The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-07-11
QUARTERS OF THE DETECTIVES.
Rooms in Police building Where
Criminals Are Identified.

The detectives will move into their quar-
tiers in the new Police Court building to-
day. They viii occupy the two upper
rooms south of the corridor, the front one
being used as an Office. while that in the
rear viii be for the records and also as a
place for measuring criminals.
Among the things the detectives viii take
to their quarters is the rogue's gallery,
containing some OF the most noted criml-
nails in the country. Probably nowhere is
this important feature Of detective work
kept up more carefully than by the Savan-
nah police, who make IL point to study
the faces of the criminals sent them, so
they may be recognized at a mere glance.
This always requires an expert because of
the disguise criminals almost uneXception-
ally throw around themselves to mlslead
officers.
1t Is understood q small portion of the
rogues' gallery birds captured resemble the
general appearance of the photos on ac-
count OF which the detectives famillarize
themselves with those features which can
not be easily disguised. BY this means 1t
is only in exceptional cases they fail to
pick out the right parties, especially if
the offense is grave enough to can for spe-
cial attention.
Chief McDermott has long since recog-
nized the failure OF the rogues' gallery
as a sure means of catching criminals,
and has recommended the adoption of the
Berullon system of measurement, which
was invented in France, but which has
long since been tested and found success
fu in the larger cities of the United
States. Time and again it has been dis
cussed at the national conventions Of
chiefs of police, the result being that
IL 1
its adoption by the cities they represented
It is fast becoming the American system,
for the reason it practically supplants the
photograph, and gives the officers unmis-
taxable proof of the criminal. The chief
recommended some time ago that the sys-
TEN be adopted in Savannah, and now has
fair hopes of favorable action by the COM
mission, since it is understood the mem
bers are considerably interested.
Compared with the results that follow,
ii Is said the necessary cost in joining the
association would be well expended. The
association of officers controlling the sys-
tenn has headquarters in Chicago, where
all queries and information as to crimi-
nails is sent.
In their new quarters the detectives will
be surrounded by every convenience to
carry on their work successfully. They
viii be much closer to the guard house
and when 1t becomes necessary to put a
suspect in the Sweat box" they can go
to the cells more conveniently than was
formerly the case. Their moving will
about complete the changes the new build
ing has occasloned.
The large room, opposite the detectives
quarters, Is set aside for the fire detail
The short distance the men now go to
reach the barn will place them at fires
much sooner than heretofore, though the
service in this regard has always been far
above complaint. Besides the hitchtng,
there is a supply of rope to load before
starting, which will no longer be a draw
back, since the men VIII not have the long
run to make from their former quarters