Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-01

of the head and features; but its value
depends entirely upon the accuracy OF
the measurements, which may be deIec-
tive because Of carelessness or Imperfect
instr,ments. There is no such risk in the
finger-print system. which is absolutely
conclusive.
"Mr. e. r. Henry, formerly inspector
general of police in India. and now cnie1
department of London, has devised
method of classification which has proven
absolutely infallible, and in single year
3642 successful identifications We're MADE
by him. Mr.. John Kenneth Ferrler, one
Of his subordinates in charge of the bu-
reau OF Identification at Scotland Yard,
came the United States during the st.
Louis exposition for the purpose OF Illus
trating and explaining the system to such
police and prison officials of the United
States and Canada as might visit the en-
position great deal of interest was
excited by his statements and the adop-
ton of the system in this country may be
said to have begun there. MI. ferrler
visited the United States penitentiary at
Leayenworth and assisted in establishing
the system in that institution, taking the
finger prints of all the prisoners. Since
that time the method has been adopted
by the army and navy and by nearly all
the police and prison authorities OF the
United States One of the most important
uses Of this system Is to prevent the en-
listment Of criminals in the military ana
How are the finger prints taken?' 1
asked.
Taking the Finger Prints.
1.-THE apparatus is very simple replied
Mr. McClaughry. 1T is only necessary to
have ~ a wooden block cut in the shape
Of a standard railroad rail, about twelve
inches long. four inches wide, and three
and one-half inches high, with a smooth
sheet of tin or copper placed on the top
with the edges tackled underneath the rim
Of wooden block; ca small marble slab
about eight inches square and one inch
thick: (3) rubber roller with handle
about one and one-half inches in diameter
and four inches wide. and "a black print
er's ink and printers oil Ito reduce the
ink when it is too thick, a bottle of ben
zine, some clean muslin cloths and the
necessary white paper.
place small quantity of ink on the
marble slab and then roll the rubber
roller over 1t until the roller is thoroughly
linked all around; then distribute over
the top of the tin or copper covered
wooden block until the entire surface is
evenly coated with ink. The fingers hav-
ing been previously washed with soap
and water. and partially dried the tips
are each rolled in turn on the linked
block and then on the paper with the
least possible pressure. In applying the
finger to both the linked block and the
paper care should bet taken to roll it
from one side of the nail over the bulb
of the finger to the other side of the nail
so that the complete impression of the
ridges Of the whole of the terminal pha-
lanx, from one side to the other. and
from the transverse crease lines of the
last Joint almost to the end of the digit
may be obtained. No halt must be made
during the process of rolling the finger
and It must not be permitted to slip.
otherwise an imperfect and blurred i'm
preston will result. If the impression be
not satisfactory the whole of the ink
should be washed off the finger with a
clean cloth saturated with benzine and
the process repeated. A good impression
should show the ridges as black lines and
the burrows as white spaces between
| them, clearly and sharply defined. If the
lines representing the ridges are faint in
color. there has been too little ink on the
tin or copper covered block. If, on the
other hand, the lines are dark enough
but the interspaces are not white and
clear of ink. too heavy pressure has been
put on the digit while rolling it. or there