Disputed Handwriting

acy of a Thumb-Print Identification Assured-A Thumb-Print in Wax on Sealed Packages-Its Use an Advantage on Bankable Paper of All Kinds-How Strangers Are Easily Identified-Bankers, Merchants and Busin

tice at Washington Has Established a Bureau of Criminal Registry Using the Thumb-Print System-Thumb-Print System Said to Be a Chinese

as been solved by the "thumb-print" method of identification, now spreadi

the federal prison at Leavenworth, Kan., is one of the most expert in the thumb-print method of identification in this country, having been schooled at Scotland Yards in London, where the method first was brought to its present state of perfection. Mr. McClaughry sees for th

ne thumb-print in ink somewhere in one spot on the check-perhaps over the amount of the check as written in figures. Thereupon the cashier of the bank will accept the check as certified by his institution. With this paper in his possession the drawer of the check may go from his home in New York to S

nd the dangers of "raising" or counterfeiting the draft would have no further consideration. The thumb-print of the secretary of the United States trea

identification which either thumb or finger print carries with it. Criminologists all over t

sh with them, have an organized system by which their bankable paper may be cashed at hotels and business hous

is especially applicable. A draft for $100,000 or $1,000,000 may be worth more consider

s been unbroken in transit, as well as establishing the identity of the person putting on the first seal. As to the protective value of such a thumb-seal, a case has been cited in which trai

stomer, who may be a stranger in the city. The city bank desires to accommodate the country correspondent as a first proposition. The unidentified bearer of the draft in the city may have no acquaintance abl

country purchaser of the draft has left the bank issuing the paper he will be required to make the ink thumb-print in a space for that purpose. Without this imprint the draft

e at hand his inked pad, faced with a sheet of smooth tin. He never may have seen the customer before. He never may see him again. But under the magnifying influences of an ordinary reading g

issues and institution bonds would be worthy of the thumb-print precautions, as would be every other form of paper which might tempt either the forger or the counterfeiter. In any case where the authenticity of the paper might be questioned, the finger-print would serve as absolute guarantee. In stenographic correspondenc

ze of an octavo volume, a small ink roller, and a tube of black ink are all that are required. For removing the ink on thumb or finger a towel an

ds would be necessary to convince the paying teller as to its genuineness. The merchant, also, if necessary, could place a light print of the index finger over the amount of the check where written in figures. Any attempt to erase the figures would destroy the finger-print. If the

d and discharged for incompetency obtaining employment on another division, thus doing away with inspectors. Each new employee's finger-prints could be kept in a central office and classifi

ome here commit crimes and get into prisons. If such are found they are to be deported. By the finger-print system the prints of each foreigner could be taken at all ports of entry. These could be kept on file in Washington, and from time to t

re classified under the head of disfigured fingers, and a lawbreaker cannot escape detection. Even the removal of two, three, or four fingers or an entire hand does not prevent a criminal being traced if his prints were taken before he lost the five digits. In the case of one hand being amputated, the missing fingers are classified

rints and Bertillon measurements of new arrivals at government prisons and jails will also be sent there for classification, none of this work being done at prisons as heretofore. The men held in federal jails, charged with crimes, are also to have their finger-prints taken, and these sent t

be convinced by actual history showing it to have been employed in the police courts of British India for a generation or so back. Just who was responsible for its adoption there is not certain, but Sir John Herschel, at one time connected with the India civil service, is usually ment

ecame the rule and the power of the law began to merit respect. In case after case the police were enabled to track the crime solely by the chance print of a man's finger or thumb on a

igations and questionings did no good, and at last the local inspector decided to take the thumb-prints of all concerned and refer them to the central office of the province. After the records had been searched a messenger came with orders to arrest the discharged servant of the manager who had been first suspected

ified to by the thumb-print of the competitor and wills must likewise be sealed in the same

mpression of a thumb-mark instead of an "X, his mark"; and recently this very superior system of signature has been appli

on, but at Scotland Yard the Bertillon system has been entirely done away with and full reliance is had on the prints. M. Bertillon claims to have 500,000 prints in his collection, al

porarily affects the pattern. The pattern becomes larger as the youth devel

irresistibly remind one of whirlpools as well as the volutions of shells, while the major

e spaces for stamps of different values to be affixed. When the depositor has stamps to the value of 1 peso (50 cents) on the card it is exchanged at the bank for a deposit book, showing the amount

him to identify it or examine it for one reason or another, afterwards sprinkling some special black powder over it which

ollection of the first three. Each pair of fingers as the index, little and ring fingers has a special valuation which is used to identify them and facilitate classification. One pair will be c

pair classified thus, 9-6. The next two fingers may have rotary lines and are merely classified as R, the next two may not have many line

iceable and certain in the detection of cr

from various experiments made it has been demonstrated that impressions made from the dermal furrows of the thumb or finger of no two persons can be suf

lls, etc.). By a comparison of such impressions, photographed by a special process, it is easy either to discover the maker of the finger marks obser

ons of thumb-prints and finger-pri