Page:Collier's New Encyclopedia v. 02.djvu/19

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BERTILLON SYSTEM BERWICK founder of a system of identification of criminals. In 1880, while Chief of the Bureau of Identification in the Prefec- ture of Police, he established his system of measurements which has given results ALPHONSE BERTILLON marvelous for their precision. The sys- tem has since been adopted by the police authorities of the large cities of Europe and the United States. He was author of numerous works bearing upon his sys- tem, including "Identification anthro- pometrique" (1893). BERTILLON SYSTEM, a system of identification of criminals, introduced into France by Alphonse Bertillon. The system depends upon accurate measure- ments of various portions of the human body, especially the bones, which in adults never change. The parts meas- ured are the head, ear, foot, middle fin- ger, the extended forearm, height, breadth, and the trunk. These measure- ments are placed upon a card, and, to- gether with photographs of the bodily features, take the place of the old por- traits in the rogues' gallery. The system has been highlv developed, and is now an important feature of the police de- partment of every large city in the world. BERTRAND (ber-traii');, HENRI GRATIEN, COUNT, a French military officer, bom in Chateauroux in 1773, and early entered the armies of the Revolu- tion as engineer. He accompanied the expedition to Egypt, and directed the for- tification of Alexandria. He distinguished himself at Austerlitz, and became Napo- leon's adjutant; and, after the battle of Aspern, in 1809, for his share in saving the French army by bridges, he was created count and governor of Illyria. He retired with the Emperor to Elba, was his confidant in carrying out his re- turn to France, and finally shared his banishment to St. Helena. On Napo- leon's death, Bertrand returned to France, where he was restored to all his dignities, and, in 1830, appointed Com- mandant of the Polytechnic School. He died in Chateauroux, Jan. 31, 1844. BERWICK, a borough of Pennsyl- vania, in Columbia co. It is on the Del- aware, Lackawanna and Western rail- road and on the Susquehanna river. The industries include iron works, silk man- ufactures, and manufactures of pipes, caskets, and pottery. Pop. (1910) 5,357; (1920) 12,181. BERWICK, or more fully, BER- WICK-ON-TWEED, a seaport town of England, formerly a Parliamentary bor- ough, but now incorporated with Northumberland, and giving name to a Parliamentary division of the county. It stands on the N. or Scottish side of the Tweed. It is surrounded by walls of earth faced with stone, along which is an agreeable promenade. The Tweed is crossed by an old bridge of 15 arches and by a fine railway viaduct. The chief industries are iron founding, the manu- facture of engines and boilers, agricul- tural implements, feeding cake, manures, ropes, twine, etc.; there is a small ship- ping trade. In the beginning of the 12th century, during the reign of Alexander I., Berwick was part of Scotland, and the capital of the district called Lothian. In 1216 the town and castle were stormed and taken by King John; Bruce retook them in 1318; but, after undergoing va- rious sieges and vicissitudes, both were surrendered to Edward IV. in 1482, and have ever since remained in possession of England. Pop. about 15,000. BERWICK, JAMES FITZJAMEo, DUKE OF, born in 1670; was a natural son of James II., King of England, and Arabella Churchill, sister of the Duke of Marlborough. His first military serv- ice was under Charles, Duke of Lorraine, in Hungary, and he was present at the siege of Buda, and the battle of Mohacz. He was created Duke of Berwick in 1687; accompanied James II. to France, at the Revolution, served under him in Ire-