Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-09-23
Mayor lngledue Will Ask Coun-
ell to Allow Him to Install
Criminal Identification
ASSIST POLICE DEPARTMENT
But Two Cities in the State Have tho
System in operation-Good Results
From Start Made in Small Way by
Chief Nicholson at Own Expense
Something Of the System.

Mayor Ingledue, on the request OF
Chief of Police W. e. Nicholson, Will
ask the council. probably at it's next
meeting, to authorize him to install III
the police department the Bertillon
system of Identification of criminals.
The needs of system of Identification
have been apparent in the police de-
partment for many years. and recen.
start in small way, made by the
chief at his own expense, has had sucn
good results, that the chief is anxious
to install a complete system.
Chief Nicholson, few weeks ago,
had photographs taken of all the pris-
oners in the county Jail, who are
awaiting trials on serious charges
These were sent to The Detective. the
official organ of the secret service and
police departments of the United
States with the result that great
many letters of inquiry have been sent.
asking for further details regarding the
prisoners. Because of the interest that
has been taken in the work in it's ini-
tial stages, Chief Nicholson believes
that much greater good can be accom-
plished by installing the complete sys-
tenn The expense incurred in adopting
the system would not be over $50, 1t IS
believed, and the chief is confident that
the city will be saved many times the
cost in single year, in the good the
department can do in Identifying Grim
mails who are arrested for the more
serious offenses AS told in these col
umns Thursday, one railroad detective
from Chicago came to the city to see
three men who are under arrest here
of whom he would have known nothing
had not the photographs been taken
and published There are only two
cities in the state that have the Ber-
tillon system in operation, Des Moines
and Sioux City Dubuque, however
is seriously considering it's adoption
The Bertillon system of identifica-
ton Of criminals was invented in 1880
by Alphonse Bertillon, French an
thropologlst. and for many years chief
of the Identification service of the Par
is prefecture of police. The system
was introduced in Paris in 1882, and
was later placed in operation in all the
larger cities OF Europe. Briefly sum-
med up the system depends upon a
series Of accurate and minute measures
ments Of the human body, assisted by
photographs. These photographs are
not merely photographs Of the face.
which have been found inefficient on
account of the rapidity with which
a professional rogue can change HIS
facial appearance. Photographs of
particular features are made use Of.
For instance, in 100000 persons, no
two have exactly the same kind OF a
nose. The system depends upon bone
measurements, which, in the adult,
never change. The parts measured
are the head, foot, middle finger, the
extended forearm. heighth. breadth,
the trunk Of the body and the ear.
These measurements, placed on card.
take the place of the photographs In
the "rogues gallery New York City
was the first city in this country to
adopt the Bertillon system, in 1895.
and today the system is in vogue in all
Of the principal cities In the United
States.