We must make here one more observation before we enter upon the proofs of this thesis. We have defined crime as an egoistic act. However, the same act may be at once egoistic and altruistic, and this is the case with some crimes committed from poverty, when an individual steals in order not to have those in his charge die of hunger. What conflicts of duty our present society creates!

The proofs that absolute poverty provokes a number of thefts are of three kinds. The first two are based upon the dynamics of criminality.

First. In winter, when poverty is most pressing, the number of thefts etc. is much greater than in summer. This is a fact so well known that it is unnecessary to give detailed proofs of it, and I think it will be sufficient to give the following statistics dealing with two important countries for a great number of years. [[565]]

Germany, 1883–1892.[383]

Crimes.[384]Number of Punishable Acts Committed in the Months of
January. February. March.April. May. June.July. August. September.October. November. December.
Simple theft a 7,991 7,342 6,909 5,777 6,097 6,003 6,230 6,481 6,249 7,436 7,966 8,523
b 113 115 98 85 87 88 88 92 92 106 117 121
Aggravated theft a 913 877 830 777 840 856 879 866 818 956 971 996
b 102 107 92 89 94 98 98 96 94 106 112 111
Embezzlement a 1,539 1,358 1,454 1,397 1,505 1,485 1,583 1,551 1,459 1,604 1,573 1,659
b 100 97 94 94 98 100 103 101 98 104 105 108
Receiving stolen goods a 682 615 571 442 458 447 444 451 451 556 643 789
b 123 122 103 82 82 83 80 81 81 100 120 142
Professional and habitual receiving of stolen goodsa 3 5 4 8 4 3 3 3 6 3 3 5
b 71 130 94 195 94 73 71 71 146 71 73 118
Fraud a 2,174 2,050 1,909 1,744 1,823 1,869 1,932 1,845 1,758 2,065 2,279 2,432
b 107 111 94 89 90 95 95 91 90 102 116 120

There is, then, a pretty considerable increase as winter approaches, and a decrease with the summer months. I would call the attention of the reader especially to the fact that it is the crimes of simple theft and the receiving of stolen goods which show this change in the most marked way, while aggravated theft, embezzlement and the professional and habitual receiving of stolen goods show it in less degree. It is the two former crimes which have poverty as their cause, while the three latter are more apt to be committed from cupidity and by professional criminals. [[566]]

The following figures, taken from the criminal calendar composed by Professor Lacassagne, have to do with

France, 1827–1870.[385]

Number of Crimes Against Property for Each Month, Reduced to an Equal Duration of 31 Days.

January. 16,350
February. 15,400
March. 14,250
April. 13,450
May. 13,625
June. 13,450
July. 13,225
August. 13,425
September. 13,875
October. 14,400
November. 16,100
December. 16,825