Bertillon System
a well known method of identifying criminals suggested by Dr. Alphonse Bertillon of Paris about 1879. As now understood the system includes three parts,-photographs, descriptions, and measurements. The descriptions include such items as the color of eyes, something a criminal is unable to change hair, beard, and complexion; also deformities and any special marks, as moles, scars, and tattooing. Two photographs are taken usually, one of a profile, and one of the full face. Criminals not infrequently make a tremendous effort to distort their countenances, so as to prevent the photographs from being of value.
The measurements taken are of certain unchangeable bony lengths of the body. The parts measured are the length and width of the head; the cheek width; length of foot; the middle and little finger and the cubit, that is, from the elbow to the tip of the little finger; the height standing; the height seated; the reach of outstretched arms; right ear length; the median line in front from the fork or hollow below the larynx down; and, in the rear, the spinal column from the seventh vertebra to the base of the spine. The joints and flanges of the fingers are measured,-the flanges being the portions of the fingers between the joints.
Calipers provided with a graduated arch are used for measuring the head. In taking the length of the head the left point of the caliper is held at the root of the nose, and the right point is brought against the occipital bone in the back of the head; the thumb screw is then tightened and the measurement checked by passing the instrument again over the head. The width of the head over the cheeks is taken in the same way. The measurement of the foot is taken with a caliper rule similar to that used by a shoemaker. The prisoner is posed standing on his left foot, and the graduate stem is placed against the inside of the foot with the fixed arm in contact with the heel and the sliding arm then brought in tightly against the toe. In measuring the left middle and little finger the back of the caliper rule is used, two small projections being provided on the fixed and sliding arms. The finger is bent at right angles to the back of the hand and the measurement taken from the tip of the finger to the knuckle.
The detective bureau of Paris has over 100,000 of these Bertillon descriptions filed on cards of uniform size for immediate reference. If a man is placed under arrest in France, his measurements and description may be compared instantly with those of the central bureau. In this way criminals arrested for trivial offenses are not infrequently identified as wanted on serious charges elsewhere. Files are kept according to sizes, without any reference to the name given by the suspects. For instance, the measurements of men are kept in three classes according to the length of the head. These three divisions are subdivided according to width of head, and these again according to length of middle fingers, which are subdivided still farther according to the length of foot, and these again according to length of forearm, little fingers, and color of eyes successively. If a man arrested in New York is suspected of escape from crime elsewhere his description, according to the Bertillon system, is sent to the capitals of Europe and to the large cities of this country. It is now well nigh impossible for a criminal to flee from his past record by a change of residence. His history follows him. Properly speaking, the measurements alone are due to Dr. Bertillon. A collection of photographs of prominent criminals has long been a feature of police headquarters, and is known as a "Rogues' Gallery."