....71
1901............17.......17...........50.........50
1902............15.......11...........58.........42
1903............24........8...........75.........25
1904............19.......14...........58.........42
1905............18.......13...........58.........42
1906............21.......22...........49.........51
1907............16.......10...........62.........38
Total..........135......107.....Aver. 55...Aver. 45
The reader will observe that the percentage of convictions to
acquittals of women defendants averages twenty-two per cent
greater than the percentage for both sexes. A more elaborate
table would show that where the defendants are men there are a
greater proportionate number of acquittals, but more verdicts
in higher degrees. A verdict of manslaughter in the second
degree in the case of a man charged with murder is infrequent,
but convictions of murder in the second degree are exceedingly
common.
The reason for the higher percentage of convictions of women
is that fewer women who commit crime are prosecuted than men,
and that they are rarely indicted unless they are clearly
guilty of the degree of crime charged against them; while
practically every man who is charged with homicide and who, it
seems, may be found guilty is indicted for murder in the first
degree.
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