The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1902-10-17
The Local Police andTTheir clippers .

Although more than half the pris-
oners taken into custody by the local
police offer no resistance when placed
under arrest, there are some who
put up fight" and others who
show disposition to ely" 1t is for
such as these that handouts and
"nippers" are made Once prisoner
is handcuffed, or held with the nip
pers," he has very little chance of
either finching or running away.
There is marked difference be-
tween handouts and "nippers. - The
latter may be made instruments of
torture. but the handouts, OF, in
police parlance, the bracelets, . are
not so easily manipulated. and once
adjusted on a prisoners wrist they
remain in the one position until
opened with a key In the use of
most handouts the bracelets are
locked automatically. They are
snapped on q prisoners wrist or
wrists, and by means of series of
cogs it is possible to make them fit
snugly on wrist of almost any size.
Several different brands of handouts
are made. The most common style
is that which has two bracelets
joined together by steel link or
two. A pair of these weigh less than
quarter of q pound. Good "brace-
let's of this variety are worth S. a
pair. Most of them are made in New
York, and any officer who needs them
must buy his own. They are then
his personal property. Another style
is an automatic bracelet attached to
a short steel bar, at the end of
which is small handle for the one
who uses it. With a cuff of this
sort, it is, of course, only possible
to secure one wrist.
"Nippers' are made of steel
chains or catgut, or strong, tightly
braided rope, and have short steel
bars for what might be called
handles. The most common kind is
made with steel chains, about as
thick as heavy watch chain. Nearly
IaIl of the patrolmen and the major
ity of their superiors in the depart
ment carry these implements. They
have them ready for every day use,
but it is seldom that they are obliged
to use them.
When the "nippers" are used the
officer puts them around prisoner g
wrist and twists the handles until
the chain fits snugly against the
flesh, with something like knot
where the links cross. Any extra
twist then presses the chain or cord
into the flesh. The more they are
twisted the farther the chains enter
the flesh, and with them it is a sim
pie matter to break the small bones
in a mans wrist. Good officers, in
making an arrest, seldom use either
the "nippers" or handouts. If
they are afraid prisoner may take
to his heels they put couple of
fingers on his coat sleeve and twist
| the cloth around until it answers the
same purpose as "nippers. IT an
officer has two prisoners he generally
handouts them together and walks
close behind them.
In the use of handouts or "nip-
pers" an officer must act on his own
discretion. There are no rules in the
matter, simply because the regula-
tions that might apply in one case
would be utterly worthless and i'm
practicable in another. AS matter
of fact, it is seldom necessary to
handcuff a prisoner or to use the
"nippers. - Ordinary law breakers
never think of trying to escape, and
| the professionals, as a rule, are too
wise to attempt to get away. They
are sensible enough not to make mat
| tiers worse for themselves by resist
ing an officer.