40 
make. This is more easily done with a hand lens, which 
is an extremely valuable aid to an investigator. The 
barrel type is best and can be obtained on official requisi¬ 
tion. For use in court, photographic enlargements of 
finger prints are desirable, so that all the jury can see the 
same print at the same time. Prints submitted to the 
District office will be enlarged on request. 
Until a man is arrested he can not be compelled to sub¬ 
mit to having his finger prints made. His known prints 
for comparison with those found in connection with a crime 
must be obtained by getting him to handle some paper on 
another pretext. If the paper has typewritten matter 
on it, this may obscure a thumb print: but the finger 
prints will be on the reverse. Such paper must, of course, 
be free from previous finger marks. It should therefore be 
drawn from inside a new pile, and be handled only by the 
corners, and between the first and second fingers, as the 
sides of the fingers leave little mark: better still, use 
cleaned gloves. When prints can be compelled, as from a 
man under arrest, they should be taken by pressing the 
finger on a stamp-ink pad and then on paper. Prints 
should be taken for all 10 fingers and thumbs. However 
obtained, each print must be labeled as to finger and hand, 
since comparison is fruitless unless it is certain that the 
prints are of identical fingers. Skill in both making and 
identifying prints requires practice. It is well to acquire 
such skill before important results depend on the work. 
RESTORING MUTILATED PAPERS. 
Piecing torn paper together '.—First hunt for corner pieces, 
then edges, then work up the interior. Paste on a trans¬ 
parent medium, such as tracing linen—the back may be 
important—or lay between clean glass plates bound 
together. 
If writing on paper is not in copying ink or indelible 
pencil, the paper can be moistened by spray from an 
atomizer or by holding in steam from a tea kettle. This 
helps to straighten it out if badly curled or bent. 
Dim writing comes out plainly in a photograph. 
