Evening star., 1937-01-17


worlds largest collection Of Grim.
inals' records.
WHEN the guide directs the tour
lists attention to the "Haupt.
mann trial" exhibit, he relates how
the evidence served to convict Haupt-
mann OF the kidnapping Of the Lind
bergh baby. The explanation is given
a realistic touch as the tour leader
allows the visitors to examine q scale
model OF the kidnaper's cleverly de-
signed ladder. q reproduction Of the
ransom money box and comparison of
Hauptmann's handwriting with the
ransom notes. Invariably. At this
point, a tourist inquiries whether the
Federal Government will re.enter the
case should an investigation ever
be launched anew. But the tour di.
rector knows the answer. Quickly. he
states that so far as Uncle Sam Is
concerned the case is closed.
Leaving this exhibit, the sight
seers pass photographs OF Alvin Kar-
pis. Harry Campbell, William Daniard
and Thomas Robinson-four desperate
public enemies who were apprehend-
ed by special agents during the first
IL days OF May. 1896. This is daz-
zling example of the high caliber Of
r. B. l. efficiency that has won the
admiration and respect of millions Of
people.
Justice. dealt with startling swift.
ness. Is vividly shown in the next
presentation. Here the guide relates
the stirring story Of the kidnapping Of
Charles Urschel, Oklahoma City oil
magnate, by Machine Gun" Kelley
and his band. With Urschel in their
grasp, the fleeing kidnapers con-
stantly kept on the move. Neverthe-
less, the Department of Justices net
work soon closed in upon them.
Within 80 days the case was COM
pletely solved and is guilty persons
were sentenced. During this investi-
CATION G-men trailed the bandits into
% States-a region of activity greater
than the entire continental area OF
Europe!
The display devoted to the Urschel
abduction features actual evidence
used to convict the kidnapers. The
tourist sees the chains used to bind
Urschel, Machine Gun" Kelley's fire.
arms and the red wig worn by Mrs.
Kelley, popularity called the "red-
haired woman" OF special interest
in this exhibit case is the battered
vacuum jug in which Federal agents
recovered $4,000 in ransom money.
G-men dug up this jug containing
the ill-gotten loot on Texas farm
where Urschel was held captive by his
abductors.
THE limelight il next focused on
the famous and "oft-murdered"
oscar" But the guide quickly allays
the excitement OF his visitors. He
points to q photograph and explains
oscar" Is wax dummy which serves
as an aid to special agents studying
methods used in investigating mur-
ders. In the crime scene training
room. where oscar" is "slain," bits
of evidence. secret writing and finger
prints are planted. The embryo sleuth
studies the situation and reports his
findings to an instructor. BY this
method agents become keen investi-
gators and later use this ability to
solve crimes more serious than those
in which oscar" Is the perennial
victim"
Led by the gracious host. the tourist
party proceeds to the seventh floor
scene of the Identification Division.
The crowd pauses at the technical Sec
ton. where, in rows OF steel cabinets,
are filed millions of Identification rec
ords. Here serious, efficient experts
peer through magnifying lenses and
classify and search for nngerprint
records. The guide halts at one Of
the cabinets and withdraws q card.
He explains that these master" cards
contain the complete histories Of
criminals. The thousands of cards
that daily pour in are carefully COM
pared with the master finger impres-
sions to determine whether individ-
uals are first offenders or "repeaters. I"
Over 50 per cent Of all fineerprints
sent to the bureau are found to be-
long to men with previous records.
Many times fugitives are held in Gus
tody by local police officials while the
F. B. I. experts rapidly search the files
for information. Each month ap-
proximately 500 fugitives from justice,
caught in many parts OF the United
States. are thus identified by these
untiring workers here In Washington.
Fingerprints of female law.breakers
are filed In separate cabinets. The
guide says that only per cent Of the
records belong to women. It Is con-
venient for the experts to keep these
cards together.
Near by, but entirely apart from the
criminal records. are the civil identifi.
cation files, established during the lat.
ter part of 1893. In this section are
included the cards of citizens who wish
to record their fingerprints for possible
future reference. These prints, how
ever. are not checked against the
criminal files. The uses Of finger
prints in commercial. civil and private
life are extensive. In train disasters,
shipwrecks and other catastrophies
J there are often long lists Of tinidenh.