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Show EVEN THE BERTILL0N SYSTEM WAS AT FAULT IN THIS CASE rtr AM NOT the mnn, but I can't blame you for arresting me J after seeing that picture," said Jaines Burns when he was taken into custody last Wednesday on the belief be-lief that he was an escaped prisoner from Jowa. A circular waa received from Dcs Molncs, la., aBklitg the police to look out for a mnn known as "Satan," who had broken jail while awaiting trial for criminal assault. It presented a full front and prolilc picture, as well as Dertillon measurements and a full description de-scription of the man. With . this picture In mind Officer Carlson went to Commercial street nnd picked up Hums, The resemblance was perfect, so perfect that Burns hiniFclf said lip could readily accept it as his own picture. The color of the man's eyes and hair corresponded to the description de-scription iu thi"' circular. The Towa criminal had lost one of hla upper teeth. Burns was minus ihe name tooth. The circular said that "Satan" was a rover and would be found In the company of tramps. Burns Maid he had hoboed I'll over the country, and been n every one of the Central Stales but Iown. Thc-y took Burns to the penitentiary and had him measured to the Bertillon system. Most of the measurements corresponded within one or two in lllo- meters, a mlllemeter being one-twenty-fifth of an inch. There was, however, a variation of six mlllc-metors In the distance from finger tip to linger tip, and of four millemeteis In the length of the trunk. On his left arm they found two small molee, which were not mentioned men-tioned in the description. Deapite the many points of resemblance re-semblance Chief Lynch was at last convinced con-vinced that Burns and "Satan" wore not tho same, and Burns was turned loose yesterday. The outcome of the case was a surprise to all who had compared com-pared the picture and the suspcci. The HkenesM was so great that It seemed impossible for. men who were not twin brothers to have It. In many respects the co-incidence is as remarkable remark-able as is the cnyo of a man arrested at Now Orleans as an escaped murderer. He way measured by the Berllllon method and found to be exactly exact-ly the size of the man wanted. There was not the variation of a hair in the thickness of his skull, the breadth of ihl. head, the length of his nope, lingers and arms, hla height and weight, but his eyes were blue. The eyes of the murderer were brown. The Burns case will glee Chief Lynch an interesting etory to tell at the congress con-gress of police chiofs In St. Louis, where ho will listen with especial Interest to the report of tho London Police department depart-ment on Its experiences with different methods of Identification. |