The female offender / by Cæsar Lombroso and William Ferrero.

  • Lombroso, Cesare, 1835-1909.
Date:
1898
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The female offender / by Cæsar Lombroso and William Ferrero. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Contradictions.—The born criminal is not want- ing in a paradoxical and intermittent goodness which makes a strange contrast to her habitual depravity. Madame Lafarge was extremely kind to her servants. In her own neighbourhood she was called the Providence of the poor and the sick, whom she visited and assisted. Jegado was extremely affectionate to her fellow- servants, but poisoned them the moment they offended her. D’Alessio caused her husband to be assassinated, but only a few years previously she had nursed him devotedly through a dangerous illness. F. . . ., who murdered her husband with the assist- ance of her lover, supported a child whom she had taken from the orphanage. Dumaire, who had enriched herself by prostitution was generous with her money. She supported almost all her relatives, who were very poor ; and she paid for the studies of the lover whom she finally killed when he deserted her. Thomas relieved the wants of the poor, and often wept at the recital of their miseries. She bought presents and clothes for children. P. T., one of the most ferocious female criminals who ever came under our notice, was very kind in succouring her companions, and showed a passionate love for children. Trossarello sat up whole nights long by the bed- sides of poverty-stricken patients. All this altruism, however, is intermittent and of short duration. Criminal women are kind to the unhappy simply 13