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pounds to make their crime more sordid than that of Mary Blandy。
Take； again； the case of Mary Ansell； the domestic servant； who； at
Hertford Assizes in June 1899； was found guilty of the murder of her sister；
Caroline； by the administration of phosphorus contained in a cake。 Here
the motive for the murder was the insurance made by Ansell upon the life
of her sister； a young woman of weak intellect confined in Leavesden
Asylum； Watford。 The sum assured was only L22 10s。 If Mary Blandy
poisoned her father in order to be at liberty to marry her lover； Cranstoun；
and to secure the fortune Cranstoun wanted with her； wherein does she
shine above Mary Ansell； a murderess who not only poisoned her sister；
but nearly murdered several of her sister's fellow…inmates of the asylum；
and all for twenty odd pounds？ Certainly not in being less sordid；
certainly not in being more ‘romantic。'
There is； at root； no case of murder proved and accepted as such which
does not contain its points of interest for the criminological writer。 There
is； indeed； many a case； not only of murder but of lesser crime； that has
failed to attract a lot of attention； but that yet； in affording matter for the
student of crime and criminal psychology； surpasses others which； very
often because there has been nothing of greater public moment at the time；
were boomed by the Press into the prominence of causes celebres。
There is no need then； after all； for any crime writer who wants to fry a
modest basket of fish to mourn because Mr Roughead； Mr。 Beaufroy
Barry； Mr Guy Logan； Miss Tennyson Jesse； Mr Leonard R。 Gribble； and
others of his estimable fellows seem to have swiped all the sole and
salmon。 It may be a matter for envy that Mr Roughead； with his uncanny
skill and his gift in piquant sauces； can turn out the haddock and hake with
all the delectability of sole a la Normande。 The sigh of envy will merge
into an exhalation of joy over the artistry of it。 And one may turn；
wholeheartedly and inspired； to see what can be made of one's own catch
of gudgeon。
％ III
‘‘More deadly than the male。''
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SHE STANDS ACCUSED
Kipling's line about the female of the species has been quoted；
particularly as a text for dissertation on the female criminal； perhaps rather
too often。 There is always a temptation to use the easy gambit。
It is quite probable that there are moments in a woman's life when she
does become more deadly than the male。 The probability is one which no
man of age and experience will lack instance for making a fact。 Without
seeking to become profound in the matter I will say this： it is but lightly as
compared with a man that one need scratch a woman to come on the
natural creature。
Now； your natural creature； not inhibited by reason； lives by theft；
murder； and dissimulation。 It lives； even as regards the male； but for one
purpose： to continue its species。 Enrage a woman； then； or frighten her
into the natural creature； and she will discard all those petty rules invented
by the human male for his advantage over； and his safety from； the less
disciplined members of the species。 All that stuff about ‘honour；'
‘Queensberry rules；' ‘playing the game；' and what not will go by the board。
And she will fight you with tooth and talon； with lies； with blows below
the beltmetaphorically； of course。
It may well be that you have done nothing more than hurt her pride
the civilized part of her。 But instinctively she will fight you as the
mother animal； either potentially or in being。 It will not occur to her that
she is doing so。 Nor will it occur to you。 But the fact that she is
fighting at all will bring it about； for fighting to any female animal means
defence of her young。 She may not have any young in being。 That does
not affect the case。 She will fight for the ova she carries； for the ova she
has yet to develop。 Beyond all reason； deep； instinct deep； within her she
is the carrier of the race。 This instinct is so profound that she will have
no recollection in a crisis of the myriads of her like； but will think of
herself as the race's one chance to persist。 Dangerous？ Of course she's
dangerousas dangerous as Nature！ Just as dangerous； just as self…
centred； as in its small way is that vegetative organism the volvox； which；
when food is scarce and the race is threatened； against possible need of
insemination； creates separate husband cells to starve in clusters； while
‘she' hogs all the food…supply for the production of eggs。
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SHE STANDS ACCUSED
This small flight into biology is made merely for the dim light it may
cast on the Kipling half…truth。 It is not made to explain why women
criminals are more deadly； more cruel； more deeply lost in turpitude； than
their male colleagues。 But it may help to explain why so many crime…
writers； following Lombroso； THINK the female more deadly。
There is something so deeply shocking in the idea of a woman being
other than kind and good； something so antagonistic to the smug
conception of Eve as the ‘‘minist'ring angel； thou；'' that leaps to extremes
in expression are easy。
A drunken woman； however； and for example； is not essentially more
degraded than a drunken man。 This in spite of popular belief。 A
nymphomaniac is not essentially more degraded than a brothel…haunting
male。 It may be true that moral sense decays more quickly in a woman
than in a man； that the sex…ridden or drink…avid woman touches the deeps
of degradation more quickly； but the reasons for this are patent。 They are
economic reasons usually； and physical； and not adherent to any inevitably
weaker moral fibre in the woman。
Women as a rule have less command of money than men。 If they
earn what they spend they generally have to seek their satisfactions
cheaply； and； of course； since their powers of resistance to the debilitating
effects of alcohol are commonly less tha