THE MARK OF CAIN.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1126, 13 May 1911, Page 13

THE MARK OF CAIN.

NEW SYSTEM FOR BRANDING CRIMINALS. Paraffin injections arc a new method for branding criminals, which a Dr. Icarfl, of Paris, has invented, and about which he is exceedingly enthusiastic. A convicted person is measured by Dr. Bortillon's nrocess, and his record is duly l-"pt But when he is caught again for another offence, how cau lie be immediately identified? The detective or policeman, while arrestiug him, hardly has the leisure to measure him and consult the anthropometric records. Dr. J card pyoiio'r.s that a small quantity of paraUm shall l>2 injected under tho skin ot every convicted person. This forms a slight hump, which remains for the remainder of tho person's life, without the least danger to his health. A detective arresting such n man, or even before arresting him, would, on feeling the hump, know him instantly as an old offender. This branding would bo quite discreet. No uninformed person would know that the small swelling was a mark of a previous conviction, and would take it to be n natural escresened. The doctor thinks that, in accordance with his scheme, a regular language 'of signs might' be prearranged by means of the naramn hump. Thus, for example, it would be agreed all ovor the world that the right shoulder blade, should be reserved for operations iino'n confirmed criminals. TJu> area this defined would be divided inlu three parts. The upper would bo reserved for "very dangerous" criminals, Iho middle for dangerous, and the lowerfor less dangerous. A detective coming into contact with a suspected man would then operate as follow!:—Placing his hand with a friendly gesture on the man's shoulder, he would feel his shoulder blado in the prescribed area. If ho felt u hump in tho lowest part of the latter he might wait for further evidence, a hump in the middle would inilier'.'.t that he must keep a sharp eye on the man. If he felt one in the top part of the shoulder blade he would be justified in handcuffing the man instantly. The enthusiastic doctoi n-entions many more examples of the possibilities of his paraffin process. He does not, however, appear to have envisaged the probability that a criminal, knowing himself thus branded, would be wary of ar.y acquaintance- feeling his shoulder blade with any degree of pertinacity. Besides, would the paraffin humps be felt through a coat? There does not vet seem to be any question of tho method being put into practice by the French police. But it might be usefully brought into detective stories. —"Weekly Scotsman." An interesting event, which appears to have passed unnoticed by the newspapers, is reported by the "Maoriland Worker." "Liko a river in flood, storming to the 6e,i," it says, "onr cause triumphantly nears its goal." It adds that "Reaction is checked; Opportunism bites the dust." The smallest tree that grows in Great Britain may be seen on tho very top of I&6V1 LorniOwA. IV \s tti» Aysmx ve\\W. which at maturity reaches a height of only U"« iiKilis&.