Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-06-30
Solved by Finger Prints.

These constitute few of the more
recent cases which have been solved by
means of finger Impressions and are
plain indication of what may be accom-
pEshed by painstaking care and strict
attention to detail. The scene of
crime should never be disturbed nor the
objects found therein handled until a.
careful examination can be made by
experts provided with the proper in
struments to determine whether this
class of evidence can be found and
preserved for use in establishing the
identity Of the perpetrator and procur-
ing his arrest and conviction.
The conclusion seems clear and be-
yond question that crime mystery
has not been properly investigated un-
less the very first detail accomplished
was a careful and exhaustive search
for the finger impressions of the Grim
inal.
Another function of the bureau of
criminal Identification should be to
render all possible assistance in estab
fishing the identity of the perpetrator
of a crime by exhibiting to the victim
or witness for identification the photo
graphs of habttual criminals. This
would seem to be a simple operation.
but the very large number Of these
photographs makes 1T a tedious task
and tends to bewilder the witness,
making identified ton difficult,
I'm these modern times. however, the
hab:tual criminal as well as the honest
man is a specialist and usually follows
a certain line Of work throughout his
entire career. The safeblower de-
spises the methods of the ordinary
housebreaker. and the check worker
could not be induced to give UP his
'gentlemanly' calling for that of pick
pocket.
I'm any given case. therefore, it is nee
essary to exhibit for Identification only
fhe photographs of that class Of offenders
to which the perpetrator Of the crime be-
gus check operators, f1im-nam artists.
pennyweighters. badger workers. bogus
directory swindlers impersonators room
ing house thieves. servant thieves etc.
I'm the average bureau, however. the
number of photographs in a single class
becomes large and 1t is desirable, there
fore, to find a method by which the num-
Der necessary to exhibit in any given case
readily he done by means Of those phys
ical characteristics of individuals whio h
are not subject to change, such as sex.
color. height, date of birth, etc.
Represented by Card.
Each photograph Of an habitual Of
fender under this plan would be repre-
scented by card bearing the name of
the class of offenders to which he be-
longs, the sex, color. year of birth cage
being a variable quantity and height:
also any other information that may
seem to be desirable to have quickly at
hand, such as the name and aliases of
the individual, his Bertillon measurement
or his finger print classification formula.
THE different classes of the cards will
then be filed separately with appropriate
guide cards, each class to be divided by
sex. each sex class to be divided by color.
each color class to be divided into three
or more parts according to period OF
birth, and each card to be finally filed ac-
cordinR to the height of the individual:
I'm making a selection from this last
classific alton of photographs to exhibit
for Identification 1t is necessary to make
an allowance for error on the part Of
the witness in estimating the height Of
the perpetrator Of the crime. and this
allowance will vary according to the de-
gree of accuracy which the operator be-
Iieyes the witness to have attained, but
In the average case 1T is believed that two
inches greater and two inches less than
the estimate covers sufficient range.
.sBy this means IL should be possible to
quickly extract from the files for identi-
fication all photographs Of a given class
az criminals whose descriptions approx
mate that of the perpetrator of a crime
AZ described by the vie tim or witness, and
II is believed that no bureau which cam
not do this has reached the highest state
OF efficiency.
Another principal function Of the
bureau Of criminal identification IL te