Omaha daily bee., 1920-02-15
Cunning Crooks Have
No Escape From System


lishman, L. R. Henry, is employed
here. This is the method adopted
by the government for use in the
army and in the seven federal
identification bureaus,
Every person arrested by the po-
lice, department upon a felony
charge is taken to the bureau of
identification. The name, age and
other general information about the
person is recorded on special
blank. ..l
His, measurements are then taken
on the Bertillon scale OF meters.
This Includes his height. stretch Of
arms from finger tip to finger tip,
length of trunk or body, width and
length of head, width between cheek
bones, length of middle and little
left fingers from base to tp, length
Of left arm from elbow to finger tip
and length OF left foot.
Other notations recorded are the
weight, color of haiS color and shad-
ing of the iris of th1seyes according
to the Bertillon ck~,, condition
and peeuliarities of teeeS, and posi-
ton and character of sNys, moles
and tattoo marks. ~
For the "Rogues' Gallery"
All this data is entered upon
blanks printed especially for the
purpose and filed in a card index.
Then the finger prints, which are
not included in the Bertillon scheme,
are taken. Special charts are pro.
vided for this purpose. Each finger
of both right and left hands, starting
with the thumbs, are rolled in print
ing ink and pressed on the card.
Then the four fingers of each hand
are recorded together in similar
fashion.
Front and profile photographs Of
the person are next taken with 4
small carilera. They are developed
and placed i'll the ''rogues' gallery"
which is often invaluable in ident;-
tying persons in connection with in
vestigation of crime.
1t is the finger prints, according to
Mr. Nelson, that are the only de-
pendable and infallible method OF
Identification. Although the Bertl.
Ion measurements are usually ac-
curate and of much value, mistakes
are easily made and proof is sener-
ally not absolute. Even photo
graphs cannot always be depended
upon as a,<means of Identification.
Marked resemblance is frequently
found in photos of entirely different
persons.
Finger Prints Never Change.
Time will often alter a PERSONS
Bertillon measurements and in
variably changes his physical ap-
pearance. But his finger prints
never change. Such reports are
practically perpetual.
Mr.. Nielsen advocates the cstab
lishment OF gigantic federal finger
print system, with records of every
citizen in the country. The advaE-
tages and BENEFITS OF such system
would justify its expense, he thinks.
He asserts the records would prove
valuable, not only in criminal detec-
tlon,, but as means of identification
i'll case of accidents, murders, train
wrecks, fires, drownings, storms and
other catastrophes.
Like the Mystery Girl"
The identity of Omaha's mystery
girl" who was found murdered in
a ravine north of the city, would not
have been mystery if such records
had been available in central fed
eral bureau, he said. Although this
is only one specific case, there are
thousands of other instances, not al
ways as tragic as this one, in which
a general identification scheme
would be valuable.
Many large corporations are now
employing finger print systems as
a protective measure. 1t insurcs
them against unemployment Of per-
sons in one city who have been dis
charged from a branch in some
other city and also is helpful in
cases OF theft.
Bertillon measurements do not
really indicate character, according
to Mr.. Nielsen. There is no such
thing as true criminal types, he
says. The most dangerous crooks
usually have the most intelligent
appearance and the most regular
features.