The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1907-09-26
DOGS TO AID POLICE
SECRET TESTS BEING MADE BY
NEW YORK OFFICIALS.
European System May Be Adopted
Animals viii Be Used In Trail.
ing Criminals Through Crowd
ed Streets.


New York. k.-Bloodhounds are to be
introduced in New York City to run
down criminals e ~
Experiments have been made by Of
fcers connected with the department
here in various upstate villages and
cities. They have been so successful
that, under orders from Commissioner
Bingham, large number of trained
dogs will be brought to this city and
installed in the station houses, to be
rushed out to scenes Of crime and put
on the scent.
The suggestion that these man hunt
ers would greatly strengthen the po-
lice. department came. from Fourth
Deputy Commissioner of Police Arthur
Woods, who for the last year has been
studying the police conditions in the
continental cities of Europe. '
Mr.. Woods told his chief that the
dogs had proved most effective in trac-
ing criminals, especially in the outly-
ing districts of Paris, but that a dog
with an especially good nose could
follow the tracks of man. through
out the crowded streets of city, If
conditions of weather permitted, when
the footsteps were hours old.
The recent crimes against women
and children, when so many assaults
and murders were committed, decided
Commissioner Bingham to experiment
with the hounds. 1t has been found
that a well-trained dog could follow
man in the open or country dis
tricts many hours after the man had
passed, but an experiment was made
in thickly populated city, in which
hunted man crossed and recrossed
his own tracks through streets hun
dreds of persons were walking con-
stantly.
Four hours later the dog was un-
leashed. The dog was young, but well
trained. He took the scent quickly
and followed the man to his hiding
pidSC III q CClldl vi a
81 cannot tell what city this expert
ment was tried in," said Mr. Woods
"for we want the trials of the dogs to
continue in secret for the present. We
do not want our experiments ham
pered in any way. will say, however
that up to this time the experiments
have been more successful than we
believed possible"
The plan of Commissioner Bingham
is to have at least 100 dogs in New
York police department. In station
houses in the criminal districts two
dogs will be kept constantly, and in
the other houses one dog will be suf
ficient.
Dogs will be kept in every borough
ready for action the moment a crime
has been reported when the crimina
has escaped. In the outlying districts
except in cases where the crimina
takes vehicle to cover his tracks
or where there is a path of water
which will wipe out the traces, 1t Il
believed that the dogs can hunt dow
man in short time.
In the densely populated city, wher'
street cars and trains afford oppoI
tunities for man to cover his track
from the dogs, the dogs will be use,
in identifying suspects. For instance
suspect will be lined up with man,
other men, just as is the case nov
when an Identification is to be al
tempted The dog will be made t
smell garment or some article touch
ed by the suspect, and his training vii
be such that he will make straight 70
the guilty man.
Great care will be employed 4
teaching the dogs. In the south. wher
bloodhounds are frequently used 1
tracking criminals, many of the dog
are ferocious when they come upo
their man, and In most instance
the fugitive is compelled to climb
tree or seek some other refuge to kee
from being torn to pieces.
The best trained dogs, however, wi
not attack the man the are tracking
They will simply keep at his heel
uttering fierce growls and deep bark
and howls until he is Joined by me
in pursuit.
Commissioner Bingham is expecte
to begin buying hounds at once, an
then after thorough training they wi
be assigned to the station houses.
Except when the dogs are trackin
a criminal or are being exercised the
will be kept in leash. Trainers wi
be selected from among the naen l
the department whose duties will b
to see that every dog is in perfect col
dition