■Ss- .Ss- H ■) :-»-^.\ TT 3E5 THE SEYMOUR FINGERPRINT _ SYSTEM-*^ Copyright 1912 by L". SEYMOlj^ all Rights Reserved Los Aiwefes, Cal. IL J Iinitir@dlMeti©ini The use of Fingerprints, as a means of identification, dates back to the Assyrians. These people used the thumb mark to sign their land deeds. The Chinese have used Fingerprints for over four thousand years ;. the Hindoos for almost as long. As a means of identifyi-ng depositors the system has been used in India since 1864. In the United States the idea has only recently been taken up but it is gaining ground rapidl}^ and promises to be universal within a short time. , , To banks, as a means of identifying depositors the system is invalu- able and when a few basic principles are understood it is impossible to make a mistake. The question of JUDGMENT does not enter. My purpose in devising this system was to present a simple yet sure means of comparing prints. A few hours' study of the following will enable any person to compare rapidly and with absolute certainty. iCl,A329285 ^ ^\ ^ I?' CHAPTER I. The first thing- to be learned is HOW TO MAKE PRINTS COR- RECTLY. Most banks that are now using the fingerprints simply have the depositor press his finger on an ink pad and then dab the finger on a card which is filed, along with the particulars generally taken. This action results in what is called a "dabbed" print. (See Fig. 1.) This method is incorrect. ( F i g u re 1 ) (Figure 2) To make a good, clear print take a common ink pad, violet or black. Do not use red, it fades. Ask the depositor to press his left thumb gently on the pad, rolling the thumb across the pad so that the entire surface above the flexure of the first joint and from ^lail to nail will be inked. Then have him roll his finger across the signature card. This action should produce a print like that in Fig. 2. The reason for taking rolled prints is that it gives a much larger area for comparison. See that the pad is clean and not too wet. Keep a small bottle of gasoline and a package of surgeons' cotton handy so that the depositor may clean his finger. The teller who takes the print should initial the card. By a little experimenting you can soon learn to make good prints and you will then be able to instruct others how to do it. CHAPTER n Among all the billions of fingerprints in the world there are only three varieties ; ARCHES. LOOPS, and WHORLS. In the ARCH (Fig. 3). The lines or ridsfes run across the finser in a transverse manner (Figure 4) (Figure 5) (Figure 3) In the LOOP (Fig. 4). The lines are enclosed in a bay-like form and loop towards the center of the finger. In the AVHORL (Fig. 5). The lines revolve from the center in a whirling manner. Arches form 5%, Loops 60%, and Whorls 35% of the total. Under Whorls are classed a peculiar sort of pattern called COM- POSITES. (See Fig. 6.) Composites form only one-tenth of one per cent, of the total and are rarely met with. (Figure 6) A little study, under a magnifying- glass, of the illustrations 3-4-5-6 will enable you to distinguish the difference between the patterns. You will meet with many variations of these patterns, but the variations will only be in the formations of the ridges. All loops resemble each other in general outline. The same applies to whorls and arches. \\"e will suppose that you have a depositor's print upon a card on file ; a check (or withdrawal order) is presented and the person presenting it impresses his print upon it and the print is a loop. You look up the card in your file and find that the print thereon is a whorl. It goes without saying the check is to be instantly rejected. Take your own prints and those of your associates and learn to dis- tinguish the difi^erent patterns. When vou have done so proceed to Chap- ter^III. CHAPTER III. Upon loops and whorls we find two distinct points from which the comparison is made. These are called the CORE and the DELTA The Core of a loop is the center of the loop or staple. Illustrations of cores will be found in Figs. 7 and 8. The cores are indicated in Fig. 7 by small circles in ink. pa^ CORES TO LOOP.S. Hods :— their envelopes are indicated by dot^. 31 Single. 32 33 34 35 Eyed. Double.. Multiple. Monkey. Staples : — tlieir envelopes are indicated by dots. M uif: 35 R 37 38 39 40 41 42 parted. J parted. | parted. Tuning fork. Singleeyed. Doubleeyed. B-nvelopes whether to Rods or Staples :— here staples only are dotted. 45 40 47 43 i parted. I paited. Single eyed. Double eyed. FtG. 15. CORES TO WHORLS. 49 50 51 5i 53 54 Circles. Ellipses. Spiral. Twist (Figure 7) Plait. Deep Spiral. From "Fingerprinls," Courtesy of McMillan and Co.. New York Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2011 with funding from The Library of Congress http://www.archive.org/details/seymourfingerpriOOseym Tlio two top rows arc loops. The tliird row and loft half of tlic| fourth are whorls. The right half of the fourth row are composites. The fifth row consists of arches A little study of these illustrations will enable you to recognize \\xc different classes. The number of lines that intervene between the tore and delta of the loops in the first two rows you will una marKui in the upper right hand corner of each small print. The last two rovjs consist of loops and whorls, each print having a line drawn from core to delta, with number of intervening lines marked in ink on eacn pnni. In whorls the Core is the center of the circle or the place at Avhich the ridge starts to revolve. See the lower line in F'ur. 7. (Figure 8) The Delta is formed either by the branching- off of a single ridge or by the abrupt divergence of two ridges that had hitherto run side by side. See X and Y in P^ig. 9. (Figure 9) 'e only one Delta. Whorls have two and Arches none at all. re : Let us suppose that you have two prints that are loops like in their general apipearance. Like those in Fig. 10, for B (Figure 10) A make your comjiarison, rule a STRAK ,^elta. on each ])rint. (See i^g. 11.) r line from the (Figure 11) The Delta \\ill l)e found stnietinies a))o\e. sonielimes below and sometimes opposite tlie Lore, but remember that whcrcwr it appears a straight line must be ruled from Lore to Delta. When this has been done count ilu- nund)er of ridgrs that cross the line between the Core and Delta. If {hew arr not cxactlv the same number of lines in each print you may. declare the prints dissimilar at once without further comparison. In counting the ridges, do not include the core or delta in your count. That is, you count only the INTERVENING ridges. Now suppose that your count proves that there are the same number of lines intervening in each print. Do not accept this as conclusive that the prints are identical, but continue the comparison. Count out three ridges from the core of one print and note the appearance of the third ridge. By examining the ridges you will see that various peculiarities occur, such as bifurcations and stoppages. These are illustrated in Fig. 12. Y)\f^Kc^'y\of^^ (Figure 13) (Figure 12) Trace your third ridge along its length and note if the same bifurca- tions occur in each print. If you find ten points of similarity between two prints you may consider the prints as having been made by the same person. Perhaps the ridge that 3"ou decide to trace will not bifurcate at all and will continue on unbroken right around the print. Of course, the corresponding ridge on the other print must do the same or the prints are not identical. Some loops have as few as two intervening ridges between the core and the delta, wdiile others have as many as thirty. The core is always the central point from which the comparison is started. If you compare the third ridge, from the core, on one print with the third ridge on another print and trace them both around and the two ridges are not exactly identical in every way, then the prints were made by different persons. If you trace the corresponding ridge on both prints and find that they agree, then you can safely declare the prints identical. You may, of course, carry out the tracing on as many ridges as you like. I will say that you must find ten or more ridges to agree before declaring the prints identical. You understand that this far-reaching comparison is only necessary when two prints are nearly alike. I have never found it necessary to look for more than four points of similarity but I am putting it at ten to make it absolutely certain. You will probably never find it necessary to do more than count the ridges. Refer back to Fig. 10. You will note that, although the two prints look alike, A has eighteen intervening line and B eleven lines. Another simple and rapid way of comparing is to divide the print into one hundred squares, each square of equal area, and then compare the contents ot ten corresponding squares. Each small square will have its own peculiarities (such as bifurcations and stoppages) and they are easily compared. To save the trouble of ruling lines to make the squares you can easily prepare screens. Take a small piece of celluloid (an old photo film, with the emulsion washed off, does very well) and rule two large squares one inch and five-eighths by one inch and one-quarter, side by side a quarter of an inch apart. Divide both into one hundred small ssuares by ruling ten lines each way. Place these two screens over the prints, being careful to center the cores of both prints in the same cor- responding small squares of each screen. It will then be an easy matter to compare ten corresponding squares. Fig. 13 illustrates this method, showing a loop under a screen. Many prints, even though they be of like pattern, will not present any difficulty. For instance, you may find two loops that resemble each other. One may have four lines between core and delta, the other may have ten. You are able to tell without counting. Be careful when they look alike and contain nearly the same number of ridges. Make your count carefully. Whorls are compared in exactly the same manner as Loops. But Whorls have two deltas so count out to the right of the core. Two Whorls somewhat similar in appearance are illustrated in Fig. 14, but they are easily differentiated by counting, ^, r,., t , \ Zm___ l^^4^ i^ . 1 ^^^^^^^^^ f" "^^^m^ ' W} ^ W V f***' iill 1 ^ ^^^^^s 3s ^ ^^_/[^_^^ i 1 1 4:^:1 '^ ■"-I-: (Figure 14) (Figure 15) To compare Arches, square them ofif in the same manner as you would a loop. See Fig. 15. Then compare the corresponding squares. In Fig. 14 you will note that one of the whorls has a white line run- ning through it. This is a scar. NEVER, under any circumstances take scars into consideration when comparing prints. Prints will show a scar when it is fresh, but when the scar heals the ridges grow up and the print resumes its original appearance. Note the ridges only and disregard any other mark. The ridges never change from birth to death. Upon Fig. 16 you will note a scar across print C. Print D is an impression of the same finger taken three months later. The scar has almost entirely disappeared, but may be observed by using a glass. E is the same finger taken a year later. The scar has entirely disappeared. (Figure 16) You will also notice upcn some of the illustrations herein what ap- pear to be white spots on the print. These are caused by the finger not being pressed down hard enough on the paper. Do not pay any attention to these white spots if you find them in your prints. That is, do not take them into consideration when making your comparison. Rely on the ridges alone. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CONCLUSION 'III 029 714 053 P The foregoing is all there is to the system and if the rules are fol- lowed you cannot make a mistake. I will be glad to answer questions at any time. The depositor should be recjuired to impress his print on the with- drawal order in the presence of the teller. In case any depositor objects to inking his fingers, an excellent print may be obtained by recjuesting the depositor to pass his thumb through his hair, after which it is rolled across the signature card. This action will leave a small deposit of oil and if graphite is dusted gently across the card with a soft camels hair brush the graphite will adhere and bring out the impression as clearly as if it was taken with ink. I say, take the impression of the left thumb because that member is found to be less liable to be missing or injured. Some banks take three or four fingers, but this is not necessary although it can be done if you wish. In case the left thumb is missing or so injured that it cannot be taken, then take the right thumb and note the divergence from the rule, upon the card. Let me add one word of advice. Do not attempt to use your own judgment upon prints that appear to be alike. Always apply the test. Of course there are many prints that may be dififerentiated at a glance, but when there is any similarity the test should be applied. .Ss- nn,!^,f^.'!\?Y OF CONGRESS 029 714 053 I Hollinger pH 8.5 MiU Run F03-2193