The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1912-01-27
Finger Print Test Has Given
Impetus to Development
Of Detective System
Now q Fine Art

@A@dAT D0sWoo0 1no berOu0n
NV measurSmsnt system, schools
" for detectives, the finger
print method, police mu-
sums and rogsss' galleries the pro
fsssion" Of crime II becoming q dis
eoufag1ns pursuit to those with evil
bsnta They say crime II on the de-
cline in the United States. and q 10
visw q the progress that has marked
the work Of tracking lawbreaksrs and
bringing them to Justice would lead 10
IN acceptance Of the statement AZ true.
In New York city a school has been
opened for tho instruction Of newcom-
srs 10 the detective force, with Cap
tain Joseph A. Faurot, the Bsrtillon
and finger print expert, a. one Of the
principal instructors.
Police Commissioners Rhinelander
Waldo issued orders that In sections Of
twenty-five at time every detective
IN New York city must undergo q
months instruction in the new school.
II was when william McAdoo was
New YORK police commissioner, in 1905,
that George 3. Dougherty, who had
Just come from the Pinkerton agency
to DO deputy commissioner, suggested
that the department which had 20 sue
cessfully demonstrated the practical
ity Of the Bertillon measurements
branch out into the study of finger
prints AZ q means Of Identification. Az
Of French parentage and because Of
the remarkable capacity he had al
ready shown Faurot was chosen to 60
to Paris and learn what the French po-
lice could teach him on the subject.
Outside Of the heads Of the depart
ment the idea was generally ridiculcd
crItios COMPOUNDED.
The chance to silence the critics came
soon after Faurot's return, when an
old man was picked up in Greenwich
village. He was suspected Of stealing
jswelry from a guest at a big hotel.
In order moro thoroughly to test the
system Faurot sent to Scotland Yard,
the London detective headquarters, no
other description than the prints Of
the prisoners two thumbs. Duplicates
Of the thumb prints came back from
Scotland Yard by the next steamer,
with the assurance that Johns, alias
Jones and several other assumed
names, was a hotel sneak who had
done time in half dozen British pris-
ons. The photograph which accom-
panied the letter removed any doubt
40 to the identity Of the man and vim
dicated the finger print method.
The mystery, which involved the rob-
berry Of house on Washington square,
New York, further confirmed the use
fulness Of finger print study. 1t hinged
upon the sweaty print Of q thumb left
by the thief In soup ladls. Faurot
noticed that the imprint contained the
popularity Of three deltas-ths tri
angular junction Of group Of the LIT
dc ridges which form the prints-bu'
he could not place Il among the speed
mems In his collection. Three months
later Q suspect was brought In from
enc Of the precincts, caught hanging
around outside a pawnshop. Rather
ehan stand trial Herman Kaplan plead
Cd guilty and was sentenced. He wal
the candle burglar" 20 called because
hs always had with him tallow dip.
Dramatic II the tale that centeri
around q cut glass bowl IN Captain
Tsurot's possession. Three years ago
house in Flatbush, Brooklyn. was en-
tered. Most Of the contents Of the din
ing room were missing. A canary bird
freed from its cage, was Tying about
the room. The cut glass bowl with z
blurred thumb. print was taken to
Faurot. Three months later In an
other part Of Flatbush ME-. George h.
gtsbsr was killed By one Of two bur
glars who had broken into her home
and her son wounded one Of them.
Both were captured.
The wounded burglar protested that
- was not professional houssbrsak-