Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-06-07

Identification of criminals has been
developed into fine art in recent
years. The old, cumbersome method
of compiling Photographic and gen
eral descriptive records has been sue
ceeded, first, by the Bertillon system,
and, secondly, the finger print" sys-
tenn, which, after a comparative
period of thirty years, has proven
that the possibility of similar finger
prints is al a ratio of in 1000, 900, 600.
The classification of these records
has been SO simplified that pris-
oner's past record may be ascertained
within very small fraction of the
time required under the old method
Mr.. Schwartz's Treatise
Edward H. Schwartz, in charge of
the local bureau of Identification, cen !,
sidered one of the greatest experts
on criminology In the United States,
was the first man to introduce the
Berullon system into the State of
New Jersey. He gave the system to
the Newark police department, one of
the first police departments in this
country He describes the method for
readers of the Evening Star as fol-
lows:
Prior to the introduction of the
Bertillon and 6nger-print systems
the methods used for the identifica-
ton of criminals was taking general
description of a prisoner with
photograph. These photographs were
placed in rogues' gallery, and the
balance filed by number or name.
This necessitated the police officials
memorizing for future identification
each and every prisoner brought be-
fore him, as there was absolutely no
other way of arriving at or deter
mining the identity of anyone having
been previously arrested.
After the accumulation of several
thousand photographs it became al
most an absolute impossibility for
any officer or anyone connected with
the police department to remember
or bring to mind the facial lines that
would lead to an identification. 1t
had long been apparent during the
use of this old method that a more
complete and positive means of
v.
Alphonse Bertillon, who at this
time was connected with the police
department of Paris, conceived and
completed method of Identification
OF criminals by the use of measure
ments, which consisted of measuring
the head, ears, fingers and feet, and
also the taking of a general descrip-
ton of the subject; that is, as to the
color of the eye, hair, the inclinations
OF the forehead, nose, general descrip-
ton of the ear, chin and complexion
All marks, scars and moles were also
described and measured
The Way 1t Worked.
The photograph and measurements
were placed on a card and this card
filed according to the measurements.
In this manner. If a person was ar
rested in Newark and gave the name
Of Jones, and afterward was arrested
In Chicago, there giving the name of
Smith, no attention would be paid to
the name given on the card received
by the local bureau, but a search
made under the measurements, and
In this manner immediate identif1ca-
ton would be made.
while this system proved most
efficient, yet, through the discrep-
ancies that often occurred in
measurements by the several
operators, 1t became apparent that a
still more positive and accurate sys-
tenn of Identification was necessary.
These discrepancies in measurement
were not practically the fault of the
Bertillon system, but were caused by
the ineff1ciency and errors of the
operator in his tuition.
Many years prior to this time the
Chinese had made use of the taking
of finger impressions for identifica-
ton. but it finally remained for Sir
E. R. Henry, of Scotland Yard. Eng
land, after many years of study and
experiment. to devise a system of
taking and classifying finger impress
sions.
1.-The Henry system consists of
taking a rolled impression of the ten
fingers, that is, of the third phalanx.
These impressions are taken by
placing the finger-tips upon an ink
plate and transferred to a card