South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-09-08
City Drops Bertillon System
of Detecting Criminals Much
to Their Comfort and Freedom

he wants 10 without being bothered
oy the BertiilOn department on &C
count OF the orders Of the chief OF
police. Unless he should commit
some fresh crime here. he viii
never enter the Bertillon room al
the city hall. and only then viii his
measurements be taken should he
be detected in some crime here and
be convicted ia court.
Extends All Through Department.
The action Of Chief OF Police
Kline in throwing the Bertillon de-
partment here u Of use in the reg
ular order Of usual police work has
broken off all criminal detection re-
lations between South Bend and the
other cities Of the country. South
Bend nov secures no new records
unless. perhaps. some criminal sue
ceeds in getting hir self convicted
in the city court. which is not ac-
cOrding to criminal etiquette. Vow
when a criminals record is desired.
II must be obtained from the files
Of former Chief Of Detectives John
kuespert.
This Incompetence and maladmiu-
istratiOu Of police department af-
fairs spreads throughout the depart
ueut. causing dissatisfaction among
the men employed ostensibly 20 DO
police work. and who are paid by
the taxpayers Of the city. and this
con- biued with general and special
orders TO allow the city 20 run wild
again throws the city at the mercy
Of the lawless element.
Mayor Carson. through his board
OF public safety and his chief Of
police. is directly responsible for
the vice conditions now existing in
South Bend. Tt is frankly admitted
in police and city hall circles that
orders from the mayor 20 his chief
Of police to clean up could be car
rieG out, with the result that there
would be a great exodus Of undesir-
able citizens and the vanishing OF
men and women who flourish
through the violation of the laws OF
the state.
Then. instead of the city being
as street walkers, gamblers. boot
leggers and other law v~iolators
South Bend would be made a place
i'm which the decent citizens would
not be called upon TO blush every
time its municipal administration is
mentioned.
Causes Hearts 10 Quake.
The u~ncOvering Of conditions al
the city hall has caused the hearts
Of officials TO quake with fear of
further uncoverings. Already re-
trenchmeuts are said to be planned
inn the present campaign of vice and
Irregularities. officials who filed
their private automobiles from the
city hall gasoline tanks at the eX-
pense or the taxpayers have dis
continued this habit since their
house of cards was struck by the
pittiless winds OF publicity.
Efforts Of Chief Of Police Kline 10
force Probation Office Larry Lane.
one OF the most efficient officers at
the city hall. from his position un-
der city Judge Frank Gilmer
10y dIing insubOrdination charges
against him with the board Of pub
lie safety. are said 20 be regretted
10y the CHIEF.
Mr.. Lane has saved many thou
sands of dollars 20 the taxpayers Of
the city. county and state by his
work in the probation court. and a
storm of protest at the action OF
Chief Kline To get rid of this com-
petent officer has been registered,
not by the friends of Mr.. Lane, but
10y those who believe that the South
Bend police department should be
conducted for efficient police work
and for that alone.
officer Lanes hearing VIII be
held at the meeting of the board Of
public safety next Friday night,
unless changes I'm present plans are
made. AT the hearing the mem
bers OF the board will DE told how
the chief Of police for the past three
weeks has endeavored TO make Mr..
Lane do all the dirty work 10 be
done 10y the department. and when
the question arose as 10 whether
Mr.. Lane is under the Jurisdiction
OF the chief of police or the judge
OF the city court. the chief OF po-
lice fled INSTRUMENTATION charges
against the probation officer.