The Science of Fingerprints Part 16

_Filing Sequence_

The sequence must be arranged properly at all times to make possible the most accurate work. Prints are sequenced and filed in this order, according to:

I. _Primary:_

1 32.

- to -- 1 32

In the primary cla.s.sification the denominator remains constant until all numerator figures have been exhausted from 1 to 32. All prints with the primary 1 over 1 are filed together. These are followed by 2 over 1, 3 over 1, 4 over 1, etc., until 32 over 1 is reached. The next primary is 1 over 2, then 2 over 2, etc., until 32 over 2 is reached.

Eventually, through the use of each denominator figure and the elimination of each numerator over each denominator, the 32 over 32 primary will be reached.

Even in the smaller collections of fingerprints, it will be found that the groups which are arranged under the individual primaries filed in sequence, from 1 over 1 to 32 over 32, will be too voluminous for expeditious searching.

II. _Secondary:_

A. Secondary small-letter group:

A rW3r.

- to ---- A rW3r

Most intricate of all the individual sequences is the small-letter sequence. It is less difficult if the following method is used:

1. Sequence according to the patterns in the index fingers, grouped

A W.

- to - A W

When small letters are present, there are 25 possible combinations which can appear in the index fingers. They are as follows:

A T R U W - - - - - A A A A A

A T R U W - - - - - T T T T T

A T R U W - - - - - R R R R R

A T U R W - - - - - U U U U U

A T U R W - - - - - W W W W W

2. Within each group sequence:

a. The denominator, by--

(1) Count of the small letters (lesser preceding the greater).

(2) Position of the small letters (those to the left preceding those to the right).

(3) Type of small letter (sequence a, t, r).

b. The numerator, by--

(1) Count.

(2) Position.

(3) Type.

Thus

A T - precedes - A A

A A --- precedes --- rAt A3t

A A -- precedes -- aA Aa

A A -- precedes -- At Ar

aA aAa --- precedes --- aAr aAr

rA Ar ---- precedes ---- aA2a aA2a

aAtat aAtar ----- precedes ----- tA3r tA3r

The following table represents the full sequence of the denominator of the group having A over A in the index fingers. The full sequence as listed may be used as the numerator for each denominator as set out below. Following the group with A over A in the index fingers is the group with T over A in the index fingers, the sequence being the same otherwise. Then R over A, U over A, A over T to rW3r over rW3r.

A tAra aA2at tA2tr aA tArt aA2ar tAtra tA tA2r aAata tAtrt rA rA2a aAa2t tAt2r Aa rAat aAatr tAr2a At rAar aAara tArat Ar rAta aAart tArar aAa rA2t aAa2r tArta aAt rAtr aAt2a tAr2t aAr rAra aAtat tArtr tAa rArt aAtar tA2ra tAt rA2r aA2ta tA2rt tAr A3a aA3t tA3r rAa A2at aA2tr rA3a rAt A2ar aAtra rA2at rAr Aata aAtrt rA2ar A2a Aa2t aAt2r rAata Aat Aatr aAr2a rAa2t Aar Aara aArat rAatr Ata Aart aArar rAara A2t Aa2r aArta rAart Atr At2a aAr2t rAa2r Ara Atat aArtr rAt2a Art Atar aA2ra rAtat A2r A2ta aA2rt rAtar aA2a A3t aA3r rA2ta aAat A2tr tA3a rA3t aAar Atra tA2at rA2tr aAta Atrt tA2ar rAtra aA2t At2r tAata rAtrt aAtr Ar2a tAa2t rAt2r aAra Arat tAatr rAr2a aArt Arar tAara rArat aA2r Arta tAart rArar tA2a Ar2t tAa2r rArta tAat Artr tAt2a rAr2t tAar A2ra tAtat rArtr tAta A2rt tAtar rA2ra tA2t A3r tA2ta rA2rt tAtr aA3a tA3t rA3r

B. Secondary loop and whorl group:

R W.

- to - R W

When no small letters are present, there are 9 possible combinations which can appear in the index fingers. They are as follows:

R U W - - - R R R

R U W - - - U U U

R U W - - - W W W

At this point it is well to note that it may be preferable in some instances where small files are concerned to use only a portion of the cla.s.sification formula in the filing sequence. In such cases, only those parts of the filing sequence which are necessary should be used along with the final and key.

III. _Subsecondary:_

III OOO.

--- to --- III OOO