Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-10-16
THE BUREAU OF MISSING
PERSONS.
RI FREDERIC ]. HASKIN.


must run away from home, don't come to New
York. OF course. IL you are Just planning a
little trip to spite the family, 1t isn't so bad,
except that the city usually sees to it that you
end by spiting yourself. But, il you wish to
drop completely and quietly out OF sight, don I
come here. The bureau OF missing persons is
certain to find you and report your where
abouts
The old days when man could disappear
as mysteriously in New York as he could in
a ouicksand are gone forever Now it is the
worst place in the country to hide; 1t is so
highly organized to find you. Even death IS
no longer a safe means Of losing your identity.
Someone is certain to come along, investigate
the laundry number on your collar or Shirt
and succeed in clearing up the mystery.
About a year ago, for example. the body OF
a young Italian was found in a thick strip OF
woods on the outskirts Of the city. 1t was
obviously case of suicide on the part of a
man who obviously wished to conceal his iden-
tity Doubtless with much trouble he had sue
ceeded in cutting all telltale marks from his
clothing. But one clue remained-a small
brass tag on a riband. which was turned IN
to the bureau of missing persons The case
was considered closed when only the other day
an Italian came into the ONCE OF the bureau
hunting for his missing brother Some in
stinct led one Of the detectives to get out the
curious brass tag and show it to the visitor.
That's it." cried the italian. as soon as
he saw it. That is my brothers
But this is insignificant example Of the
case which happened a couple Of years ago,
which is still the prize exhibit Of the office.
This is a wax model OF mans face and head
built on the basis of a few pieces OF skull
which were dug up from beneath building
On the skull are to be plainly seen the marks
left by an ak. Through this model the bureau
of missing persons succeeded in Identifying
the victim of a murder and in apprehend1ng
the murderer. The murderer could not be con-
victed. however. because Of that law which
provides that the corpse must be produced as
evidence that murder has been committed
The few pieces of skull were not considered
sufficient
The Identification OF unknown dead persons
or of persons picked up unconscious about the
city, OF which there are. on an average. $50
cases a month is so highly systematized that
it is now relatively easy. The bureau succeeds.
in e5 per cent of its cases. 1t is not a matter
of scientific deduction it is merely one of ma
tiently tracing small articles. of which laundry
marks are the most important. The bureau
has file of cards in its office, which contains
the record Of every laundry mark used in
Manhattan.
Besides laundry marks. the bureau also
relies extensively on marks in shoes and upon
the numbers found false teeth. Finger
prints also help in many cases. Unless man
is quickly identified by other means. his finger
prints always taken and compared with
those on file in the army. navy and criminal
records. Much to the relief of the police de-
partment, many criminals are identified in this
manner. Often man picked up dead on the
sidewalk turns out to be prominent second
story man, who has relied trihe too much on
his agility and has fallen of a roof One man
killed by motor truck not long ago turned
out to be a notorious criminal who had just
been released few minutes before from Black
wells island.
IF we could only have legislation passed
requiring everybody to have his dngerprints
taken" declared one Of the detectives Of the
bureau. I'VE would have no trouble identifying
anybody
lF he
women, that the average woman cannot telf
you what her child looks like? And that the
average married man coming here looking for
his missing wife cannot tell you what color
eyes she has? We get photographs whenever
possible, because we find that the average hu-
man simply lacks a power of description"
During the past year the bureau Of missing
persons has handled over thirteen thousand
cases. This is a great increase over the num-
Der handled the year before. due. the bureau
believes to the widespread restlessness occa-
stoned by the war. The majority OF these, are
young people, So per cent Of them males. who
ran away from home. New York not only has
a big runaway problem within its own limits.
but 1t appears to attract most of the wander
lusters from other cities. It never has less
than two thousand Of such strangers thrust
upon its streets every year.
Many of these are boys and girls who leave
home because it is unpleasant. These repre-
sent the majority OF the cases and require the
most delicate handling on the part OF the bu-
reau. In every case, an investigation is made
of the girls or boys home conditions before
the runaway is returned Sometimes he is not
returned at all. but is placed in an altogether
different environment.
But really all the interesting things that
happen IN the bureau Of missing persons can
not be crowded into the space of one short
article One thing must be added, however:
If you want the bureau to help you trace a
missing member of your family do not write
to it direct but take the matter to your local.
police department. 1t will get in touch with
the bureau and you will get much quicker
action.