The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-11-30

measurements when they can be obtained.
Major MoClaughry 10 a great advocate Of
the Bertillon system of anthrOpOmetry or
man measurement for the identification Of
criminals. He has introduced 1t in Chicago
and he will endeavor to get all tho informa-
ton he can, conforming to it for his CEN
sus. or course, to obtain q complete set of
measurements would be out of tho question;
but one of tho points he is urging. most
strongly is that prison wardsns and police
officials keep him specially posted on the
release of professional criminals from now
until the close of the fair, and it is quite
feasible to furnish him with some principal
data, such az 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
bis officers, at least one detective OF wide
from every leading. city in the United
States, Canada, Mexico and South Amor
ioa. This he considers will be . most i'm
portant aid in detecting and identifying
visitors of tho light-fngsred persuasion.
Aided bv the records and collection of pic
lures anG the constant information regard
ing the movements of criminals, which the
police Of the world will constantly con-
tribute, he thinks the visiting officers can
make il impossible for foreign rascals to
,remain in the city undetected.
or course an enormous domestic police
force will haye to be organized for the city.
During the Paris exposition Of 1873 tho
regular day force OF police consisted Of $50
officers, of whom ssvonty-seven were de-
t~ectives. There were. besides. sixty-ons
soldiers to do sentry duty on thu groun ds.
In 1889 ths day forcs on the exposition en-
closure consisisted of four officers, fifty
four petty officers and 300 mon. The re-
were, besides, ons chief of detective s,
TWENTY-FIVE l~ieutenants, four detective ser
geants and aixty detective agents.. The
night force consisted of 1856 officers and
men. Furthermore, the regular detective
and police force of Paris had to be mater
tally increased during the presence of the
vast crowd of visitors.
1t 10 not merely the throng that makes
the danger. The vast accumulation of
wealth il IN 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 dlshoneaty. The pnsser of forged
checks and counterfeit money; runners of
''snids'' games: mot to speak of straight"
gamblers; p~ickpockets and shoplift-
ers; boarding house and hotel
and confidence men are sure to reap
a harvest unless put down with q strong
hand. Th bunco %steerer will be on hand
to catch the Gays" and the female sharper
will be there to enmesh the foolish of all
ages. Given a crowd and a fuss, and the
always has a chance. And what a
crowd there will be. Every known type of
.reenhorn 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 a hurry
burly.
But what are the police to do?. Suppose
they spot every sharper who enters the city,
low are they to prevent them from operat-
ing?
The only method seems to be by resorting