The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1896-09-10

nave drTeSUeu any natural 1elOnlOuS
tendencies. These, however, sad as it
is to record it, form the exception,
rather than the rule. The rank
file Of prison population, wherever
found, is made up of men who are or
will become habitual criminals. They
suffer no humiliation or contrition, but
rather take pride in their achieve.
ments, and look forward to greater
ones when they shall have regained
their liberty.
The police authorities, whose duty 1t
Is to protect society against those who
threaten its peace, as much as to ferret
out the perpetrators of crime after it
has been committed, cannot protest
against the release of these enemies to
the public welfare, since the law has
been satisfied in the case of the specific
crime for which they have been con-
victed. The best that can be done is
to keep them under surveillance. This
Is no easy matter. The professional
criminal is full of cunning and re.
sources. He hides behind numerous
aliases, seeks new fields of operation,
and apparently changes his identity at
will.
The need of some infallble method
commission of bold robbery leads TO
the arrest of a suspect. There is no
direct evidence against him, but a
knowledge of his past record proves a
key to the whole affair. His former
haunts, bis pals and methods of opera.
ton become clues that are successfully
worked, The invention of the Bertil.
lon French system of identifying pris.
in Ht.Cf q 81 n
tory plan for this purpose to come into
use. 1t was devised by NJ Bertillon, a
French physician, who was connected
with the police department of Paris.
1t has now become an important factor
in dealing with the criminal classes
in many parts of the world, and the in
dications are favorable TO its universal
adoption.
1t was first brought to this country
in 1886. Major McCloughry, at that
time warden of the Joliet, ILL.,, prison,
but now super.n tendent of the Pontiac
reformatory, was president of the ma
tional association of prison wardens.
Connected with the Joliet institution
was Swiss named Muller, in the ca
pacity of chief clerk. Being a good
French scholar, he was sent to Paris
by Warden McCloughry, where he
translated the books treating upon the
system. Upon his return, the knowl-
edge thus obtained was promptly put
into use at Joliet, w. H. Luke, who
took instructions from Muller, becom-
ing the first Bertillon operator in the
United States. Warden McCloughry,
who at once became q warm advocate
of the system, brought it to the atten-
tion of the association of which he was
he head, and the result was ITS aoop'
lon in many other prisons.
A Bertillon department was inaugu-
ated by Warden Coffin, of the OHIO
enitentiary, in May last. shortly after
lis assuming the reins of authority:
DR.. A. M. Beatty, who for number OF
ears was connected with the Joliet
rison, and who learned the system
lnder Muller, was secured TO take
harge of the same. Mr., Beatty Is
lative Of Eaton, o. He is thirty-one
rears of age, and has had nine years
experience in prison affairs, going 10
Toilet, in the capacity of assistant
,lerk, when twenty-four years old, he
emained at Joliet under the admlnia'
rations of three different wardens,
md was for time connected with the
iew reformatory at Pontiac, being de-
ailed at the suggestion of Superin'
endent McCloughry, to assist In get
ling matters there in good running
,rder. Mr. Beatty is one OF the Bertil'
ION experts Of the country, and has
some In contact with many OF the most
noted criminals of the day, His knowl'
sdge of criminals, their peculiarities
and whereabouts, is national In its
scope. The department at the Ohio
penitentiary has two operators, Mr.
Beatty and Mr.. Davis, the latter being
a pupil of the former. The work OF
taking prisoners description is an
Interesting operation.
A convicted man upon being brought
to the prison Is turned over by the
sheriff of his county TO the authorities
of the institution in the guard-room Of
the latter. The captain OF the guard
removes all articles from his pockets,
which are placed in safe keeping for
| him. The man then goes through the
grim iron doors, ON the other side OF
which guard is in waiting to initiate
| him into convict life. He Is taken u
| the deputy warden's Office, inside the
walls, where serial number is giveI
him, and his age, occupation and othel
details made matter of record. The
next step is to the barber shop for q
hair cut and shave, and from there tc
the prison photograph gallery. Hi'
serial number in large figures is placed
ON his breast, and his picture taken
both front and side view. Conducted