The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-01-04
MEASURING CRIMINALS
Chief Murphy Introduces
the Bertillon System
at Police Head
quarters.
A UNIVERSAL DETECTIVE
Jersey City in League With Other
municipalities to Keep
Track of the Danger
GUS Classes.

Chief of Police Murphy mas introduced
the Bertillon system of measuring Grim
inals into the local Police Department
and has made the department member
of the International association, which
has a central office in Chicago for the
Identification of criminals. By introduce
ing the Bertillon methods in Jersey City,
Chief Murphy hopes to reduce crime. He
believes that it will serve TO keep profess
sionals from other cities away and make
local criminals less active.
BY the system now in force it is pos
sible to get the complete record OF any
criminal captured within three days OF
his arrest. This is done by sending MS
description to the central office in Chr
cago, which is in charge of George
Porteus. When the card of identifica-
ton is received there it is compared with
other cards on which similar identifica-
ton marks are registered, and if the
criminal has ever been measured in any
city in the United States it is ascertain
ed in very snort time. The cost OF
the service of the central office is only
$50 a year.
Chief Murphy tried for several years to
have the Bertillon system introduced. 1t
was only a few months ago, however, that
he secured from the Police Commission
ers the appropriation necessary. They al
lowed him $3.50 for the purpose He be-
leveax it would cost all of that, ii not
more, to secure the necessary instruments
and get the system in working order He
consulted Albert ShelWorth, the depart
ment carpenter, however, and found that
he could make the majority of the neces-
sary paraphernalia at a very slight cost.
The fine measuring instruments Chle1
Murphy bought in Chicago. By close
economy he has been able to secure all
the required instruments and place the
system in working order in this city at
a cost of $50. After the first cost the ex-
pense is no greater than under. the crude
Patrolman William Robinson has
been detailed to conduct all meas
urements and care for all the
records. He has spent over a month in
closely studying the system, and has
made frequent journeys to Police Head
quarters in New York to watch its prae-
of the New York City detective bureau,
who has charge of the measurements
there, and who has instructed Patrolman
Robinson; pronounces him well versed in
the detail of the system and able to take
charge of the local bureau.
AS favor to Patrolman Robinson Ser
geant Grove was on hand this morning
to help him measure his first subject.
The man was John Glynn, or Harry
Marsh" the. thief who robbed the Adams
Express Company and the Pennsylvania
trouble with him, but he was perfectly
submissive Robinson first made him take
off all his clothing except his under shirt
and trousers.
The measuring machines were all ar
rangedS in the small room adjoining the
Chiefs office. The temperature of the
room was such that there was no posSi-
bility of the subject catching cold. Along
the wall was long board about seven
feet high. At its base was platform for
the subject to stand on At one end
there was made into the board an ap-
paratus for measuring the height of the
subject. Beyond this was a steel on which
he sat to have his trunk measurement
taken. In measuring the height the oper-
ator presses his fist in the pit of the sub
ject's stomach. This has the effect of
making him straighten up, so that an ac-
curate measurement can be secured.
After the normal height has been taken
the subject is made to stretch to his full
height and he is measured again. In the
centre of the room were two stands one
of a height which would bring it to the
level of mans chest and the other
about eighteen inches high. First the arm
of the subject was laid on the higher
stand and measured. The left middle fin
ger the left little finger and the left GU
Bit or the distance from the elbow to the
tip of the middle finger, were next meas
ured. The subject then stood with his
left foot on the Lsmaller stand
with his body leaned forward and his
knees slightly bent In that position the
head ears and nose were carefully meas
ured and the forehead and eyes were ac-
curately described. To determine the
color of the eyes a chart with eyes of
every conceivable color and combination
of colors pictured on it was consulted.
While Glynn was being measured word
was brought him that his mother was
waiting in Inspector Lange's Office to
see him. When he received the news he
wept for the first time since his arrest.
After the ordeal of being measured was
over he met his mother. An affecting
scene occurred between them. Glynn
comes of good family. His mother,
who lives in New York City. is said to
be well to do. She had not seen her son
in several years.
Chief Murphy said of the system I'VE
believe the use of the Bertillon system
will materially aid in lessening crime in
this State. What we want to operate
in connection with it is an habitual Grim
inal law,