Omaha daily bee., 1919-08-17
Fingerprint Expert Is Back
Home Again in Omaha,
Nebraska
Mrs. Byram Was One of the Two Women Bertillion
Experts at Capital and Had Great Shock When
She Found Own Brothers Marks

foreign power again seemed I'M
mlnent. From cities and hamlets
her subjects came, rallying to the
flag and the common cause. The
women joined the ranks as quick
ly as the men and Mrs. Byram,
atlame with patriotism, was eager
to serve in truly efficient way. A
clipping from The Bee attracted her
attention, announcing that finger
Print experts were greatly needed.
The intricacies OF the work did not
daunt her. for she felt that this was
her bit for victory and she imme-
diately began her instruction under
Hans Nielsen, police Bertillion ex-
pert in Omaha.
Artists are not made, neither are
print work, one must have a par
tcular turn of mind to be able to
grasp the rudiments and later to be-
come proficient After three months
study Mrs. Byram was accepted by
the government and left immediate
ly for Washington, where she was
assigned to the adjutant generals
office. Here she found the real
JOY in the work with the drudgery
done, for she could almost hear
the tramp of marching feet and the
roar of cannon so closely was she
allied to our armies through the
medium of her particular service.
Soldiers Finger Prints.
Not man donned the khaki
without having an impression made
of his finger tips. More lasting and
more accurate even than identified
ton tags or written records were
these copies, of which there are
100000 in the great files at Wash
ington Mrs. Byram adjusted her
magnifying glass one day over
picture, counting the "swirls" care
fully when she stopped, transfixed.
The prints were those of her
brothers hand, Robert Bridges,
then stationed at Fort Logan, Colo.
There was no name, no sign, to
guide this woman worker and to
show her that this was a replica
of the fingers of her own brother,
only by the mysterious rules which
are used to identity could she
recognize those familiar prints.
In far-away France 40 gallant
Yankees forgot the dullness of drills.
and marches by conversing with
some pretty French girls. The ac-
quaintainship grew and with true
feminine desire the daughters of
France asked the Americans for
some souvenir Their Identification
tags, of course, and in defiance of
all military regulations the young
men presented the girls with these
tiny disks, bearing their name and
company. But Mars thundered on.
and these American boys paid the
great price for liberty with only the
waving poppies to mark their rest
ing place in Flanders Fields. But
what of the loved ones in the home
land who were eager to find the
graves of these sons and brothers?
There was no clue, no way of de-
termining who the men were when
guns were stiled and reconstruc-
ton began. After a weary search
the bodies were exhumed and finger
prints taken, A huge transport
bore the precious slips of paper
to the nations capitol and here
the (missing link was found, for
lit took but comparatively short
time for the experts to locate orig
inal finger prints made when the
dead heroes enlisted and to compare
the two, thus identifying them with
out question and easing the minds
of saddened loved ones, 70
The "Tuscania's" Dead.
When the great ship "Tuscania"
plunged to its watery grave many
valiant men we're lost. 1t was not
many days, however, until queer,
smudged prints came to Mrs.
Byram's department, for the sail
ors' finger prints had been taken
when the waves surrendered their
victims. Nearly all were identified
and the Bertillon experts had rem
dered another invaluable service.
The special work OF the Omaha
woman was the classifying of the
multitudinous prints for the files
and her task was most exacting and
intricate. She was rewarded in
many ways, however, for so many
men who had served in the world
war were made happy through her
efforts and those of her cowork-
ers. Two men who had lost their
discharge papers could not collect
their bonus from the government
unless they could show their con-
nection with the army and it took
but few, moments to locate their
finger prints, thus proving that they
had duly sworn to protect the Stars
and Stripes. The money was
promptly paid and the two ex-sol-
diers departed wreathed in smiles,
with little nest egg, with which
to engage in peaceful pursuits.
With swords sheathed and peace
treaties duly signed, Mrs. Byrap
has completed her task and with
Uncle Sans well done" ringing in
her ears has returned to her home
city. This charming young woman
has been a member of the teach
ing staff for some time and OBJ
tanned leave of absence to serve
her government. She will now con-
tinue her, chosen work. glad to re-
turn to the small Americans whose
fathers and brothers she has so
nobly aided in winning democracy
for, the world.
| Mrs Russell Duane, of Philadel-
phia, sister of Roland S Morris, the
|. American ambassador. was received