The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-06-14
FINGER PRINTING OF
BOYS Is DEFENDED
McAdOo and Simms Say Action
Il Necessary in Case Like
street Ball Players.
MAYOR TO INVESTIGATE

After Mayor Mitchell said yesterday
hat ne would look into the finger print
ing Of three boys who were fined for
playing baseball In the streets on Sun
day. Chief Magistrate McAdoo In a
statement maintained that the action
was not only permissible. but necessary.
Magistrate Simms. who ordered the rec
ords made, gave out a similar u
ment.
The Magistrate said that Ulrich HOTEL.
John Mehrdens and Walter Sharpe had
each pleaded guilty to disorderly con-
duct. and therefore the only course opei
to him was to have their digital i'm
pressions made. His supe rior said tina
the Magistrate was only complying with
the law and the rules Of the Board o.
Magistrates" in doing so.
The new parole law" the Chief Mag
istrate went on. provides in section a
| that m defendant convicted of d!sor
DERBY conduct (any phase Of this Of
fence) shall be liable TO an indetermi.
nate sentence not to exceed two years
IL the records OF the court show that
he has been convicted within a GER
tain period three times for this or other
offences enumerated therein.
practically the only records the
Magistrates have In these matters Is
that of the finger prints. Personally.
fully appreciate that a feeling and pref
udice against the taking of prints ii
all cases prevails with many people. anC
TO that end W. agreed with the board
hitherto against the finger printing Of
certain classes Of special offenders wher
the offence does not involve moral turpi.
tude."
"stronG Arm of the Police"
Magistrate McAdoo then defended IN,
finger print system. which was applied e
all classes OF disorderly persons by Z
resolution OF the Board OF City Magis
trates on March 2. superseding tn
previous ruling that It should apply onl!
10 jo~stlers. rowdies. Washers, vagrsnt
and degenerates. In the face Of advers,
critisism by lawyers. he upheld finger
printing as the strongest arm of the pc
lice"
The increa sed number OF prints. h
! acknowledged. had caused the photo
graphing establishment to fall far be
'hind In the work of reproducing then
and 1t Is said ths, many Magistrate
would like to return to the old system
some not enforcing the present reeula
tons In certain cases. Action woui
probably be taken. the Chief Mag!s
tra,e said, at the next meeting of tn
board on June 20.
Magistrate INNS said that NJ specif
statute or city ordinance governs IN
playing OF baseball in the streets o
sunday. He said that last Sunday
ease. the first of the kind ever brougf
before him.. came under the Groupin
of d~!sorderly conduc, tending to a breac
OF the peace.
says Boys Became Nuisa noes.
PERSONALLY "A man may not like ,
take the finger marks OF young fellows,
:ho Magistrate said, but these boy
had made themselves a public nuisance
The police captain told me that an .
derby doctor complained TO him wit
tears in his eyes that the boys Ia
broken his window. mad disturbed HI
sick wife and other residents and IN,
refused to stop their continual playini
Taking finger prints in such cases
not merely optional. az some q. my asst
ciates have said. but obligatory. I sha
I continue to do so until the Magistrat,
= pass a ruling To the contrary. I hoI
, this case will prove an example to 9th,
boys"
In stating that he would start an Il
Z qutry tho Mayor said
II do not know all the details und,
which this order was issued, but I W
u look into the case II appears to carr
with 1t a sense OF putting a person
the criminal class. No one regar,
!, I!laying ball as a real crime. morally
legally"