The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1924-07-29
VIDE ATTENTION
ISFOCUSED ON
FINGER PRINTING
Bonus Applications to Prove
or DiSprove Theory of
InfaIIibiIity.
Times Washington Bureau,
1929 Aet1 YORK Aue.

1929 Net0 York Ave.
{ WASHINGTON, July 29.-Crim-
biologists, jurists and police officials
hll over the world have focused
their attentions on a temporary
building at Sixth and B Sts., this
city.
For from that structure in the
7next few months viii come the
Hhnswer one way or the other to
rlaims Eade by Identification ex-
perts that the finger print system is
Infalliole and that no two finger
5prints are ever alike.
It's the building where 5.000,0 900
Singer prints of the regular and
national army are kept carefully
filed Every application made for
the bonus by an army veteran will
be carefully compared with the
originals to protect Uncle Sam
against fraud
Several years have elapsed since
the prints on file were made, and
s the comparison with the bonus ap-
7piication prints is certain to either
for the finger print system.
II any prints are found in
legitimate applications that differ
From the ones taken at the start of
americas participation in the
World War. Walter S. Kaye, director
Df the identification bureau, will be
the most surprised man in the world.
Since the Army adopted the fin
<ger print system in 1905 I have never
found two prints alike. There are
no doubtful cases and no two finger
prints are alike any more than two
blowers are alike" Kaye said today.
Bogus Name Given
As he spoke a man advanced with
a note from the office of Judge Ad-
vocate General Davis requesting the
mans finger prints be checked up
in order to prove his bonus claim was
valid.
The applicant said his real name
] was o. NJ. Thompson of this city, but
that he had enlisted in Chicago in
July. 1917, under the name of Ros-
coe T. Bruce, because he was not 81
zand because his parents would not
approve his enlisting.
In less than two minutes Kaye
: had obtained the Identification card
made in 1917 under the name of
Bruce, taken an imprint Of the ap-
plicant's right forefnger and after
a microscopic comparison stamped
20. K" on the bonus blank.
Kaye says that the finger print
system is so positive that often even
death does not destroy its effective
ness
zone Of the most unique identifi-
cations ever made followed the big
! flood at Galveston. Texas, in August,
1915" Kaye stated.
After the water receded an IN
known soldier was found in the de
bris. After all other means of identi-
zlcatioE~had failed the authorities cut
{ OF two of the soldiers fingers,
placed them in alcohol and for
warded them TO Washington.
Identification Trouble
Kaye stated that when the bottle
reached the Identification bureau the
skin had become detached from the
fingers, but that he constructed fin
gers Of wood, carefully glued the
skin on and a few minutes later
.ascertained the victim was Fred
Aldrich, who had enlisted at Jeffer-
son Barracks, Miss, Oct. %, 1913.
Another series of identifications
proving the value Of finger prints
followed the torpedoing Of the L. s.
Transport Tuscania with a loss Of
some 200 lives off ireland. Feb. 5,
1918.
When all attempts had failed to
] identify thirty-f1ve victims their fin
ger prints were taken and forwarded
10 Washington. From the army
records Kaye identified thirty-four of
/ the thirty-five. but the last prints
were too indistinct.
As only one OF the crew remained
unidentified a simple process of
elimination enabled military authori-
ties to determine his identity and
thus not one of the victims was
placed in a nameless grave.
In addition to the 5000, 900 finger
prints in the Army bureau there are
i. !. 300. 900 prints in the Navy Depart
ment and $4,000 in the Marine
Corps.
A force of about 300 extra clerks
viii be required to make finger print
comparisons Of the bonus applica-
lions received in all these depart
me0fG