The Dickinson press. (Dickinson, Stark County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1927, 1888-03-31
WATCHING THE CROOKS.
BosToNs SYSTEM OF KEEPING TRACK
OF HAelTUAL WRONG poERs.
What Is Written in the Big Books Of
Pemberton square--A Perfect Encyclo.
pedia of Criminal N:aformation-Hartl
on the Wicked.

individual It is the duty of an effective DO
lice to maintain, so far as is possible, per-
sonal acquaintance with professional wrong
doers, who in this manner only can he kept
satisfactorily under surveillance. This OBJ
ject is accomplished in many European
countries by the preservation of elaborate
memoranda concerning every man or woman
who has been convicted Of serious offense,
And even in far off Cathay the wicked are
identified by tho imprint Of their thumbs
preserved in India ink upon the police blot
ters.
No system Of that kind exists in this coun-
try, save only in the two cities mentioned.
Elsewhere, as in the case in the national me-
tropolis, it is usual to depend altogether for
tho Identification of criminals upon tho per-
sonal recollections Of officers, supplemented
by such photographs as are obtainable. The
most valued men on the force, therefore. are
those who enjoy the most extended acquaint-
ance with the history and physical idiosyn-
crasics of individual Jail birds. Their expe-
rience, however, is of no permanent benefit to
tho department which employs them, since
regarding this knowledge as their stock in
trade-they will never communicate it to
their juniors and successors in the business.
Thus no progress is made in the efficiency of
the service.
THE BOSTON METHOD.
On tho big books at headquarters in Penn
berton square are written the name, dcscrip-
tion and history of every well known crook
in the United States Already the record is
surprisingly comprehensive, and every day it
is becoming more complete. Whenever any
body is sentenced to prison for crime in this
inf i, J,,l,,
together with descriptive biography of tho
person, at tho Boston office. In this manner
perfect encyclopedia of criminal informu-
tion is being compiled.
Suppose, for instance, that Mr.. "Sheeny
Mike" is arrested here for burglary. He de-
mics that photograph No. 1907 in tho roeues
gallery is his; whcrcupon tho inspector looks
in an indexed volume for No. 1907. under
which is found IL full description, correspond
ing in every detail with tho prisoners phys-
ical peculiaritics, even to birth mark and
subsequently acquired scar. To this is added
reference to No. 1855 in tho state prison
book. Turning to the latter, it is seen that
Sheeny has been at various times an inmate
OF different state prisons. Not only the date
of his sentence is given in each case, but the
name of the judge who administered it and
Tackled on at the end is other reference to the
house Of correction book in which he is traced
through successive terms of incarceration in
reformatory institutions of this sort. At
each point-whatever the alias he assumes
references point back to the fatal number
1907, which establishes his identity. Finally.
in an envelope marked 1907, is found a pack.
age OF newspaper clippings, embodyinc
Mikes career
All this mass of information is placed in
the hands of the district attorney, to whom
it Is Of material assistance in securing
Sheeny's conviction, and the sentence of the
latter gentleman is recorded as usual upon
the books. Not even yet, however, is this
luckless individual free from the tyranny of
the record system. When the first of the
month arrives during which he is to be re-
leased from durance vile, q bulletin is sent
out to local stations and to other cities noti
flying the police everywhere that ho is loose.
In this manner his opportunities for earning
a livelihood are reduced to minimum, and
before long he is apt to find himself again in
the tolls. Even though he commits no offcnse,
he is likely at any moment to be sssnakcd iu'''
on suspicion, and everything conceivable is
done to render existence as wretched for him
Us possible.
HARD ON THE WICKED.
Thus is the climate of Boston rendered un-
healthy for tho iniquitous At once, upon
bis arrival in town, the suspicious character
is welcomed by an invitation to call upon
Chief Inspector Hanscom. Under the chap
cronage of lynx eyed l.trolman, he pays
visit to police headquarters, where he
u1dergoes examination. If he is unknown,
and his account of himself is not perfectly
satisfactory, he is kept under the strictest
watch until ho leaves tho city. If recognized,
he is confronted with his record and advised
to get out as soon as possible. For the pur-
pose of identifying such Objectionable per.
sons experienced officers are kept constantly
on tie watch-as is the case in all cities-at
railway stations, hstels and places of amuse-
ment.
The whole system hangs upon the recogni-
tlon of the criminal as an individual. From
his first offense he is followed by the ever
watchful gaze Of the guardian in blue broad-
cloth and brass buttons through the success
sive stages of his development us IL full
fledged antagonist of social ordcr When
ever he turns up in his professional character
be is promptly pounccd upon and locked up
III shoit, everything Is dOne 10 make MS Oc-
cupation as Improbable as possible. 1t is
really surprising that this effective method
Of suppressing crime should not havo been
already adopted throughout tho country. AS
usual, the metropolis of intellectual culture
is ahead.
Frequently it happens that criminal OBJ
Jects to having his photograph taken. LII
fact, he absolutely declines to pose, and,
when forced into tho chair, tries his best to
embarrass the artist by distortins his visage
with grotesque grinlaces. But this obstinacy
is OF not the slightest avail. Six men, if
necessary, hold his head in position before an
instantaneous camera, and the ercsult-though
scarcely beautiful-is invariably a satisfac-
tory likeness. All negatives are carefully
preserved, SO that duplicates may be OBJ
tained at any time for sending away.-Bos-
ton Cor. Globe-Democrat.