The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1921-06-20
FINGER-PRINT IDENTITY.
Value Of The FERN of Identification Ad-
vOclted in Many Associations.

Whether fingcr-priuting of individuals
should be made universal or not Is a
question that is being much discussed.
There are those who believe the system
should be extended to embrace CONNER
cial and certain other fields, and others
who desire to continc it solely to criminal
classes. The hopes of these conservatives
have been shattered, for the system al
ready has been extended with advantage
into other spheres of life. There is every
Indication that hnger-printing, because
Of its immense value. will eventually Nbe
applied to many walks of life; it is every
where becoming nsUre general.
During the late war the war depart
mcnt learned the great value of finger
prints for identification purposes. This
stamp of approval from the war depart
mcnt gave the system great impetus.
Many hospitals throughout the country
now make it a practice to take the prints
of every infant within their walls. The
past has amply demonstrated how easy
it is for infants to become mixed to such
a degree that parents are left in doubt
of their identity. This is especially true
in cases where infants have been kid
mapped by women affected with a form
of mother mania-a desire to have a baby
to cOddlc. About a year ago an infant
was Kidnapped from in front of 4 Harlem
department store. The police finally To-
Gated an infant in a city hospital which
answered in every way, even to dress,
that of the kidnapped baby. The father
identified the infant as his, although the
mother could not be 50 sure. In the
meantime the right infant was found by
the police in possession of the woman who
had kidnapped it,
The Maternity hospital in BROOKLYN
and a hospital in Baltimore and in Gin
cinnati now take prints of infant in
mates. 1t is difficult TO finger print an
infant on account of the smallncss of
It's fingers and Of the difficulty in keep
ing them quiet For this reason hos
pitfalls take infants foot impressions
instead of fingers. What is true of the
fingers is true Of the feet, no two i'm
pressiOns are alike.
Some business houses require prints
of employees and several banks now re-
qUre prints of depOsitors. These prints
have been of immense value to banks
which have a large number of foreigners
as depositors. Many such are ignorant
and llllterate, understanding little Of
our laws. language or customs. BY tax
ing their impressions the bank pro-
teots both them and itself from fraud.
bank book unless he is able to demon
@traie by his prints that he is the
owner. In taking the finger impressions
of such depOsitors the bank takes prints
Of the index, middle and ring fingers. y
Williamsburg bank has found the sys-
tenn q great help, and its depositors
have voiced their approval of it, Since
the system was inaugurated the number
of dcrositors has been materially in
creased.
Joseph y. Faprot. third deputy com
missioner Of the New York police de
rartment. probably knows ass much
about finger prints as anyone in the
country. Commissioner Faurot believes
that everyone should be finger printed.
It was he who some years ago went
abroad and made a study of prints, and
then laid the foundation for the re-
markable collection of prints-they
number more than 400,000-of the city 5
police department.
Unfortunately. - he said ''thc tax
ing of finger prints has been associated
with criminals, and for this reason