Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1905-10-16
PUDD'NHEAD WILSON ALL RIGHT
Mark Twain's Genial Philosopher
Gives Sherlock Holmes an
idea.

When Mark Twain introduced to the
world that genial philosopher, "Pudd nhead
Wilson," in 1898, the world laughed i'm
mensely at many theories held by the de-
lightful old fellow. None of these theories
created quite as much indulgent interest
however. as Pudd'nhead's system of finger
print identification, upon which the whole
story revolves. 1t was considered very in
genious and original although, of course.
not strictly new at that time.
Only twelve years later this system of
finger print Identification had been adopted
by the prison officials of nearly all great
nations as the infallib1e' distinguishing
mark of one individual among millions. In
the most recent report OF R. w. Nc
Claughry, warden Of the federal prison at
Leavenworth. Kan, the announcement is
made that this system has not only been
adopted in that institution as supplementing
the famous Bertilion system OF France, but
since year ago the record clerk of the
Leavenworth prison has made and filed
finger prints of 1873 prisoners, and has re-
ceived from other penal institutions and
police departments in this country /, 4ol sets
of finger prints.
II Is worthy OF note that II was Warden
McClaughry who introduced the BertiIlon
system into this country, he having sent
his son to Paris to study under the dis
coverer of that mode of Identification. II
was also Warden McClaughry who became
interested in the finger print system which
was demonstrated at the Worlds fair in
st. Louis by John Kenneth Terrier of the
Scotland Yard detective force OF London
In his report Warden McClaughry says in
reference TO this subject:
THE report OF the record clerk explains
In Of KnN1
tenn of the method now in use in England,
and which was introduced into America
last year at the Worlds fair, called the
finger print system. 1t is believed that this
system, In the years to come, will prove ex-
ceedingly effectual in identifying criminals
and thereby lessening the inducements to
attempt escape. What is known as the Ber-
II, tillon system OF identification has been in
vogue at this institution for several years
and 1t will be noted that no escape has oc-
CURED during the past three years. Every
appliance that can be used to render more
certain the recovery OF the fugitive Is sure
to lessen the tendency to attempt escape
and Is therefore valuable economically for
the government. because It is always ex-
pensive to follow and apprehend escaped
prisoners"
The record clerk explains in his special
| IePOF' that as RUE ne taxes tve sets OF
finger prints from each prisoner entering
the institution. One sheet Is filed with the
prisoners commitment papers In a fire.
proof vault; another sheet is filed in the
classified file of the finger print system of
| identification for Identification purposes
| only and the remaining three sheets are
kept on lille in freproof vault TO be used
In apprehendlng escaped prisoners or to be
used as evidence In courts Thus we see
the practical adoption OF a theory con-
| ceived in some obscure philosophical fancy
and brought into public notice through ,the
romaneer's pen.-Kansas City Journal.