INTRODUCTIONS BY THUMBPRINTS.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLII, Issue 149, 25 June 1908, Page 2

INTRODUCTIONS BY THUMBPRINTS.

NEW YORK, April 29. Thumb-print letters of introduction .will soon be the fashion among Pittsburg millionaires unless their present attitude of suspicion towards all strangers is modified. So many wealthy Pittsburgers have been victimised of .late by plausible visitors;who presenteia:forged or altered letters of iintrpduciion, that some of them have already adopted the Bertillon system of identification, which has been popularised by the police authorities in the large cities. When a Pittsburger wants to give a letter of introduction he takes his man to a photographer, and. has himself and iiis friend photographed in the pose they would, assume in making an introduction. This picture is posted, with a few words of explanation.'

Last week a flaw was discovered in the system^ when a "bunco steerer" presented a faked photograph, which showed him as the bosom friend of a prominent New York millionaire. On the strength of this introduction he swindled a Pittsburger out of £500.

' The only safe method left is for the millionaire to establish private thumb-print bureaus^ and^ this has been seriously suggested by one of the Pittsburg newspapers, which objects to the fair fame of the city being smirched by the robbery of its artless plutocrats. .