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FINGER PRINT EVIDENCE.
ITS USE IN HONGKONG.
[Written for the “Daily Press,”]
Though introduced into Hongkong rather more than a year ago, the system of tracing criminals by their finger prints, as practiced in the Colony, has not come under the public notice. For several reasons, the chief being the erroneous impression which prevails on the subject, the local authorities have hesitated to submit the identification supplied by finger prints as evidence on which they would ask a jury to convict a prisoner, and hitherto they have been content to rely on the old and somewhat cumbersome proceeding involved in taking photographs and recording the descrip- tions of the persons who pass through their hands. But interest in this new phase of criminal investigation has of late been aroused through various causes, and that will perhaps be deemed sufficient justification for our dealing with it in this article.
Our attention to the practice was attracted by the case of a Chinaman convicted at the Magistracy last week. Arrested on a charge of theft, his finger prints were taken, with the result that it was found he had been banished some time ago under a different name to what he had given on this occasion. When before
the magistrate be admitted the accuracy of the particulars and was, of course, dealt with accord. ingly. This led to inquiries on the part of our representative, who was given opportunities of seeing how the finger prints are taken and learning, through the courtesy of Mr. F. L. Clyde of the identification department of the Detective staff, something of the system.
At the outset one has to distinguish between what finger print identification is and what it is not. It will perhaps be easier to say, firstly, what it is not. It does not mean that the similarity of one finger print of a prisoner with an impression in the pigeon holes of the Police Department is sufficient to establish his identity.
If such were the case there would be some justification for questioning either the value or the justice of the syst m. No, finger print identification is much more than that. The impressions of the whole tea digits are taken, and while points of similarity between two persons' prints may by so great in two fingers as to make it difficult to dis'inguish between them, yet in all the thousands of records taken by the police there have not been discovered two hands alike, so that the possibility of an ertor is very remote.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRÊSS AND
given this permanence in the finger skin characteristics, it should not be difficult to establish a system which could be applied universally, and this is what has been done through the labours of scientists and police experts. Having indicated what it is as a science, we will now proceed to the consideration of the finger print system as an art
With a piece of flit tin, some printer's ink, a roller for spreading it, and a sheet of ordinary white paper, we will set to work. These few simp'e appliances are all that are required. Spreading the ink on the flat tin, we take the band of the subject, place his thumb on the inky surface, then transfer it to the piper, making a clear print. And so on with the index, middle, ring and little fugers. Immediately below these we record the impressions of the corres- ponding digits of the left hand. A slip on the part of the operator might lead to the fingers not being printed in their proper sequence, but this contingency is guarded against by placing the index, middle, ring and little fingers of each hand in a mitten or strap and taking their impressions simultaneously. This ensures the fingers being read in the proper sequenc', for the one impression must prove the other.
Coming now to the classification of the impressions, we learn that for purposes of indexing there are four main reference marks. The first indicates the character
of the
ridges on the thumb-whether whor's, loops, arches or composites; the second, the sp cial feature of the index finger; the third the special feature of the index and middle fingers combined; and the fourth the number of idges on the little finger. It will be sur- prising to find how many records this primary classification brings into one pigeon hole, but there is a sub-classification based on the details of each finger which has the effect of giving each record its own distinctive character. An idea of the care bestowed upon the records may be gathered from the fact that each is checked in turn by four and sometimes five officials.
Soen under the microscope, the prints reveal even to the uninitiated points of difference which would seem to give each its special individuality, and it is interesting to note that when finger priuts are put in as exhibits they have been photographed and enlarged, so that it is easy for the judge or jury to see the points of similarity or dissimilarity on which the pros. ecution rely. Neither has the possibility of similarity in the finger characteristics of two in dividuals been ignored. Experts bavo calculated that the odds against all the numerous features of one digit being found in the finger of
another individual are over a million to one,
while the chances of coincidences occurring in each of the ten digits of one person would ruu to figures representing more than the inhabi- tants of the earth.
The reason for selecting impressions of the fingers in preference to any other part Of course the chief use to which the finger of the human body is that these do not show print system is put is as a means of identification any change. Finger prints taken in early years
after arrest. In this connection it has proved very show the same characteristi's in old age; aud valuable in India, as well as at home, and the even change of occupation is not sufficient to results are likely to lead to its more general affect the peculiarities which distinguish the adoption. Supposing a man is arrested, and it hands of one individual from another. For is suspected he has been in trouble before, the instance, a clerk with soft hands and delicate official in charge takes the impressions of his fingers may in course of time engage in manual fingers and classifies them. Taking the records labour and become a "horny handed son of from the corresponding pigeon hole he runs toil." Yet though the fingers may be scarred down the list until his eye catches the peculiarity and seared and the skin hardened, the readings which gives this record its individuality. In of the finger prints will, notwithstanding the like manner, the expert can ascertain within a difference that has taken place, disclose the few minutes after the receipt of an inquiry, whorls or loops, ridges bifurcated at certain accompanied by the prints, whether the impres- points, and the stopping abruptly of others that sions resemble those on any of the records. were fond in the original prints.
has in the primary classification, whether That this method of identification is really all ten eing are whorls or loops; (2) if all loops an exact science is demonstrated by the fact the su' as is ication is given by ridge count- that it is based on pattern and ridge character-ing; (If all whorls, sub-classification is given istics which persist throughout the period of human life. The dimensions of the limbs aud
body alter in the course of growth and decay; the colour and quantity of the hair, the tint and quality of the skin, the number and set of the teeth, the expression of the features, and even the eye change after many years, but in the minute ridges on the fingers there is a persistence which has been known to last after death up to the time when the skin perished through decomposition. It is stated that the marks on the fingers of many Egyptian mummies and on the paws of stuffed monkeys still remain legible. Be that as it may, it will be admittel that,
He
by ridge tracing. Points of difference as well as points of agreement are looked for, and he usually has little trouble in deciding whether or not the individual in question is on record in that department.
While the system may not be infallible, its working so far has not revealed any defects, and we are sure that were the public more intimate with its operation and aware of the care exer- cised hy the authorities, its valus would be better appreciated. It has stood the test of many years and its greater application in the Colony would certainly not be prejudicial to the further ance of the causes of law and justice.
[October 30, 1905.
FOUR DAYS IN FORMOSA.
[CONTRIBUTED.]
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As there are doubtless many people in Hong- kong who have wished to take a short holiday, one requiring less time than it takes to go to Japan, or Shanghai, a few notes on the possibilities of Taiwan (Formos1) may be helpful. This island is well worth a visit. It is healthy, has par- ti ularly beautiful scenery, some curiously nteresting features, and is attractive moreove", a shoving the colonising abilities of our Japanese al ies. It possesses, at present, the additional and not usual merit of cheapness. At the capital, Taihoku (a name now more properly used than Taipeh, the old Chinese name) shopping can be done with much more satisfaction to the globe-trotter than in the foreign settlements of Japan, where the dealers have learned to add a percentage when quoting to foreign buyers; and almost anything that can be gut in Tokyo can be got in Taihoku, which might be called for many reasons Now Tokyo. The trip from and back to Hongkong, allowing ample time for a little tour of inspection, may be accomplished in exictly ten days.
Mr. Arima, the courteous Hongkong manager of the Osika Shosen Kaisha, who is an enthusias, with regard to the beauties of Formos1, has himself written a brochure on the subject (now in the press) and spares no pains to help the intending passenger to arrange a satisfactory itinerary. A steamer leaves every Sunday, returning on the following Sunday, reaching Tansui or Hongkong early Wednesday morning according as they are outward or homeward
bound.
a
The
The first view of Tansui (not Tamsui, as foreigners have ben erroneously spelling it) is charming, and as there is sometimes a brief wait outside the bar for the tide, there is plenty of time to take in the fine sweep of the landscip, verdant looking hills
to rolling down
pretty river, which is good for boating, but not (the British Consular constable says) for bathing. The town itself will not detain the traveller, being a straggling, filthy, Chinese village, with a few aloof. Taking one of the frequent trains on a cleaner Japanese homesteads standing a little well conducted railway, the tripper will get out at Hokuto, after a seven mile ride (about forty road to the Hotel where he may smoke and drink, cents first class)and walk up a typical Japanese kimono-clad, in a Japanese garden, during the panses between his sulphu: bits. Higher up the picturesque ravine are sulphur springs, visibly geysering from the volcanic lava. that the stones and boulders in the stream are water is so strongly impregnated with sulphur
thickly encrusted with yellow. This stream has been tapped by the hotel people, and con. ducted by bamboo pipes to a nice, clean bath house, where the traveller may emula'e Naaman, and be made clean. If, as is possible, he proposes to stay here only one day, in order to see more of Formoss during his four days, he had better plunge in Jordan discreetly, for the sulphur is potent; and in removing impurities from the system, it must first bring them to the surface. He may, therefore, revelling in this wonderful bath, return to the haunts of men with his epidermis resembling the neighbouring hill, viz: in a state of eruption. The after effect, however, is un- doubtedly wholesome. Another six or seven miles by rail brings one to Taiboku; and here space fails. Those who know Tokyo will understaud that Taihoku cannot be summed up in a paragraph.
The shops alone, and their possibilities, will take much time. Among the "sights," the traveller will certainly visit the police museum of native curios-the weapons, tools, and clothing of the Formosan aborigines. This is a very interest- ing collection of savage gear, which has been open only about three months. Mr. Miyoshi, a gentleman attached to the Police and Guberna- torial Department, a fluent English speaker, and a widely travelled and most interesting raconteur, should be sought after. Mr. Ino, the expert cicerone of the museum, speaks only a little English. Mr. Mori, professor at the polios schools, who speaks German fluently and well, is also very kind, and seems glad to help his foreign friends. The palace of General Baron Kodama, the Military Governor of
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