Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1911-02-17
MEASURING A MAN
FOR FUTURE REFERENCE

: The old remark that you take a
mans measure is all right hut
there are many ways of taking it.
II remained for the installation of
the Bertillon method by the State
Police to really and truly take
mans measure. When man gets
through the office he is pretty we'll
measured, from the crown of his
head to the toes OF his feet.
Yesterday an Appeal reporter
called at the State Police head
quarters to witness the measure
ment of state prisoner who was
bound for Warden Bakers custody.
The man was brought in (the
name does not signify, a strapping
young fellow in the prime of life.
He was accompanied by the sheriff
who turns him over to the
measuring crew at the Amory.
The prisoner is first taken to
the photograph room. He is
photographed with his hat on and
Off. profile and full face. If he
should resist he is held while the
operation goes on. The State
gets his picture, which in the end
goes to the rogue's gallary. After
that the man is ordered to strip.
1t is then that he gets his
measure. First he is weighed.
The weight is chroniclcd as net
weight. His hcigh is taken bare
footed. He then stretches bis
arms full length and that is
recorded. The height of his trunk
is also taken that there may he no
mistake if the fellow does some
extra growing.
From the height and measure
stand heis gone over almost with q
fine tooth comb. The head is
measured. length and breadth.
His ears form an interesting
subject. 1t is measured like fine
cut jewel. The ear is great
identification mark. The mans
nose is also measured. This
includes length and breadh, it's
character ard poise. The color of
the eyes, and if there are airy
defects, are noted. The color of
the hair and the color of the beard.
This finishes his upper story,
exclusive of the scars fully noted
and marked on the chart.
The length Of the left middle
and little fingers is taken and
recorded. Then the left forearm
and finally the left foot. The teeth
are examined more carefully than
the average horse, their condition
noted. In fact every mole, scar,
condition of fingers, vaccination
marks and all cuts and bruises that
have left record on the individual
are taken care of. Mr.. Prisoner
is pretty will measured and photo
graphed by this time.
After replacing his clothes he IS
then subject to the finger impress.
sion Identification marks. This is
one of the cIeverest pieces of work.
The mans hand are cleaned. The
fingers are rubbed over carefully
with printers ink. The finger is
then placed carefully on a record
sheet and slowly turned so as
leave the impression on the paper.
Each finger and the thumbs are
thus recorded on q blank used for
this purpose. This makes ten
distinct imprints which in turn are
classified as carefully as the photo
graphs. One copy is kept at TIE
State Police headquarters. where
it is filed, while the other goes to
tire identification board Of the
United States Government. They
in turn examine the fl niger prints
and between the Nevada examina-
tions and those furnished and ap.
proved by the Gvernment it makes
one of the most complete identi-
fication systems. known.
The prisoner then writes his
name gives his age and occupation,