Evening star., 1933-02-13
BY REX COLLIER.

BY REX COLLIER.
A ROUSED by the ever-increas-
~ ing menace of the scientific
II minded criminal, schooled in
4 \ the fine arts and inventions OF
organized crime, the United
States Bureau of Investigation has
established a novel research laboratory
where Government crimino.ogists will
match wits with underworld cunning.
In a guarded room adjoining the
bureaus national Identification division,
veteran investigators of crimes against
the Government have assembled for
midable array of devices, from powerful
microscopes, ultraviolet ray apparatus,
chemicals and intricate ballistic in
struments to strange looking wax and
plaster equipment used by the modern
day scientific detective.
The writer's first view of the labora-
tory was through a glass-covered hole
cut in a partition. The interior of the
room took en- silvery, hazy appear
ance, but everything was plainly visi-
BILE through what appeared to be
specially coated pane Of glass On being
taken inside the room, however, the
pane was found to be framed mirror
of usual appearance, hung against the
portfolio.
Known as X-Ray Mirror.
"That is what is know as an X-ray
mirror" explained Charles A. Appel,
crime research expert in charge Of the
laboratory. 1T Is hung there merely
for demonstration purposes. We are
training all special agents of the bureau
in the use of many such detection de-
vices This mirror, transparent from
the back only, is an improvement on
the old spy-hole system. Its uses are,
of course, limited"
For obvious reasons, the bureau IS
not revealing the nature Of a number
of special instruments and processes
developed or being studied in the lab
oratory. To disclose too much would
as the ultimate victim, Appel pointed
out. Some of the equipment, for ex-
ample, has been prepared especially
for use in frustrating kidnapers, a
type of outlaw recently placed within
the investigative jurisdiction OF the
Government as a result of the Lind
In this connection it was disclosed
by j. Edgar Hoover, director OF the
bureau, that specially trained "kidnap-
ing squads" have been provided for
each Of the % field offices Of the bu-
reau. Members Of these, squads are
being schooled In latest methods OF
scientific detection, with lessons learned
in the Lindbergh case serving as a
valuable guide.
Art of Moulage Studied.
The European art OF moulage-a
method of taking and preserving In
wax or plaster such impressions as
footprints, teeth marks, tire prints and
the like-is being given careful study
In the laboratory by the special agents.
Had this process been in use by the
police at the time of the abduction Of
the Lindbergh baby, accurate molds
of the footprints of man and woman
reported to have been seen by first
arrivals at Sourland Mountain could
have been obtained. In the event OF
capture of the supposed kidnapers, the
molds would prove Of value in their
Identification.
Appel demonstrated in box Of clay
how shoe marks may be preserved by
use of moulage. Fine dry plaster Is
busted in the depression until con-
siderable film has been deposited. On
this film is sprayed carefully damp
ening mist of water The film hardens,
forming shell into which the wax or
plaster may be nodded. Even prints
in sand or dust may be preserved in
this way. Tire marks found at the
scene of a crime or other prints Of
possible value in tracing criminals may
be copied readily. Thus, if prints are
tread and fourth mark of a different
type tire, with, perhaps, certain abra-
sions or other distinguishing marks on
some of the tires, moulage records of
these marks might prove valuable in
investigating suspect whose car bore
tires of similar characteristics.
Federal detectives also are familiar
izing themselves with the curious ef-
fects of filtered ultra violet rays. Appel
turned on a violet light machine and
held beneath its light sheet Of paper
on which q sentence had been written
in ink. Under the f1ourescent effect
CT the light there became visible also
secret writing done in invisible ink. He
showed how different substances take
on varying shades of purple under the
light. Thus, alterations in documents
by the use of an ink different from
that used originally become at once
apparent-an effect Of aid in investi-
eating forgeries and alterations Of doc
uments
Hellxometer Acquired.
Forensic ballistics, the study of guns
and bullets for identification purposes,
is the object of research in the labora-
tory. In this study the bureau has
acquired not only comparison micro
scopes of latest type but a delicate
"helixometer." device for peering into
| and measuring the inside of gun bar
rels, believed to be the only one Of its
perfected type in existence This in
Strument consists of tiny, electrically
lighted telescope" which may be in
serted into the bore of a revolver and
revolved so that powder residues
grooves and other characteristics may
be observed with the eye. The device
operates somewhat on the principle o1
a physicians bronchoscope.
Although present equipment of the
laboratory does not include an X-ray
machine, the bureau has found X-rays
also of great value in its work. Another
bureau lends its roentgenological appa-
ratus for the inyestigative work Appel
had on his desk large X-ray photo
graph of bomb" received by high
Government official during the exciting
days of the bonus encampment. The
| official had the bomb" which looked
like an innocently- wrapped package o,
cigarettes. but which was quite heavy