The evening world., 1913-01-24
Abolition of Homicide Bureau
Serious Blunder, Witness
Turnbull Swears.
HAMPERS ALL CITIES.
New York a Clearinghouse
for Worlds Crook Hunters,
Inspector Swears.

Mayor Geynor's order that criminais'
photoxrsphs and fnser-prints may he
taken only after their conviction has
crippled the Police Department scri-
o,isly. In the opinion OF Inspector
Faurot. who b In command Of the De-
tecave Bureau and wis formerly Chief
of the Bureau Of Identification.
Most Of our prominent pickpock cts
have never been convicted" declared
the Inspector this Afternoon on the
stand at the hearing OF the police In
vestigating committee OF the Board Of
Aldermen.
Inspector Faurot brought TO the hear
ing samples OF all the blanks used by
the bureau In recording and indexinE
the activities Of detectives. Chief
Counsel Bucknsr said the committees
Investigators had failed to get what
they wanted from the Detective De-
partment, either In information or
records. 80 the inspector had been sub
posnaed.
Harold Demins. associate Of Mr..
Buckner. questioned Inspector Faurot
regarding methods OF handling photo
New York II a clearing house for the
world for criminal Identification and
the Department has more than 5000
photographs.
inspector Faurot declared the Depart
ment would be helped greatly II II was
possible to photograph men on arrest.
instead of being compelled to walt un-
I'll his conviction.
Now" he said, I'VE can get pictures
only through the courtesy of the
Sheriff. in whose custody criminals are
after conviction"
The witness said the order cams
directly, to min from Commissioned
Waldo.
Former Asastant District-Attorney
Robert J. Turnbuh was the noxt wit
meas. He was In the homicide bureau
Of the Distr1ct-Attorney's stan for sew
en- years. Now he IL 4 practising attor-
ney.
Mr.. furnb,,li, 40 . man who had pre-
pared more than seven hundred murder
! cases for trial. was called to show the
relationship between the pAstr1ct-Asto
ney's ofiice and the detective bureau.
He went over the duties Of the ponce In
cases Of homicide. 20 pnat the work Of
prosecution may be started Immediately.
The average policeman or detective
unless he has had unusual experience
has not the ability to attend 70 all the
details demanded. Most Of them don't
understand what In meant by the cor
pus deficit"
"A whole lot Of others don't. too"
! said Alderman Downing
''Why not put a scientific man on the
jobf" shouted Alderman Muthgan. who
Il %P NhA OQ
Chairman Curran rapped for order.
The witness said the District Attor-
ney's once received great help during
the existence Of the homicide bureau
| under Capt. Carey.
Mr.. Turnbuil said that under tho pres
] ent precinct handling Of homicide cases
the prosecution sometimes Is Handicapped
| by local conditions
what do you mean by that?" asked
| Mr.. Deming.
81 found this condition several times
| when there had been homicides In 81
looms" answered the witness II don't
mean the police would aid the criminal
to escape. but they did not make great
| progress In gathering witnesses"
! Q. Did you ever hnd such . oondi.
| tion when the homicide bureau was In
existence? A. No. sir
@. Was there any suspicion OF graf
In that bureau? A. Never.
'When the newspapers drop murder
case the police usually do, too" Said M
Turnbull. II believe a man could re
turn to New York Ave years after h'
had committed . murder and live In 81
curity."
"why was the homicide bureau abol
ished by Commissioner Baker,
81 don't know"
The witness paid . big tribute to tn
former Italian bureau and its work Il
homicide cases.
The committee probably will continu
it's hearings until March IL. and will
hold sessions four or five times weel
instead of three. as heretofore. Tn
committee discussed future activities a
an executive session to-day Alderman
Frank Dowling. Tammany leader Of tn
Board OF Aldermen, who asked for tn
! executive session, wanted to know hoy
Iong tho hearings would continue.
Alderman Dowling 10 said to hav
opposed continuing the investigation
along its present lines, He asserte
nothing worth while was being devel
oped.
The Committee adjourned unit
A. AeA~ NJ ~