Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1889-05-29
FACES OF CRIMINALS.
Inspector Byrnes Discards the Sci
ence of Physiognomy.
What Features Disclose-How to Study
the Eyes-Characteristics of the Mouth,
Jaws and Ears-The Deceptiveness
OF Appearances.

Jaws and Ears-The Deceptiveness
OF Appearances.
1t is a wise man who knows his own
ignorance, observes Inspector Thomas
Byrnes, of New York, in the Philadelphia
Times
am moved to smile when hear of men
who can not have met one-tenth as many
people as have, or under such various and
peculiar circumstances, asserting that they
understand human nature. doubt if even
one man is thoroughly understood by any
body, least of all by himselfs For the pur-
poses of my business, long experience in
dealing with men and women is of incalcula-
bic value; it enables the detective to Judge
quickly concerning the individuals and ac-
quaiuts him with many general character
istics of the human family; but after all
this valuable experience teaches one most
important lesson-that 1t will never do to
jump to conclusions on appearances. 1t
leads the detective to distrust all general
izations, all rules for discovering mans
tendencies, all that so-called science, physi-
ognomy, and to depend solely upon facts
and evidence, meaning by the latter term
things that will hold good in law court.
1t is true that the cast of mans features
may be of service, and that no detective will
shut; but physiognomy is merely factor in
the work, not guide to it. If all men were
savages, il they grew from infancy to man
hood and old age with no artificial infiu-
ences to bend their natures, physiognomy
might be reduced to an exact science. /
do not assert that it could, but admit that
it might In the complex civilization Of
to-day it never can be. For education mod
ifies the lines of the face to remarkable
degree. The growth of intelligence i'm
parts not only a new, softened expression
to the face, but actually changes its ap-
pearance to an extent that will inevitably
throw the rules of physiognomy into con-
fusion. Not that a crooked nose may be-
come straight, or large mouth small; but
wise habits and the desire to appear well
in the world may erase the ugly, vice-born
wrinkles about the eyes and on the fore
head, and effect other changes of similar
nature.
While the lines may be modified and the
nature refined, the brutal or criminal ten
denotes are not, unhappily, eradicated.
They may lie dormant throughout life
time, and they may break out, if the provo
cation arises, at any moment. If this hap
pens the criminal is hard case for the de-
tectives. His education has taught him
some things that his less fortunate brother
in the dives can not make available 1t
sometimes happens that vicious tendencies
remain dormant for generations, during
which the lines of a mans face have been
subject to constant Improvement. In cases,
however, when boy of vicious parentage
grows up in vicious surroundings, where
his animal nature is given full swing, he
grows to man hood a marked criminal and
can be picked out at sight. Just what direc-
tion his nasure takes, however, whether to
h,,r
or petty thieving, can not be determined
with accuracy at glance.
1 have said that physiognomy may be re-
garded as a factor in criminal de etecting.
Even then it must be applied with caution,
and never be depended on without evidence.
1t is good plan to get evidence first and
then back it up, if you like the diversion,
with an analysis of the features of
the criminal. In dealing with sus-
poets 1 try to get hints of their character
by observing the mouth, the eyes, Jaws and
ears. From the mouth fair estimate may
be obtained of the subjects character as to
determination or weak will power, brute
courage or timidity, chastity or hcentious-
ness, generosity or Selfishness, cruelty or
kindness.
1t will be observed that this does not go
so far as to make a suspect fatty criminal
or honest man; it simply suggests his ten
dencies. In seeking to determine whether
a person is telling the truth depend good
deal upon the eyes; not, however, upon their
general appearance, for the most evil-eyed
person in the world may tell the truth at
times, and some of the best of men NAV
prevaricate upon occasions of great tempta.
ton. 1t is rather the action of the eyes that
tells the secret. ] try to place the person
who is in question so that the light shines
g. s-4< +; a.
and II they waver or contract more than
the light would call for feel pretty conf.
dent that / am dealing with liar. 1t is
practically impossible to control the pupil
One whose eyes do not waver when he is
deceiving detective usually betrays him.
self by the very effort, which gives to his
face an appearance of over-confidence and
his assumption Of innocent candor becomes
calm stare.
There is not a great deal to be learned
from an inspection Of the jaws and ears, but
Ihave noticed that heavy, wide jaws usually
go with small ears that lie close to the head.
Criminals of this class are generally desper.
ate characters, hard to handle, who are lit
tie amenable to reason, and appreciate only
the argument of force. On the other hand,
men with lantern jaws and happy ears pre-
sent little difficulty.
A striking proof of the uncertainty of
physiognomy in determining mans char
acter, to say nothing of the nature of
his deeds, may be seen at glance at the
rogue's gallery in this city. Three pictures
were placed before visitor one day He
knew from the circumstances that they
were criminals. One he fixed upon unhesi
tatlngly as brutal murderer, another as a
swindler, and the third looked so much like
benevolent clergyman that the visitor dis
liked TO rate him any where, but finally put
him down as thief
s'He might have a mania for stealing
books from libraries" said the visitor,
alphabetically.
Turning to the backs of the photographs
the visitor read I he summarized records of
the three. The "murderer's" worst crime
had been the snatching Of money from a
lady's hand as she was carelessly display
ing it in the street; the 'swindler'' had
committed an atrocious murder, and the
benevolent-looking ''thief' was the keeper
of an in famous resort. And the visitor
thought he knew something about physi-
ognomy aud human nature, too.
This Is True Story.
A man by the name of Klinkinebeard