Chapter XIV

Description, or How to Describe Person Wanted.

The detective must be able to recognize faces from a written or verbal description, should be trained to penetrate all disguises or altered appearance caused by burns, loss of flesh, scars, sickness, or through gaining weight; and he should familiarize himself with the proper method in receiving and giving descriptions. Some people have this natural accomplishment; others must study and acquire it through training.

It is easy for an intelligent person, with the proper training, to develop and remember faces.

He should take pains to notice any peculiarities, pay strict attention to the color of the hair and eyes and remember that a man can change his appearance by letting his mustache or beard grow and by shaving his beard and mustache off. The beginner at his first glance only sees a confusion of curves, lines, eyes, a mouth, but notes nothing of a tangible form to enable him to memorize his face, but the experienced detective analyzes every definite and exact characteristic, each of which he impresses upon his memory. The wearing of colored glasses, or the absence of glasses on one who constantly wears them, the dyeing of the hair, the crowning of a tooth in the mouth, or the absence of a tooth changes the appearance of a person. These changes should be remembered when the detective is trying to locate a party of any description.

When the detective learns of a description of a person wanted for a crime, he must first commit to his memory the description of the face and general appearance, and he should remember the above changes in a description. The next step would be to ascertain where the person wanted visits or makes his home, his habits in general and who his associates are.

When taking a description the following questions should be asked: Age, height, weight, color of eyes, color of hair, carriage of the person, scars, burns, deformed in any way, defects of the nose, bones, peculiarities of speech or walk, description of clothing generally worn, the kind of a ring the person wears, size of shoes, whether or not he uses cigarettes or tobacco in any form, what language he speaks, nationality, whether or not he is addicted to any drug habit. If you are unable to obtain a photograph, ascertain the name of his friends and try to persuade them to get you a picture of him. This will give you a general idea to work on.

We will first describe the FOREHEAD. It is necessary to note the profile, whether or not it is straight, slanting, medium, low or high. Whether or not the frontal bones are prominent, whether the arches above the eyes protrude to any extent. Also note the difference between the frontal bones and the arches.

The NOSE. The nose is either straight, concave or convex. The Roman nose convex, the Negro’s concave, a Grecian nose is called straight. The upper portion of the nose between the eyes is called the root. It should be described as either prominent or not prominent. The elevation of the nose is elevated (slanting downward) level or depressed. By an elevated nose, we mean a pug nose.

When we speak of level, we mean a Grecian nose. A typical Jewish nose we call depressed. The ridge should be noted as very fleshy, or thin and bony. In many cases the nose is crooked, bending toward the right or left of the face, sometimes it is straight to the ridge of the center and then bends towards the right or left.

The CHIN. This can be described as receding (slanting backward) or protruding, sometimes described as ball shaped, pointed or square, flat, sometimes double or dimpled and containing an indention. Sometimes the chin is hidden by a beard. In this case it is difficult to get a description of the chin.

The CHEEK. There are many ways to describe the cheek, such as high, low or medium. Sometimes we say “his eyes give him the appearance of having high cheek bones.” When the jaw teeth are absent this causes hollow cheeks.

MOUTH and LIPS. The mouth, eyes and lips give the expression of the face. The mouth may be curved downward, curved upward or straight, “giving the expression of always smiling;” large, medium or small. The mustache greatly alters the appearance of the mouth. In conversation a person will show the upper teeth or the lower teeth prominently. You may describe the lips as being thick, thin, full, bloodless, full color or pale, pouting or protruding. In working on a description, particular attention should be paid to the mouth and lips.

The EAR. We describe the ear as long, short, thin rimmed, full rimmed, round or pointed, whether the ear slants forward or backward. Sometimes the ear hangs downward, caused by the constant use of a cap. Some ears are square and some round, and should be described as medium or small. The right and left ear should both be described as many persons’ ears are not the same. It is claimed that blood relationship has been determined by the shape of the ears.

The HAIR. The hair should be described as coarse, fine, straight, wavy, curly, thick, thin and the color of same. The person with light hair is termed a blonde; black hair, a brunette, and is usually found upon a person with a dark complexion. When we speak of blue-black hair, it is the darkest hue and only found in the Indian, Latin or Oriental races. Hair may be changed in color by the use of chemicals; the blonde can be changed to a brunette and the brunette to a blonde.

The COMPLEXION. The complexion may be described as medium, light, pale, sallow, dark, light reddish, ruddy, dark reddish, or full blooded, and the detective should bear in mind that confinement, sickness or use of drugs changes the complexion.

WRINKLES. There are three vertical wrinkles evidenced above the root of the nose. Sometimes there are only two. Occasionally only one; if only one it should be noted relative to the center, right or left. In middle aged, or elderly people, wrinkles show either horizontally or vertically. They sometimes extend entirely across the forehead and other times only half way. Wrinkles in a face may also be noted as extending from about middle ways of the nose towards the corners of the mouth. These wrinkles are in evidence when smiling.

SCARS. You should note all scars on the head, face or nose, on hands, deformed or crooked fingers, enlarged knuckles, discoloration of fingers caused by smoking cigarettes. Burns, moles, birth marks, tattoo marks should all be noted.

The FACE. You describe the face as round, oval, full, long, narrow, thin or regular.

The EYES. The eyes may be described as long, protruding, deep, “pop eyed”, outer corners drooping or elevated, squint, open, half closed or regular, also close together.

The WEIGHT. The weight of a person may be judged within a few pounds. It is well to remember that an athlete is a well muscled man and his looks as to weight may deceive you.