The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-05-16
STUDIED THE BERTILLoN SYSTEM.
Chief of Police McDermott VIII Rec
Ommend It's Adoption Here.


Chief McDermott returned from Milwau-
kee yesterday after having spent two days
at the national convention of chiefs Of po-
lice of the United States. The result of his
visit there win probably be seen soon in
the adoption Of improved methods in the
department which IS already efficient in
both the police and detective branches
The convention opened last Wednesday
and did not adjourn until Saturday,
though Chief McDermott left Milwaukee
Thursday night having got all the infor-
nation he wanted concerning the Bertil-
lon system Of measurement and identitica-
ton of criminals which was the main OBJ
ject OF his visit He reports having had
most enjoyable time at the convention,
which is reported 10 have been the largest
ever assembled There were chiefs in at
tendance from all the principal cities,
many Of whom went from the South, rep
resenting New Orleans, Richmond and all
cities of Importance in that territory
a resolution was adopted by the chiefs
allowing police commissioners to become
active members. In The resolution was
clause inviting all commissioners to meet
with the chiefs next year and share the
benefits which are had from an inter-
change of ideas on the subject forming
one OF the most important features OF
municipal government.
Chief McDermott proposed The names Of
Commissioners Karow. Vetsburg and
Gleason. who were elected active mem
bers. The commissioners may attend the
convention next year which is held closer
to Savannah, the city chosen over Dem
yer being Chattanooga. There the chiefs
expect to have a matchless time, roaming
over Lookout mountain and engaging In a
cake-walk, for which Chief Hin Of Chat
tanooga said he intended to have a com
modious stage erected
At Milwaukee Chief McDermott stated
The entertainment was superb in every
| respect. Mayor David Rose and eX-Gov.
| Peck of wisconsin, better known on ac-
count of a volume he wrote entitled
| "Peck's Bad Boy" attended a banquet
given the chiefs Thursday night by the
| city. The Mayor formally opened the
| doors OF the city, while ex-Gov. Peck de-
/ livered a, most humorous address on his
early experience in politics, by which he
| succeeded in aspiring to chief of police OF
a small town in Wisconsin. The Gov
/ eInor was running a little newspaper at
/ he time and was active IN his support Of
/ a candidate for Mayor. The fact he took
/ a prominent part in the campaign caused
| many voters to approach him In regard
! 10 what sort of legislation might be ex-
/
| self to the temperance people that no sa-
! looms should keep open house, while to
/ the gamblers he gave an equally sincere
! promise that the saloons should run wide
! OPEN This placed him in a muddle after
! The election, but when the states were fix
| ed by the Mayor-elect the Governor was
down for chief of police He was told to
proceed 10 the city hall and take charge,
! which he did. An old Irishman was first
seen. and asked:
See here, Mike, what have I to dor"
Not darn thing but to stay here and
look fierce he replied
Chief McDermott decided to recommend
the adoption here of the famous Bertillon
| system of Identifying criminals, which Is
| by measurement. The system was intro
| duced In this country first BY Chicago, a
man named Portiers having been sent
there by the city to investigate the work.
ings Of the plan under the inventor, DR..
| Bertillon.
The system has been used pretty extern
| sively by many cities, and the result OF the
last years work was reported at the con-
vention. 1t showed remarkable record
for catching up with the willy safe-craokers
and other criminals, and has prov
en- of inestmable advantage IN
furnishing a method by which the
different police departments could coop
| crate with one another and do effective
work. 1t only costs about 500 a year
| which can be cheerfully expended wher
the effective service is known.
The Improvement briefly, in the Der
tillion system over the old rogues gallery
IS that It simplifes matters and enable.
police departments to get at more accu
rate system of identification.
Chief McDermott was honored with be
ing the only one from the South TO b.
placed on the executive board. He wal