The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-07-23
CATCHING CRIMINALS.
Jersey City's Detectives Of
ten Called Upon by
Other Cities.
HOW OFFENDERS ARE RECOGNIZED
characteristics Better Aids
Than the Best Descriptions
or Photographs.
HOW OFFENDERS ARE RECOGNIZED


TIL Jersey City Police have not only the
duty of appiehending criminals who have
committed offenses in this city. but are
also called upon daily to watch out for
crooks from all parts of the country. Jer-
sey City is not exactly a mecca for
thieves, but criminals of all classes land
in this city, over the numerous railroads
that enter here. on their way to New
York and often stop over. Chief Of Po-
lice Murphy has under him a corps Of ex-
perienced detectives who have become
known far and wide for their ability to
recognize foreign criminals, and through
whom many a fugitive from Justice has
| been turned over to the authorities Of
other cities and states.
AS soon as a felony is committed in any
the police, if they know who committed
the crime, at once send a printed des-
criptiors of him, together with his pho
tograph to the Chief of Police of every
city of any considerable size in the United
States. Sometimes rewards are offered
for the arrest Of the criminal. sometimes
the police are merely asked to pick him
up and hold him for extradition. Such
circulars are received at Police Head
| quarters in large numbers They are
| handled by Sergeant Archibald, who is
| careful to ascertain if the criminal is
known to the Jersey City Police. He is
always quick to recognize if the picture
before him is duplicated in the local
rogues' gallery. Long years at Police
Headquarters, preceded by active service
in tho rofJrhor4 M fc of tho Gi+U ra1dar-
ed him familiar with the appearance of
| all the criminals known to the Jersey City
Police. If he thinks he recognizes a pic
ture coming from any other city. he COM
pares it, with those in the gallery and
if he finds hat he is right he make note
on the circular of the number the GRIM
mails picture bears in the local gallery.
The description is next read over the tele-
phone to the Sergeants in charge at the
various precincts. They make note of the
important facts and read them to the men
as they go on duty, so that every police
man in the city is supplied with a des-
cription of the criminal wanted. Often
when a crime is committed in near by
cities, such as Newark or Elizabeth, the
facts are telephoned at once to the Jersey
City Police. In such cases the Sergeants
do not wait to read the descriptions to the
different platoons, but telephone them to
the men, individually, as they report from
their signal boxes. In this manner every
| avenue leading into or out of the city is
guarded within half an hour after word
is received at Police Headquarters.
Often when crimes have been committed
in Newark the criminals have been ar
rested on C-ommunipaw avenue, az they
were fleeing to New York on the trolley
cars. 1t is not an uncommon thing for
policemen to stop Newark trolley
cars n scan the passengers before they
allow them to proceed. BY doing this the
police nave caught many thieves with
their booty in their possession. PATROL
man Timothy J. Murphy has often re-
cefved honorable mention for notable ar
rests of fugitives, which he has made at
the Pennsylvania Railroad depot and
ferry.
The descriptions of fugitives are not only
sent to all precincts, but what is more i'm
portant they are read to the corps of
detectives whose whole duty is to lookout
for criminals. After tina they are posted
on a bulletin board in the detectives room
III l. O14tC dot 81 p "a liity AtA3
constantly be referred to and kept fresh
in the minds of the men who are capable
of making most use of them. This bulletin
board is almost as interesting to the
stranger as the police museum, which is
in the same room. A person is astonished
in looking over the descriptions posted
there to find how carefully the habits and
characteristics of the fugitives are noted
as wen as their age, height and physical
peculiarities. If inquiry is made it is
found that to the skilled detective the
seemingly important details regarding a
mans habits are of greater assistance
than the most accurate description of the
man himself. 1t is the man who has no
pecuiiarities and whose habits are little
known who is difficult to secure.
Here is a sample of the descriptions
found on the bulletin board
$50 REWARD.
The above reward will be paid for
the arrest of Rev. Henry c. Hess,
charged with jumping a bail bond and
forgery. Age % years. Description
Height, 5 #. 10 in; weight, 100 pounds;
strong body, but very thin peculiar
legs; smooth fee, horid, rather rough
features, complexion and hair medium;
gold filing in front teeth; wore black
clothes. green vest, tan shoes, ring
with garnet set; wears eye glasses. at
times. He is a very pleasant talker,
claims there was more than one Adam
and makes a very convincing argument
on the subject. He used to be called
the boy Evangelist" was last seen
on morning of May 5, at Mars Station,
Butler County. Pa. If arrested please
notify,
ROGER O'MARA,
G,34@ orirafnrE an nAt1affr-ncE