The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1901-03-30
TIE DETECTIVES TRADE.
EEPTS At RECOGNIZING cRIMl-
MAILS BY PHOTOGRAPHS.

EEPTS At RECOGNIZING CRlNit
; MAILS BY PHOTOGRAPHS.
, 10 Waiter How Scant and Inaccurats May
Be the Data They Generally Sag Their
Man it They Run Across Him Some Fa'
nous Cases.
It is by no means easy to recognize
man never met before by photo
graph, and still less SO by a mere de-
scription, however accurate. Detec-
tives, however. are supposed to be
adopts at such feat, and, to do them
Justice, they are rarely wanting in this
particular. No matter how scant and
inaccurate may be the data at theil
disposal they generally manage to bag
a man who is wanted" il they run
across him. Chatting the other day
with veteran criminal-catcher, the
writer, was enlightened concerning
some Of the methods adopted.
The material supplied to the police
for the purposes Of Identification is
contrary to popular belief, very made
Quate. Descriptions are commonly err
roneous and photographs misleading
Not long since man wanted fol
forgery was stated to be about forty
whereas he was actually fifty, and
what is more, looked it; his hair was
sandy, and not, as stated, dark brown;
his height was underestimate by
three Of four inches; and so on with
all the rest Of his personal character
istics. The only detail strictly accur-
ate was that he had a retreating chin.
AS to the value Of ordinary photo
graphs, a detective once made the
rounds Of certain town with one of
a woman of whom he was in search.
Very soon he seemed to be getting
warm" as the children say. No few
er than three hOtel-keepers were pre-
pared to swear to the original. Two Of
them were certain that they had seen
her, while the other was confident that
she had stopped at his place. When
the woman was arrested 1t became per-
fectly clear that she had never been
| near the town.
Descriptions and photographs are, in
fact, merely aids to the detective, not
complete guides, though very frequent
ly man is arrested by them alone.
This is particularly the case when a
fugitive from justice has some feature
which it is impossible for him to hide
or disguise. Not long ago. for instance.
q smart detective paid a routine visit
to an Irish steamer.
Among the passengers were a wom-
an and her children. who were met on
landing by man having the appear
ance Of a laborer. He was not in the
least like commercial traveller. Yet
the detective, after watching him for
fully half an hour, arrested him as one
who was wanted for embezzlement. He
was right. too. The poor wretch did
not attempt to deny his guilt. He adj
mitted that he was the man whom the
officer had named. adding that for
eight months he had been working in
the docks for las. or los. per week,
and that, thinking he was safe, he had
brought over his wife and family to
join him. What had betrayed him ?
But for them he would have continued
to enjoy his freedom.
On another occasion a man rushed
on board an outward-bou liner Just |
az she was on the point Of sailing. |
Passing detective, who was about to |
leave by the gangway, he went below.
The officer shot glance at him as he
went by, and then, not recognizing in |
him anybody for whom he was look
ing, made a step towards the shore |
As he did SO he turned his head out |
or ordinary curiosity, and looked after
the retreating figure. Then he instant
ly whirled round and darted after the
latecomer, whom In five minutes he
had arrested.
The belated passenger owed his
downfall to nothing else but his bull
neck. When the detective twisted |
himself round he noted that the last |
man had such neck, and that 1t pro-
truded beyond his collar-a popularity
mentioned in the description of
who, it was supposed,
would attempt to leave the country,
and who was accordingly numbered
among the people for whom the officer
was on the watch.
When a detective is exceedingly
doubtful about man the hands some
times give clue or even afford a
clinching proof. An officer once ac-
costed on an Atlantic liner at LIVER
pool a steerage passenger who seer.ed
to correspond in one or two partlc-:
ulars with Figaro who had deserted
his wife. Asked what his trade was, +
he described himself as laborer.
Lets look at your right hand"
said the detective.
"Oh, do you know that tip% said
the man coolly. Its all right. You
want me for leaving the missus, sup
pose?'
He knew Immediately that the bar
Der's trade mark-a lump on the sec
'nd finger Of his right hand, caused by |
he constant use of the scissors-made
further denial useless.
Upon one other point there is a good
ieal of misconception besides that of
he value Of photographs, etc. 1t is
believed that a bearded
runs good chance of |
wedding recognition by detectives II
he gets a clean shave. This is not so. '
Apart from the fact that the police {
axe into consideration the probability
II such a step, the man who resorts
. 1t almost invariably "gives himself
way" Unused to having smooth {
ace, he keeps stroking his chin, while
lis hand sometimes travels in search ,
Il his missing mustache. and thus he I
'etrays himself to close obseryer.-tl
Tit-Bits. q