DETECTION OF CRIME

Hokitika Guardian, 9 April 1921, Page 1

DETECTION OF CRIME

EXPERTS’ MODERN METHODS.

AMAZING RESULTS ACHIEVED BY SCIENCE.

In the detection of crime and in the tracking of the criminal science is today a more potent and powerful force than most people realise (says the Glasgow “Herald”). .The modern scientific method of identifying criminals, for instance, is now such a comprehensive and perfect system that Scotland A ard is kept in continual touch, as it were, with no less than 3-10,000 criminals, whose finger-prints are so minutely classified that those of a particular prisoner’ may be obtained in a few minutes.

And a recent discovery in which the wonderful X-rays plays a prominent part ,makes a still further advance in the science of criminal identification. This has just been discovered by Dr. Henri Beclere, a well-known student of radiography in Paris. Not only are tin' finger-prints of every human being different, hut tho position of the hones of the lingers, and also the shape o! the nails, are also different. Dr Beclere utilises this fact in his method, which consists in making an X-ray photograph of the hand, showing the hones and the finger nails.

Ordinarily such a photograph would not show the flesh, but in order that the record may he complete the fingers arc soaked in an opaque salt, by means of which all the lines and marks are clearly shown. Dr Beclere considers that the possibility afforded by his discovery of keeping a record of nails as well as finger-prints should prove of the greatest use in identifying criminals. DIAMONDS REVEALED. In detecting diamond thieves the Xrays are being succesftilly utilised today in South Africa. Diamond-mining on the Rand is carried on mainly by native labour, and the blacks arc prone to steal the precious stones when opportunities arise. Naturally they ‘lire searched on leaving tho mines, but although they arc stripped for this process, various tricks are resorted to whereby a considerable number ot diamonds are passed out undetected. Recently X-Rays have been invoked by the superintendent of a large mine tor discovering concealed diamonds about the naked persons of the natives, and this plan has proved entirely successful. The failure of other means of detection (-an lie readily understood when one learns that the stones are often swallowed, and have been secreted even in self-inflicted wounds.

The efficiency of the X-rays in this respect was also illustrated the othci week in Calcutta. *A young Mohammedan who was seen to wrench a thin gold chain off the neck of an infant, was arrested for theft, hut, on his being searched, no trace of the chain could be found, and it was presumed Hint lie had managed to throw it away. The case was handed over, however, to a police inspector, who had had previous medical experience, and who. thinking it possible that the accused might have swallowed the chain, had him examined under the X-rays. Hie inspector’s surmise proved correct, for tho missing chain was detected, and a surgical operation brought the missing article to light.

THE KINEMA AND THE SUSPECT. The khnmatogmph, too, may in futon* prove of considerable value to tlu* authorities in capturing criminals. Police officials and men prominent in scientific research an* at the moment greatly interested in a series ol experiments at tin* police headquarters in Vtin Francisco, the idea being that 'nolion pictures could lie used as a means to criminal identification. Ihomas It. luce the well-known producer—is personally- supervising tin* direction ol Hu experiments. While the Bert ilium system of cranial and torsnl measurements is of definite aid in proving a man’s ' identity iftcr lie has been captured, it is not of much value in seeking a suspect, tnd(*i- the Thomas H. luce system, med<>i*ll methods will he employed in recording facts relative to any lugitivc. Three hours after the police have learned the identify of the man wanted, animated pictures may he shown on the screen in every theatre ot the community, and several days later prints of the picture will he in police headquarters of all cities, for screening throughout the country, and as needed, mi foreign lands. TO DETECT LYING.

A scientific marvel to trap liars and confound criminals is the apparatus of delicate mechanism lately invented by Dr. Augustus I). Waller, I'.R.S.. of the London University. This is done by taking electric records of the effect of cross-examination on a crimnal s mivoiis system to indicate whether he is telling the truth. |)r Waller discovered that the resistance of the skin to electricity varies with the state.of the emotions, and lias so developed the discovery that even apprehension can plainly be “spotted hv the fluctuations of a spot of lignt on scale. “This,” he says, “is how we shall get the criminal. He will he Irving to prove an alibi. He will look the Judge in the eye and sav he was never, sav, at Chelsea, in his life. Now we apply my method. Attach the electric wires to his hands, and then show him a few pictures, including one of the place the criminal was suspected of having visited. The others will give negative results, but when he is shown that particular one, the result will he that the light will jump- and there is no power in mortal man to stop it. Everybody nowadays, of course, recognises tlu* immense value -of railways, telegraphs, telephones, motor-ears etc., in overhauling the criminal, flying from justice. Wireless telegraphy leapt to fame in a single bound as an ally to Hie police authorities when it prevented the notorious Dr Orippen from escaping the

just penalty of his monstrous crime. OTHER MARVELS OF ,SCIENCE. The microscope has been the means of convicting more than one murderer. So has the polariseope—that ingenious invention without which it would be impossible to tell the hair or blood of a man from those of a cat, or those of a monkey from those of a rabbit. By means of the polariseope human relics are distinguished from those of animals. There are also various scientific instruments and tests for detecting ‘he presence of poisons in the Ixwlies « f murdered persons; and here the analytical skill of the chemist and the medical expert often solve problems which prove of vital importance in crimiml trials. As a matter of fact, there is really no end to scientific ideas that aie oo**rating to capture and convict the criminal or to frustrate his nefarious schemes. Science even is taking a band in the ingenious schemes at present, in operation in North London to foil 'Milken thieves. One invention which is Icing widely adopted is a subterranean electric wire leading from the door of the fowlhoiise to a bedroom wind m. Anyone opening the door of the coop during the silent hours causes a bell to ring in the bedroom, and a powerful 1 i<dit to shine from the window on the poultry run. The thief is further disconcerted by a stern voice from a gramophone, which shouts: “Hands up! Stop, thief!”