s.sured it might be for his benefit, he readily consented.

Professor Windsor smoothed back Anschlag's long straight hair from his forehead and running his fingers through the murderer's hair, began to make an examination.

As the professor was going through the preliminary movements, the brute trembled and turned color several times. During the examination Professor Windsor would explain as he went along, and when finished, kindly gave the reporter the following written report:

Anschlag's head measures twenty-two inches around the base of the brain and fourteen inches across the crown. His nature is peculiar in the fact that the organs of the brain which deal with property values, and the ability to make a living by ordinary transactions, are almost entirely idiotic. He shows a fair development of memory and perception, but his ability to reason upon moral questions of right and wrong, property and the rights of others, and the consequences of his own acts, is almost absolutely wanting. He is, in all respects, a moral idiot, and it is a noteworthy fact that the most atrocious crimes are committed by this cla.s.s of criminal idiots. The great difficulty in his case is in getting the public or a jury to believe that a man may be capable of reasoning on one point and displaying absolutely no power to think correctly on the moral side of the question. The physical fact remains, however, that to give Anschlag correct judgment on any question involving property, ethics or the consequences of his own acts to himself or others, his head would have to be enlarged at least an inch in the occipital region and the posterior part of the crown.

ANSCHLAG'S MENTALITY.

A Scientific Estimate of the Murderer's Brain--What Prof.

William Windsor, LL. B., the Eminent Phrenologist, Says of his Mental Caliber--He Calls Him an Idiot--No More Moral Sense Than a Dog--The Fault His Ancestors'.

[From the Los Angeles (Cal.) _Tribune_].

Prof. William Windsor, LL. B., the phrenologist whose lectures, in Los Angeles, last January, excited such general interest, returned to the city yesterday, _en route_ for San Diego. He visited the jail yesterday and made an examination of Fritz Anschlag, the noted murderer of the Mr.

and Mrs. Hitchc.o.c.k. A representative of the _Tribune_ called on Professor Windsor at the St. Elmo and requested him to give the readers of this journal the results of his examination of the man whose atrocious crime has absorbed the attention of the public ever since its committal.

"Anschlag is a moral idiot," said Professor Windsor, in answer to the first interrogatory of the scribe. "He belongs to a cla.s.s of beings who, from the circ.u.mstances of birth and education, are dest.i.tute of the requisite amount of sense necessary to form a correct judgment on moral questions as well as many others.

"It is a popular error to suppose that phrenology depends upon 'b.u.mps,'

so called, or protuberances or hollows in the conformation of the skull.

The conclusions of the phrenologist are based upon estimates of brain fiber, their quality and length from a point in the base of the brain directly between the ears, to the surface. This measurement in different heads will show a comparative difference of three or four inches in many cases, though the heads may be smooth in contour and dest.i.tute of 'b.u.mps.' Just look at these two skulls, for instance," placing two ghastly objects on the table, which, by actual measurement, differed more than three inches.

"Does Anschlag's head resemble either of these?"

"Not in all particulars. This," holding up the broader of the two, "is the skull of Andrew J. McCannon, executed in Mississippi, more than forty years ago, for the murder of the Adock family, two adults and three children. It is a case of moral idiocy more p.r.o.nounced than Anschlag's."

"What distinction do you make, Professor, in the case of Anschlag or this murderer, and a case of total idiocy such as we all recognize?"

"The difference is partly in degree, and partly in the fact that a man may be idiotic in one faculty and have all or a majority of the other faculties in the mind in good working order. Cases of color-blindness furnish a familiar example. Color-blindness is not a defect of the eye, but a defect of the brain. In other words, the party is dest.i.tute of the sense of color, and it may be readily detected by a deficiency of brain just above the eye.

"This head of McCannon shows a good development of the base of the brain, giving fine energies and observation, but the entire upper story is taken away. Anschlag, on the other hand, shows a good development in front of the ears, sufficient memory, sympathy and observation to display more than average intelligence on some points. The organs in the back part of the crown and the occipital region generally, are almost dest.i.tute of power, and render him incapable of comprehending social relations, his duties towards others, or the consequences of his acts.

He can not form a correct judgment in regard to the rights of property, and if he wanted anything he would steal it, without giving a thought to the question of right or wrong. If he were questioned whether it were right or wrong to steal or murder, he would answer 'wrong,' because he has heard others say it was wrong, and he answers from memory alone. If the question could be left entirely to his own judgment, he would be as absolutely incapable of solving it as a man who is color-blind would be incapable of distinguishing shades of color."

"If Anschlag's head was as deficient in all points as he is in the region behind the ears, what would be the result?" inquired the reporter.

"It would be much the same as this," replied the phrenologist, producing a cast of the head of an adult idiot "dest.i.tute of all resemblance to the head of a human being, and showing a short development of brain fiber at all points. It is a noteworthy fact that the most revolting crimes are generally committed by the insane and the morally idiotic because their condition renders them incapable of understanding the moral side of the question. A single life or a dozen lives which stand in the way of their accomplishing a purpose, are regarded by them as simply so many obstacles to be overcome, and if, as in Anschlag's case, the organs giving conscientiousness and fear of consequences are weak, they will not hesitate to destroy life to carry out a design."

"Do you consider Anschlag insane within the meaning of the law as to responsibility for crime?"

"He is idiotic in the particulars mentioned, and is incapable of exercising moral responsibility in any case. He is likely to commit homicide upon any occasion which may seem to him to be expedient. I would not hold him responsible more than I would hold a horse, dog, or any other animal incapable of correct reason."

"Where, then, would you fix the responsibility for the murder of the victims?"

"Upon Anschlag's parents and ancestors generally, and upon the condition of society which permits marriages and s.e.xual conditions in parents which can not bring about other than deplorable results. Anschlag's condition is the result of ignorant violation of natural law on the part of his ancestors, dating back for generations. Much could have been done for him by a proper education. That it was not done is merely another unfortunate link in a melancholy chain of calamities."

PHRENOLOGY IN POLITICS.

Some Important Facts in Physiology Which Politicians Do not Take into Account--The Lessons of the Recent Election Considered From a Phrenological Standpoint--Characteristics of Some Leading Men.

[From the Dallas (Texas) _News_, Nov. 10, 1888.]

"There are some facts which play an important part in politics," said Prof. Wm. Windsor, the phrenologist, to a _News_ representative last night after the professor had dismissed his audience in Hill's business college hall after an interesting lecture on physiognomy, "which politicians, as a rule, do not consider. Of course any man of intelligence who plays long at the game of politics comes to possess a certain kind of shrewdness in judging human nature; but very few of them are able to recognize and define the subtile const.i.tutional influences which predetermine the success or failure of the aspirant for political honors. Such influences, however, exist, and other things being equal, or approximately so, it is entirely possible to select, out of a number of candidates, the ones who will succeed by sheer force of physical attributes. There are men who are by nature qualified to lead in great enterprises, and they owe their success in attracting the support of their followers not so much to the development of intellect and shrewdness as to the strong attachment arising from a large development of the brain back of the ears in those regions which give courage and social fraternity. After many years' careful study of the subject, I am positive in the opinion that a strong preponderance of the electric temperament is of the greatest importance in the const.i.tutional qualifications of a man who a.s.sumes the task of a political race in anything of higher moment than a county election. The magnetic temperament seems to be particularly unfortunate in political contests."

"What are the distinguishing characteristics of these temperaments?"

"The electric is the brunette, the magnetic is the blonde. Of the former, General Harrison is a fine example; so were his ancestors, who have played a conspicuous part in history. The electric temperament is dark and swarthy in complexion, angular in configuration, tenacious and strong in texture, and possesses a well-rounded back head, giving large organs of social fraternity, courage, caution and self-reliance. In General Harrison, these traits are somewhat softened by a superabundant vitality, but the traits are all there. John A. Logan was a magnificent type of this temperament. Abraham Lincoln personified it in all its angularity and simplicity. Governor Ross, of this State, is strongly marked with it; while, to come nearer home, your own Barney Gibbs is as good an example of the vital phase of it as Lincoln was of the motive.

Nearly all the Presidents of the United States were strongly endowed with this temperament, except Rutherford B. Hayes, who, on the contrary, was a fine example of the magnetic. You will remember that he was a sort of accidental President, anyhow, and that he was the result of a compromise in his own party, in a convention in which several electric temperament candidates had produced a deadlock. You will also remember that his administration was characterized by no act of National importance and that at its close he was relegated to an obscurity such as has never befallen any other ex-President."

"How about the National legislature?"

"Three-fourths of the members of Congress and a greater proportion of the Senate are brunettes. The same rule holds good in State legislatures as far as I have observed. The temperament which stands second best in political preferment is the magnetic mental. Sam J. Tilden, Levi P.

Morton and Thomas A. Hendricks represent this type. It owes its success to the depth and intensity of its intellectual development, which frequently creates a demand for its services in great emergencies. It is characterized by brilliancy, integrity and the ability to acc.u.mulate a barrel of money, which is also useful in political emergencies."

"If the blonde is a failure in politics, wherein does he find his proper sphere of usefulness?"

"The blonde is an organization of wonderful versatility and commands influence and wins applause in vocations calling for spirit and vigor displayed at short and frequent intervals, rather than for continued tension on the nerves and muscles. He is warm, enthusiastic, generous, impulsive, and deficient in the selfish propensities and in ambition. He loves display and would like to have power, but is inadequate to the continued effort and the endurance necessary to obtain it. He wields a more potent influence in the pulpit, on the rostrum or in journalism.

George W. Peck, T. DeWitt Talmage and R. B. Hayes represent three different types of this temperament all possessing these attributes."

"What about Cleveland and Blaine?"

"Cleveland and Blaine are both examples of modified forms of the Magnetic temperament, more marked in Blaine's case than in Cleveland's.

The student of politics will do well to observe that the defeat of Blaine in 1884 and of Cleveland in 1888 were both due to defections from their own ranks toward opponents of greater power in the particulars mentioned. Reasoning from purely physiological grounds, I believe Cleveland would have defeated Blaine had he been renominated in 1888.

The study of human nature from any standpoint is interesting; doubly so when viewed in the light of great events which 'try men's souls,' in fact, whether they be Presidential elections, the clash of armies or the great discoveries of scientific students."