The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-03-19

which would establish an undoubted identity.
 Finger prints might well be divided into four groups with three subui visions. Based on this system stands the foundation of ti.e whole method. Finger prints. using the central weaVes as the keynole, have either arches, whirls, radio loops. central pocket loops with any number of cor lugated weaves, but the latter with only one delta, and the whiri, with two deltas either right or left of the central point have meant the down.
 fall of many. Of the whirls are three classifications, consisting of the in- ner, outer and meet whirls, and upon
 the understanding of these details rests the whole system.
 Scientific Detective
 After taking the prints they are necessarily classified where the real
 work of the scientific detective comes in. These prints are then graded and
 given numerical and alpha betical
 arrangement and filed. Upon this classification devolves the success of
 the operative in Identification. From the records of the department copies are made after the comm ssion
 of crime and sent directly to the clearance house of criminal investiga- tion maintained at the Lcavenworth federal penitentiary. From over the
 entire nations all criminals sought by various agencies are kept. There records are available to duly authen- ticated authorities. and it is largely through this means of exchange that
 many criminals are identified after be- ing apprehended on perhaps smaller crimes, and unknown as to their real 1 Identity.
 Case of Grimes
 Harry Grimes, arrested in Birming ham recently for transporting high explosives on a passenger train. and sentenced by Judge William l. Grubb. was found by the department to have | been criminal operator since the early days of the spanish American war. He was 25 years of age then and his record traced, through the clear
 ance house brought out the fact that
 he has been criminal for 2i years.
 and made a success at it, but appre- hended and sentenced for every job he ever pulled. His identification as 1 safe blower and second story man
 was effected through tho information | filed with the local department. ] Another case where finger prints l stlont lCSulNtu III AHC
 and identification of a negro by the local departmentg resulted in the 1 hanging late in 1918 of a negro for
 the murder of a Hortselle merchant
 who was killed with an ax handle in 1 the hands of the merchants slayer | Finger prints photographed from the
 ax handle disclosed the identity of the slayer, who expiated the crime on the ' gallows, Raid in Bir,ningham | After raid in Birmingham during | the holidays of 1920, when more than
 twoscore rough characters were rounded up. it was decided by Ser geant Brannon that fringer prints
 would be made of several of the more apparent criminally inclined prison
 CTS who it was thought might have
 past. Following their finger inn
 the city.
 1 Several months following thesfaid | store was burglarized in Bessemer,
 and the only clues left behind were 1 two finger prints on the window pane
 made by the burglar in effecting an l entrance. A photograph was made of the prints and after ification
 tallied with those of one Ed Leonard. l He is now serving a term of five years 1 at Flat Top following his arrest at 1 the Louisville and Nashville station by Detective Sergeant Eddie A.
 Lyons and the chief of the identifica- i ton bureau.
 Brannep's Career
 \ Mir. Brannon has had a long and varied career in criminal investiga- tion operations, having served three years with the local department prior ! to the war. During the war period he served with the federal govednment in q like capacity because of his scientific knowledge of finger prints and criminology. He returned to the service of the city last year In his work the chief is assisted by
 Detectives NJ. F. McDuff and T. E.
 Bynum, who are more or less we'll versed in criminology and dentifica- ton work. All three of these detec-
 tives are engaged in the work of making the bureaW one of the most efficient and modern in the American