The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-05-17
llH o you remember that man who
was arrested the other day as
- -...,--.-..1-. . rrroIi trn,r Inarn

l.
was arrested the other day as
q pfckpocket? Well. he's been
identified as notorious criminal re-
marks the ordinary newspaper reader
casually, in glancing over daily publ
cation. With this brief comment, he di-
reefs his gaze to another item, and
thinks no more of the little article hid
Gen in security among the more import
ant events of the day.
But were this same reader TO ponder
with more interest over the insignificant
account, he would wonder how the pris-
oner had been recognized as celebrated
crook Should he go further and make
a few inquiries on the subject he would
marvel to find that a wonderful system
exists for the detection of professional
thieves, robbers, and evildoers of every
description.
In the mad rush of modern enterprise.
however, the public feels that such in
yestigation is a waste of time. What
need is there TO burden ones self with
unnecessary labor when the main
thought is to accumulate wealth. Surely,
it is sufficient to know that noted
criminal has been captured. No doubt
the police deserve great credit for iden-
tifyirg him as such. Why, then, bother
over the methods and ways that accom-
plish all this?
But TO dismiss the question with SO
little thought is an error. For police
Identification is an essential link TO the
social structure, however minor it NAV
seem. Without 1t, men would be likely to
make themselves liable to the penalties
of the law, and have no fear OF facing
the consequences. Wherever they
might fee, their identity could not be
discovered. Crime would be rampant, and
the ediflce of society would crumble
like house of straws.
A large portion of the wrongs that
disturb the peace-loving population re-
suit either directly or indirectly from
the great difficulty IN distinguishing one
person from another. That is the secret
of a great deal of crime. Indeed. it is
on account of this that so man. crimi-
nails who thrive everywhere have hither-
to escaped the clutches OF the law.
Aside from having the advantages OF
the National Bureau OF Identification
located at Police Headquarters, the de-
partment of Washington possesses a
similar adjunct of its own, where COM
plete files and data are kept in accord
ance with the system. The local bureau
is under the charge of Major Sylvester.
Superintendent of Police. and is con-
Quoted by his subordinates.
What's the Charge?
whats the charge against him."
asks Captain Boardman, chief of the de-
tectives. when a prisoner is brought
into the office.
Caught picking pockets down on the
Avenue replies the detective. Guess
he must be an old hand at the game,
judging from the way he was going about
it
Most likely a professional. then"
the captain says. and orders that the
suspect be led TO face the horrors of
the rogues' gallery No time is wasted
in leading the unfortunate captive to
the bureau. A few measurements are
taken, furnishing a key to his identity,
and his picture IS looked for in GER
tain part Of a cabinet containing the
photographs OF rogues. To locate it is
the work OF few minutes. The figures
are to do the work, and no Importance
Is placed in the similarity of names, or
4 possible resemblance.
On the measurements the whole system
Is based. They furnish a sure. accurate
description that cannot be denied, and
are literally the Identification itself.
The process is called signalment. while
The body of facts, principles. and rules
that govern 1t are known as slgnaletic
art OF signaletics. The inventor OF the
process is Or. Alphonse Bertillon. a.
French anthropologist
There are three distinct parts to this
method First. the anthropometriceI