The Newark star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1909, 1909-08-04
TRUST COMPANY |
ADOPTS FINGER
! print SYSTEM
Great Aid in Dealing with IL
literate P~atrons-Banks
to Follow Suit.
WOULD AID INSURANCE
CONCERNS IDENTIFICATIONS
BertillOn Bureau Here Best in
the Country, Says the Head,
E. II. Schwartz.

When the finger prints system of
identification was introduced in con-
nectlon with the Bertillon measure
ment system at police headquarters on
June l, 1906, it was regarded by many
as a doubtful experiment and of no
practical value. So successful is it
claimed to have proved, however, that
the lronbound Trust Company has
adopted it for use in dealing with illit-
crate patrons, n those interested say
there are indications that other bank
ing institutions of the city will follow.
This has already been done by one
banking house in Hoboken and in other
cities throughout the State and coun-
try.
Edward H. Schwartz, under whose
direction the local bureau has reached
an eflciency claimed by him to be second
to none in the country, is enthusiast
over the possibilities of the finger
prints system of identification and
prophesies that it will be adopted by
every large banking house and insur-
ance company in the country within
the next few years. It's use by insur-
c companies especially, he says,
would be Invaluable for the purpose of
Identification in case of accidents in
volving the loss of life. A single finger
would be sufficient for purposes of iden-
LITIGATION.
"A great many people," said Mr..
Schwartz today. fare of the opinion
that the finger prints system of den
tif1cation originated in the brain of
Mark Twain and found it's first ex-
preston in the I production of his
book, 'Pudd'nhea FhWilson.' AS a mat
ter Of fact. ii wal aused 1.500 years ago
py the Chinese IA was taken, up by
The English for lie identification of
their coolie laboF in India. After a
study 81 tt.a+working of the sys-
ten fGs a. number of years, it was
Learned that the finger prints of no
two people are exactly similar and the
method was first used for the identi1-
cation of criminals by the authorities
at Scotland Yard. Since then it has
spread all over the civilized world and
It's efficiency is being more and more
recognized every day.
Since the introduction of the bureau
of identification at police headquarters
the Bertillon measurements, finger
prints and photographs of more than
800 criminals have been taken and
are so arranged that they may be pro-
duced in a moments time. This three
fold method of identification has been
found to be invaluable in tracing the
past records of criminals and the high
state of efficiency gained by the local
bureau has served to keep the number
Of professional eracksmen, pickpockets
and other members of The underworld
who visit Newark down to a minimum.
The bureau has more than paid for it
self. 1t is said, in raising the standard
of the work of the police and in the
saving of labor that would be involved
without 1t.
The system was given a-practical test
two years ago., when a mar in Eliza
beth was arrested on the charge Of
writing a black hand letter to a priest.
He traced the outlines of his hand In
ink at the bottom of the letter. and Mr..
Schwartz was called into the case. He
had the imprint brought out in bold re-
lief by chemicals and the prisoners
identity so firmly established that he
confessed his guilt. Another instance
that can be cited is the ease of Harry
Ezimmath end John Reid, who were