The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-11-27
A RECORD OF ROGUES.

National Bureau for Ideutifyin:
Criminals Recently Started In Chi-
cago--A Comprehensive syutem
Which Leaves the Criminal Little
Chance.
From the Washington Post.
The latest scheme for the circumven-
ton or the rogue Is the national bu-
reau for the identification OF criminals,
which has just been established in Chi
cago. The idea for this the largest
rogues' gallery in the world, had its
inception in Washington at the con-
vention in the chiefs of police OF the
United States, held here in May, 1895,
and among its most earnest advocates
and one of those who were inStrl-
mental in bringing about the organiza-
ton was Major William G. Moore, sup
erintendent Of police in the district
Major Moore IS one OF the board OF
governors. Colonel Dietsch, chief of
police of Cincinnati, is president Of the
association, and Mr.. George Porteous,
of Chicago, an expert in the Bertillon
system of measurement of criminals
and the one to introduce the French
mans invention into the United States,
Is general manager.
Among the principal cities and agen-
| cies which have membership in the
| association are New York, the Pink
erton agency, Baltimore, Philadelphia,
| Atlanta. Detroit, Cincinnati, Chicago,
Pittsburg, ST. Louis, Washington,
| Chattanooga. and Dallas, Tex Zach
| city contributes to the support of the
| bureau according to its size and pop
ulation. Washington's annual contri-
| button to the fund is S100. 1t was or
iglnally intended to make the capital
city the headquarters OF the bureau,
but Chicago was finally selected, prin-
| cipally because the Bertillon system
| was first introduced there.
RECORDS FROM ALL CITIES.
When the idea was suggested at the
| convention in this city two years ago
| 1t met with great favor. and Colonel
| Moore, Colonel Dietsch, and Marshal
| Foy, then chief of police of Baltimore,
| were appointed committee to ar
| range for the organization. The BertiI-
| Ion system of measurement had then
! been generally introduced and was in
use in all the principal municipalities
| in the United States and Canada. 1t
was proposed that every picture and
| any department belonging to the as
sociation should be sent at once to the
| central bureau and kept there.
Thus, if the police departments
| throughout the country became men,
| bers of the association, double phot-
ograph and complete description of ev-
cry criminal arrested in the country
would be on file at the bureau. When
ever an arrest was made and the de-
partment making it was uncertain as
to the prisoners identity, a descrip-
ton and picture would be sent to tho
central bureau. If the man had ever
been arrested before his identity would
be established Immediately and a his
tory of him sent back to the police
department.
In cases. which frequently occur,
where robbery is committed and the
police are able to secure a descrip-
tion of the robber, without effecting
his capture they can secure his iden-
tification by sending the description to
the bureau. The bureau, too, will keep
complete record of all convictS who
are serving terms in the various pris-
onS in the country, as well as those
who are abroad in the land. The exact
date of the expiration of every con-
vict's term will be known, and when
he is released his movements can be
followed Should he return to his old
haunts and old companions he can
be watched with little difficulty, and
| in case he commits an offense his caps
ture is likely to follow very quickly.
NEW YORK LAST TO ADOPT 1T.
The BertilIon system Of measure
ment, which makes the formation of
such a bureau possible, is regarded by
| criminal authorities as the best means
| for the Identification Of criminals ever
| suggested 1t has been in use in France
| for a quarter of century, and is be-
| ing adopted by all OF the countries OF
| Europe. BY it measurements are taxi
| en- of Il criminals height, height OF
trunk, length of forearm, length of
| fingers, length of feet, circumference
| and diameter OF head size OF ear, shape
of nose, color of eyes and hair. to-
gether with any marks on the head or
body. Two photographs are also TAX
| en- OF each prisoner, one full face
! and the other a profile.
| New York was one of the last cities
in the country to adopt the system.
| 1t was opposed by Thomas Byrnes
| when he was superintendent of police
! there, he being a believer in photo
| graphs and a general description as a
means of Identification. Since his re-
tirement, however, the Bertillon sys-
TEN has been adopted, and that city
Is one of the largest contributors to
the bureau, both as to funds and rec
| ords.
If the bureau is as successful as its
| promoters anticipate, congress will ba
asked to make it part of the de-
partment of Justice. 1t will then be
supported and controlledj by the gov
ernment, and every CIly> and town in
the country will receive its benefits
without any expense The bureau
starts in with $4,000 photographs and
descriptions, and the number will in-
crease rapidly.