Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-12-06
The HQskin Letter 81 ' : asssa
NATIONAL FINGER PRINT SYSTEM NO. II.

of which the pattern is made up. These
ridges. which appear smooth and regu-
lar to the naked eye, show distinct
characteristics when a print is put UNI
der Il microscope. Lines are shown to
be broken and forked in individual
ways. Ridges vary in depth and dis
| tinctness.
The Importance of all this variation
is obvious when difficult questions of
identity arise. The most famous ex-
, ample is that of two offenders in the
penitentiary at LeavenwOrth, Kansas.
When one of these men was brought
in officials were instantly struck with
the idea that a prisoner had escaped.
The prisoner was found in his cell,
however, and brought out to be COM
pared with the new inmate. They
were as much alike as the proyerbial
twins. Though they were not related
both had the same family name and
similar Christian names, But their
, finger prints were entirely different.
of finger printing, estimated that
there are 81, 0 5000 possible pat
! terms. Compare this with the number
of people in the world, less thar $780,
OO0. 900, and you get an idea of the
| infinite variety of the designs. Since
Cations time progress has been made
in analyzing prints, and modern ex-
perts give the chances of two people
having identical prints as one in an
unreliable number containing 81
digits.
Forgery Practically Impossible
The suggestion that prints might be
forged has been met with the answer
that this is practically impossible. I'm
der a powerful lens a patched-up print
would not deceive an expert.
The other suggested means of cheat
ing the finger print system-destroy-
ing prints-is also dismissed by Mr..
wilder as unlikely to be tried often.
In a classified collection of prints all
the fingers are recorded. Thus to
lose ones finger print identity all the
fingers would have to be disfigured,
because n print left would be q sig
n~ificant clue. And not only would all
| the fingers have to be burned, but
they would have TO be burned so deep
ly that the ridges would not form
again. This would mean a good deal
mean that the delicate sense Of touch
would be practically destroyed. And
finally. a person so disfigured would
be conspicuously marked, a situation
strictly avoided by the fugitive from
the law.
The processes of taking prints of in
dividuals and pho%tographing prints
left on objects may sound simple
enough, but in reality the work is ex-
acting and expert knowledge~is neces-
sary if the prints are TO be used for
any serious purpose. Analyzing and
classifying prints is extremely compli-
Gated.
i Finger printing has come into wild
est use as an aid TO scientific detec-
ton Of crime. Now attempts are be-
ing made to put the system to other
uses, The idea of making forgery
more difficult by having bank checks
signed not only with q persons name
but also with his finger prints has
been tried. The army and navy check
up on deserters who try to re-enlist,
and otherwise keep close track of their
men by complete finger print systems.
1t has been suggested that all art
lists should sign their works with a
thumb print and thus make life less
easy for the large and flourishing
school Of art forgers. Like a number
Of other proposals dealing with finger
prints this idea has never been put
into practice.