The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1913-09-24
D1SPELS ENGLISH
CRIMINAL THEORY
Sergeant M'Nally Says Grim
inals are Not Distinguish
able by Profiles.
HOLDS OTHER IDEAS
Believes When Man Bushes
a beautiful Red" He is
Innocent.

The English theory that criminals
are distinguishable by their profiles
or by any other characteristics is dis
PEELED by First Sergeant Mentally OF
the police department. Mr.. McNally
says that it is almost impossible to
tell whether or not man is crimi-
nal until he is actually known to have
committed a criminal act.
The most popular theory advanced
on a method of distinguishing crimi-
nails without actually coming in con-
tact with them or knowing by pre-
vious reputation that they are crlml-
mails, is that of the form of the profile.
Hundreds of charts have been pre-
pared giving specific profiles of GRIM
inals, and general diagrams were form
erly circulated in many of the larger
police and detective agencies of the
country. These general diagrams
numbered fifteen or twenty and were
made each to fit as many as dozen
of the specific outlines of the criminal
profile.
Has Studied Theory.
The police sergeant has made some
study of criminal profiles. This was
interesting work, the sergeant says,
until he ran across one of the most
industrious and honest business men
in Richmond whose profile and shape
of head was that of the worst type OF
criminal, an inherent man killer. This
man was of gentle temperament and
had never committed crime or mis-
demeanor as far as could be ascer-
tanned
"The criminal sometimes has
shffty eye said Sergeant McNally.
'This is not always a distinguishing
characteristic though, because honest
and respectable citizens might be sub
ject to the same thing. There is no
law which works out in picking Grim
inals.
Criminal Not Confused.
Contrary to the theory of most peo-
pie, believe that when man bushes,
turns red and stammers when con-
fronted with an accusation, it is al
most always sign that he Is inno-
cent A real criminal will not become
confused when he is accused but the
bushes of an innocent man rather de-
note a modesty and respect for him.
self Mental uneasiness cannot be
taken for the sign of a criminal, either,
but often a man who has committed
his first offense is subject to racking
worry"
Contrary to a prevailing belief, the
famous Bertillion finger print and
criminal distinguishing system, does
not aid the police in capturing any
but q hardened criminal A man who
has committed his first crime cannot
be identified by the Bertillion system
and even persons who have commit
ted many petty misdemeanors need
not fear this method of identifying
old criminals.
This is due to the fact, the sergeant
says, that the police departments
which use the system, do not take the
measurements or distinguishing feat
ures of any but criminals Of the worst
type or police characters who might
develop into bad criminals.
1.-THE use of the system Is confined
to the larger Cities" said Sergeant Nc
Nally. Small cities cannot afford to
employ Bertillion experts to do the
work which would be meager in a city
of this size For that reason, the Ber-
tillion system fails many times be-
cause the police cannot take measure
ments of the criminals of the town
nor can they identify any outof-town
criminals by the system"
"GalIeries" important.
The "rogues galleries. in use in al
, most every city, are a great assistance
to police departments, says Mentally.
However the police are sometimes lax
ON securing pictures when they have
the opportunity The local police de-
partment had several chances to pho
tograph Joseph Snyder, alias Steward,
who murdered Henry Dayton in 1911,
but they did not take the chance and
rs result, when Snyder escaped,
there was no photograph of him in ex-
lstence.
The "rogues gallery" at the city hall
Is the personal property of Chief of
Police Gormon and contains the pic
lures of many of the well known Grim
tnals in the country. These pictures
have been collected by the police chief
after forty years of work and he re-
CARDS the collection as a priced arti-
Gle.