Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-06-30
FINGER PRINT VALUE.
Mai. Sylvester Uses Method in
Search for Burglar.
EXPERT GIVES HIS VIEWS
Albert Lamb, Head Of System Here,
Reads Paper on Subject.
MANY MYSTERIES ARE SOLVED
Process Simple and Believed to Have
Many Advantages Over Ber-
tillon Plan.
MANY MYSTERIES ARE SOLVED

The action Of Maj. Richard sylvester.
superintendent of police. in having the
police photographer make photographs of
the finger prints thought to have been
left by burglar on the transom at the.
store Of the Christiani Drug Company.
426 9th street northwest, last Sunday has
awakened interest in the local police de-
partment in the finger-print system of
identification. The system has been in
operation here for some time, each po-
lice precinct being equipped with the ap-
paratus necessary to take the finger
prints. but last Sunday was the first time
the local department has taken photo
graphs of finger prints left by a burglar.
Comparisons have. been made by the
local departments bureau Of Identified
tion. but the finger prints on the transom
of the drug store have not been found
TO tally with any heretofore taken of
local criminals. AT the recent meeting
of the International Police Association
paper bearing on the question Of the fin
ger-print system was read.
The paper was prepared by Albert r.
Lamb, former director general OF police
OF Guatemala and at present in charge
OF the finger print system at police head
quarters under the direction of Maj. Syl-
veSter.
v1oWS Oh MI. LAND.
The paper sets forth that the prac-
tical utility of the photograph in making
the scene OF a crime clear TO the minds
Of the court and the jury has SO often
been demonstrated as to require no fur
ther discussion, but the value of the dis
covery and preservation Of finger i'm
presSiOnS upon objects at the scene of
crime, for the purpose of disclosing the
identity of the perpetrator of the crime
or for proving the presence the scene
Of the crme Of suspected person. can
not be overestimated and. 1t Is believed,
has not been given proper consideration.
1T Is known that many police prob
lens which contained all the elements OF
ordinary methods. might have remained
mysteries forever have readily been
solved and the culprits brought to jus
tice through the discovery and careful
preservation Of finger prints.
In September. 1910, at Washington
Heights, a suburb of Chicago. ILL.,.
man was shot to death in his home by
a burglar who had left an impression of
his fingers in fresh paint on a porch
railing. Half an hour later negro.
Thomas jennings, was arrested because
of his suspicious actions by officers who
had not yet heard of the murder. His
finger prints proved to be identical with
those found on the porch railing and he
was tried, convicted and sentenced to
death. In this case counsel for the de-
Tense sought to exclude the testimony of
finger print experts. but were overruled
by the trial Judge and the testimony ad-
mitted
"A burglar in the home of John G.
Milburn in New York city was about
to pack clock with other loot which
he and his partner had collected when
they were frightened away. but the i'm
pressions of his fingers remained in the
dust on the clock and were found to be
Identical with those of a notorious
burglar named Cohen. already on file.
He was arrested. together with a man
lodging with him, and at the trial both
men pleaded guilty.