The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1896-10-03


have required columns 10 do Justice TO
the subject. but now II can be dis
patched In a few lines. the identitea-
ton of criminals having been reduced |
10 a science by Clerk Richard silsbeo'
Of the Detroit detective bureau.
When that city makes an arrest their
hrst effort Ia to secure the criminal
record Of the prisoner. and 10 do TINS
much valuable time IL consumed and a
large amount Of money Is annually en-
pended. In many cases the prisoner
has been known to set the police al
defiance. refusing to give them the
slightest inkling az to his Identity
and declining 10 answer any questions
touching on hls previous movements
The police authorities would then send
the mans description broadcast
through the country in the hope that he
would be wanted at some place or an
other. Failing te hear from the au-
thorities OF other cities. the prisoner
would be given his liberty. and the
police might later hear that he was
wanted for a serious crime and that
a large reward was offered for his APP
prehenalon.
Such an incident Is nov almost Inn
poaalble In Detriot especially. owing TO
the record system recently completed
BY Clerk silsbee. and which has prov
en- OF great assistance 10 the detectives
as we'll az a money saver 10 the police
department. So complete In It's de-
tail IL the system that Il matters not
how long after registration. the Grim
inal, II again arrested, can be idenu-
FED within ave minutes after he IA
brought into the central station. He
secured all the criminal papers aeceesi'
bic and from these o,trput the photo
graphs Of noted crooks. together with
a list OF the mems various crimes. All
newspaper clippings bearing on the
case we're secured and these were
pasted on the back OF cards arranged
for the purpose and nled away for fu
ture reference. large quantity o.
these clippings accumulated. and al
he had no suitable place for them Mr
ensbee made a demand on the de
partment for a large eabiue, and
number Of books. but a. yet the polio
oficlals took no interest In his Worl
and the demand was not granted.
some three or four years ago nc
gro. Frank Lawson. sho, a police OF
noer In New York. and after bsin
sentenced to prison for ten years man
AGED 10 escape. on Atwater street
near the Brush street depot, In tina
city. was formerly resort known a
the Chicago house. One day the loci
police ralded the place and brough
In a number Of suspects. who Wer
taken into the detective once an
questioned. among them being a co
ored man. After looking At the ma
for some minutes Mr.. Silsbee remeu
bered the New York case and In lool
ing up his records found photograp
OF the man and history OF his erin
This was given TO Capt Baker. WI
closely questioned Lawson. but the Ia
ter denied being the man wanted
the New York police. The photograI
was then shown him and at this poll
The man weakened. confessed his erin
and was held until officers came he
and took him back 10 New York. tn
incident led the police authorities
think there was something In Sllsbe'
plans and he was at once given
requlsltion for the articles he seed
to complete his system.
Among the articles asked for Al
received from the department by y
sllsbee was a folder. which plays
important part In connection with I
syslem. On the outside Of the fold
IL printed a brief synopsis OF the ca
giving the name. alias, date OF ARE
and crime imputed 10 the prisoner; a
the Bsrtlllon and index numbers. VII
In the folder Ia placed the Beriill
blank. with the prisoners measu
ments. the date OF his arrest, the
tense. and the disposition Of the ca