Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-03-02
WATCHING THE CROOKS.
BOSToN'S SYSTEM OF KEEPING TRACK
OF HABITUAL WRONG DOORS.

What Is Written in the Big Books OF
Pemberton square-A Perfect Encyc,o-
pedia of Criminal Information-Hard
on the Wicked.
This enlightened metropolis boasts a sys-
tenn of criminal record far more complete
than IS possessed by any other city in the
new world, with the possible exception of
San Francisco. Modern experts in such mat
tiers assert that the true secret of effective
police supervision lies in the recognition of
the habitual offender against the law as an
individual. 1t is the duty of an effective po-
lice to maintain, so far as is possible, per-
sonal acquaintance with professional wrong
doors, who in this manner only can be 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 the imprint of their thumbs
preserved in India ink upon the police blot
tiers.
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
the Identification of criminals upon the 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-
crasies of individual Jail birds Their expe-
rience, however, is Of no permanent benefit to
the 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 the big books at headquarters in Penn
berton square are written the name. descrip-
ton and history of every we'll 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
or any other state the fact is duly entered,
together with descriptive biography of the
person, at the Boston office. In this manner
perfect encyclopedia Of criminal informa-
ton is being compiled.
Suppose, for instance, that Mr.. "Sheeny
Mike" is arrested here for burglary. He de-
mics that photograph No 1907 in the rogues
gallery is his: whereupon the inspector looks
in an indexed volume for No 1907, under
which is found full description correspond
ing in every detail with the prisoners phys
ical peculiarities, even to birth mark and
subsequently acquired scar. To this is added
n reference to No. 1855 in the state prison
book. Turning to the latter, it is seen that
Sheeny has been ct 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
the very number of the mittimus paper.
Tackled on at the end is other reference to the
house Of correction book in which lie is traced
through successive terms of incarceration in
reformatory institutions of this sort. At
each point-whst ever the alias he assumes
references point back to the fatal number
1907, which establishes his identity Finally,
in an envelope marked 1907, is found pack
age of newspaper clippings. ernbodying
sketches of the picturesque episodes in Mr. s
Mikes career.
All this mass OF information is placed in
the hands Of the district attorney, to whom,
1t Is OF material assistance in securing
SheenyS 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, bulletin is ser.t
out TO local stations and TO other cities nosi-
tying the police everywhere that be is loose
In this manner his opportunities for earning
a livelihood are reduced to Z minimum. and
before long he is apt TO find hi-rsel: again in
the tolls Even though he commits no otTease.
he IS likely at q :? moment 70 be .,s-lakesi in
on suspicion, and everything conceivable is
!one 10 render existence as wre.ched for him
as possible.
HARD on THE WICKED.
Thus is the climate of Boston rendered nm.
healthy for the iniquitous AT once. upon
his arrival in town, the suspicious character
Is welcomed by an invitation To call prc,