Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1878-08-28
In the Rogues' Gallery.

''Do you have much difficulty in get
ting these characters to sit for their pie
lures ~ asked New York reporter of
the operator in that branch of business.
Sometimes" said Mr. Heckt, but
| find that if | treat them kindly and
reason with them they give in"
"What do you call reasoning with
them"
.'Well," said Mr.. Heckt, assuming a
logical air. IL talk to them something
in this way: whats the use of losing
time about this thing? If don't get
your picture to-day you've got TO 90
back TO the station-house over night
and come again in the morning
know they are photographed before
they go to court-and that argument
generally strikes them as pretty reason
able"
''But what do you do when they re-
sist?''
81 don't do anything until find that
reasoning does no good, and then do
the best | can,'' which rather vague re-
sponse Mr.. Heckt supplemented with
the observation that once he had To send
up To headquarters for two extra police
men. That was on the 2lst of last
March. The fellows name was Frank
Wyatt. He was forger. He swore he
wouldn't sit "for no snoozer alive"
and when he was finally got into the
chair he pulled the side of his head over
his ear"
James Baxter on the l4th of last Feb
ruary took off his coat and vest and
dared any fellow TO get him into the
seat. He offered to lick any man in the
crowd in any style he wanted. He
was finally appeased, and when he left
a very excellent photograph had been
obtained.
''Yes. kind words does considerable,
Mr.. Heckt added.
.'I've got strict orders" he continued,
''to take off their hats; but occasionally
some swells come along with stove pipes,
and have some difficulty in getting
them to take them off They think it
spoils their looks, and there's as high
toned chaps among the forgers as there
5 in other aristocratic circles"
''Once in while they hang their
heads, and they get their chins under
their shirt collars, but / kinder coax
'em into good positions. You know,
after all, the pictures wewantdon't have
to be works of art. 1t is only necessary
that they should be recognizable.
"How do the women act?' asked the
reporter.
81 haven't taken female picture
since have been in the business" Mr..
Heckt answered.
"What are you paid for your work 2"
I'VE get five dollars head, and We
furnish fifty photographs.
The reporter next went to MIR. Smith,
the photographer, in Brooklyn, opposite
the Court House, who does the photo
graphing Of criminals for that city.
.'What are your experiences in taking
pictures for the ROgues' Gallery?"
asked the reporter.
Mr.. Smith made the same answer that
Mr. Heckt had made, He, too, had found
that kindness went very far in securing
patient sitters.
..Eut you have of course met with re-
eyes, several times the poster had to
be held in their seats"
"But what do you do when they twist
their faces into all sorts of shapes?''
81 let them twist; they get tired soon
enough. Idon't generally have to wait
very long, and sometimes. when don't
care about waiting at all just take an
picture. OF course this
chemical forcing of picture prevents
more than a mere outline; but that is
better than nothing"
The re eporter then asked Mr.. Smith
what argument he generally employed
in reasoning with the criminals.
| tell them simply enough that it's
much easier to take their pictures
around from place to place for identifi-
cation than to cart them aboutin person
and lisa great deal pleasanter for them,
too. They generally agree with me,
and they submit graciOusly."
DO you ever find any of them anxious
to be photographer" ?"
.SOh, yes, very often. Some of these
fellows have never had picture taken
in their lives, and they are delighted
with the prospect of having photographs
to send to their friends, their relatives
or their sweethearts to remember them
by while they are in jail"
Then referring to the question Of re-
moving the hats of the''tony'criminsls'