The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-11-29

such as has never before been compiled.
This will contain the record of every known
crook. Ii will be reinforced with photo
graphs, personal descriptions and accurate
measurements when they can be obtained.
Major McClaughry is great advocate of
the Bertilion system OF anthropometry or
man measurement for the identification of
criminals He has introduced it in Chi
cago and he will endeavor to get all the in
formation he can conforming to it for his
census. Of course to obtain complete set
of measurements would be out of the
question: but one of the points he is urg-
ing most strongly is that prison wardens
and police officials keep him specially
posted on the release of professional Grim
inals from now until the close of the fair,
and it ID quite feasible to furnish him with
some principal data, such as head and
foot measurements for all who are set at
large.
When the fair actually opens the major
hopes to have in Chicago, cooperating
with his officers, at least one detective Of
wide experience from every foreign coun-
try and from every leading city in the
United States, Canada. Mexico and South
America. This, he considers, will be
most important aid in detecting and iden-
tifying visitors of the ight-iingered per-
suasion. Aided by the records and collec-
ton of pictures and the constant infor-
nation regarding the movements of GRIM
inals which the police of the entire world
will constantly contribute, he thinks these
visiting officers can make it impossible for
foreign rascals to remain In the city unde-
tected.
OF course an enormous domestic police
force will have to be organized for the city.
During the Paris exposition of 1873 the
regular day force of police consisted of 730
officers, OF whom seventy-seven were de-
lx.s -.
soldiers to do sentry duty ON the grounds.
In 1889 the day force on the exposition en-
closure consisted Of four officers, fifty-four
petty officers and 800 men. There were,
besides, one chief of detectives, twenty
two lieutenants, four detective sergeants
and sixty detective agents. The night
force consisted of 135 officers and men.
police force of Paris had to be materially
increased during the presence of the vast
crowd of visitors.
1t is not merely the throng that makes
the danger. The vast accumulation of
wealth is an irresistible attraction to
thieves. The hustle, the hurry, the move
ment of travellers and their baggage give
the criminals their opportunity. Then
the conditions are favorable to various
special sorts of dishonesty. The passer of
forged checks and counterfeit money; run
nerS of ''snide" games, not TO speak of
straight" gamblers; pickpockets and
shoplfters; boarding house and hotel
thieves and confidence men are sure to
reap a harvest unless put down with
the strong hand. The bunko-steerer
will be on hand 10 catch the lays" and
the female sharper will be there to enmeSh
TIE foolish of all ages. Given a crowd and
fuss. and the crook always has a chance
And what a crowd that will be. Every
known type of greenhorn and hayseed will
be represented in it, and even the astute
frequenter of Broadway and Dearborn
street will be off his guard in the midst Of
such hurly-burly.
But what are the police to do? Suppose
they spot every sharper who enters the city,
how are they to prevent them from oper-
ating?
The only method seems to be by resort
ing to arbitrary arrest. Inspector Byrnes
makes 1t point before every great event,
such as General Grants funeral or the
centennial of the constitution, or the
Columbus celebration next year, to begin
tWenty-four hours before the event to ar
rest every known criminal who appears on
the street. He arraigns his prisoners be-
fore magistrate as suspicious characters,
asks for remand and gets it. He holds
them till the show is over and the crowd
dispersed. Then he lets them go, and that