St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-10-07
MEASURING CRIMINALS.
Adoption Of the French System Urged
in This State.
IDENTIFICATION IS SURE.
Suggestions for the Observance Of
Prison Sunday in the United States
and Canada.

81 would urge the adoption Of the
Bertillier system of identifying Grim
inals. We need it for the protection OF
our own state, and we ought to adopt it
as a means of aiding other states to
protect themselves" This suggestion
was made by Secretary Hart to the in
spectors of the state prison. MIR. Hart
stated yesterday that the system would
in all probability be adopted by this
state, and a brief explanation OF
it may be given. The system is
the creation of NJ. Bertillier, and
has been adopted with success
in France and America. The anthropo-
metric description consists OF series OF
measurements, including height, length
and width of the head, length OF
the middle finger Of the left hand.
length of the foot, and the distance be-
tween the tips of the fingers of both
hands when the arms are OutStretched,
together with the color OF the eyes. For
each of the measurements referred To,
three grades are defined, and each sue
ceSSive measurement is a complete
division of the preceding one. Photo
graphs are not absolutely essential to
this system, but the minute description
n
ton is not lost sight of to lead to the
final and positive Identification OF
measured subject. The instruments
requisite are one set of caliper COM
passes and two sliding compaSSeS-ln-
Struments vigorously
PRECISE AND NOT EXPENSIVE,
The measurements may be made by
an officer of the prison so that there
would be no extra cost in that respect.
The variations i'll individuals are so
great, and the measurements so per-
feet, that. as has been shown by 100000
subjects, there are hardly ten who Will
show approximate figures. Twenty
five states CT the Union have adopted
the system, and they have formed con-
test bureau at Joliet, where a list OF the
measurements of every convict are re-
corded. Thus, if man is arrested In
st. Paul, and suspicion is aroused as to
his previous career, application at this
bureau will at once ascertain if he has
been convicted in any one OF these
states.
The third Sunday of this month is to
be observed as prison Sunday"
throughout the United States and Can
ada, and in a circular to the clergy OF
Minnesota, Secretary Hart makes the
following suggestions:
First-That each clergyman visit, before
Oct. II, the county Jail aud city, or village
lookup in his own town. i'll order that he may
judge for himself OF the tendencies OF these
institutions as at present conducted.
Second-That each clergyman preach
sermon on the subject of prisons and prison
reform on the 2lstday of OCTOBER. II the
service be held III the evening it can be an
nounced at the mornings service. In many
cases it may be found advantageous 10 hoida
union service of several church, with plat
form meeting addressed by different per-
SONS, either laymen or clergymen.
There are in the prisons, Jalls and
lock-ups of this state over $40 prisoners.
The county jails and city lock-ups,"
says Mr.. Hart. 'are in great need of i'm
provement, both for the sake of the in
mates and the community at large. This
improvement can only be secured
through the education of the people on
the subject"