New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-07-16
SCHOOL OF PRISON OFFICIALS.
THEY HAD THEIR FIRST LESSON ON THE
BERTTLLON SYSTEM AT SING SING
YESTERDAY

The first session OF the School OF Instruction In
the methods of the Berton system OF identifying
criminals held under the direction OF Austin
Iathrop. Superintendent OF State Prisons, at sing
Sing Prison yesterday afternoon. The second floor
OF the new administration building was used for
the accommodation Of those present. The apparatus
used I'm the various measurements was placed on a
slightly raised platform. 1t consisted OF wooden
frame for measuring height. standing and sittinR'
and the stretch OF mans extended arms: bench
for measuring the length OF the foot, and table
for ascertaining the length Of tho forearm re
sides these there were instruments for measuring
the head ear and other portions OF the human
form.
In front OF the platform were placed chairs TOT
those interested In the proceedings and they were
occupied by the following officials OF the various
institutions for criminals in this State: Austin
Iatnrop Charles x. Baker chief clerk In thc
supcrintendents Office In albany: Miss De'orest'
OF the superintendent Office, Albany: walter ~
Thayer warden OF Clinton Prison. James C. stout,
warden OF Auburn Prison Omar " Sage. warden
of Sing Sing Prison; H. +. Allison, superintendent
of the Matteawan Insane Asylum j. r. Higgs' OF
the Onondaga Penitentiary. Syracuse; j. s.
Harkell superintendent OF the Onondaga fen-
Tertiary Syracuse: Edward j. Dewey, OF the Al
bany County Penitentiary: J. l.. Berthod phys'cA'
director OF the Elmlra Reformatory. Elmra; Johh
J. Murtha of the penitentiary on BlackweIs ISL
and: Walter Merce OF the Monroe County feni-
tentiarv Rochester: DR. c. Otto Stump, Of tho
Kings County Penitentiary. Brooklyn; Dr. ROBERT
B. Lamb Of the Matteawan State Hospital; u. '"
c. Stiles, clerk OF the Erie County Penltehudry
John n Ross secretary to Warden Stout. OF
Auburn Prison: Seymour Squire. OF Auburn frisoh
Edward NJ Coughlin, secretary to Warden mayer
OF Clinton Prison DR.. Barnum OF Sihs oihs a'N
F. II. Mills OF Auburn Prison.
Major Paul r Brown. surgeon, L. 3 A. AZ rori
Hamilton was the lecturer. Major Brown Is d"
expert on the Berton system, and has just CON-
nle,od making the measurements OF the graduating
class at West Point. He also translated from t'e
French Berton's work upon the system 'iih'
bears his name The major Is direct anu EASY
talker and his instructions could not IAN 10 convey
his meaning in the fullest possible manner 10 HIS
hearers After explaining that the me'hou vi
,dartifcat,on was divided into three classes the
borv lengths the features of the face ana scars
and peculiarities of the body. Major Brown pro-
ceedod to measure number OF convicts. the meas
r.ments being in the following order Full height
height sitting stretch Of arms length OF nt n.y.,
width of head cheek measuremen Length o. iitIe
finger OF eft hand length Of left arm from CHOW
to tin Of middle finger After several conyicts hda
been measured IN this manner hummer Oh on.'a.'
from the various prisons tried their hand at TAX
ing measurements. They spent the greater p or.,of,
of the time In catching the knack or measufiis
the middle and little fingers of their subjects.
these two measurements requiring more ueA.slnS
on tho ma RI OF the operator than any OF the oters
To morrow morning Will be devoted 10 the STUDY OF
photogra phng criminals, when Is potlou vi Iii
svs,cn and in the afternoon Major Brown VIII
yi,ye his concluding lecture which will deal with
those measurements not touched upon IN MS "'S'
WardSn Sage has had a building specially erected
for the acco mmodation OF the various department
of the Berton system The structure was Pue "a, Ip
I'm four DAYS the Warden says. but Is a creultaDie
niece of work II contains apartment Tor the
measuring instruments. a studio Lighted win an
ample skvlight. a dark room and a printing rooII.
,itnqether It is a complete affair. and is roomy
and convenient. and finished in yellow pine