Doing Hard Time: Historic Nebraska Mug Shots

A Mug Shot

Photography revolutionized crime investigations. Beginning in the mid 1800s, police photographed the faces of known criminals. Called "mug shots" (after the British slang word "mug" meaning "face") these images replaced drawings and descriptions on wanted posters. Scientists even studied mug shots to see if physical traits could predict criminal behavior.

The Nebraska State Penitentiary used photography beginning in 1867 to record the likeness of the state's most infamous residents. The Omaha police photographed suspects when arrested. Whether the people depicted were guilty or innocent, behind every photograph is a human story. This glimpse back at some of the thousands of photographs in the Nebraska State Penitentiary and Omaha Police Court Collections at the Nebraska State Historical Society and their accompanying tales offer insights into how earlier Nebraskans ran afoul of the law, and how some attitudes about crime and punishment may have changed.
  

Mrs. H. C. Adams #663 Blackmail Minnie Bradley #1015 Larceny from a person Mattie Brown #7213 Larceny from a person, 1 year Frank Carter, "Omaha Sniper," #9277 Murder, 1st. degree, death Herbert Cockran #595 Burglary James Collins #109 Burglary, 5 years Nora Courier #824 Horse stealing Frank Dinsmore #3741 Murder, life Ruby Fox #8297 Escaping from custody 1 year Myrtle Hetrick #8298 Escaping from custody 1 year Amos Holloman #11191, 12838, 15252 Charles Hutchinson #4311 Murder, 2nd degree, 12 years

Nannie Hutchinson #4312 Murder, 2nd degree, 10 years  Alberto Interciago #6262 Assault to wound 1-20 years Albert Johnson #907 Grand larceny, 1 year and 6 months William Lee #7516 Bootlegging 6 mo. to 2 years George Leonard #923 Burglary Jennie Lester #6270 Enticing to illicit intercourse, 1-3 years Bertha Liebbeke #5693 Grand larceny, 3 years Jim Ling #276 Keeping an opium joint Lola Lopez #8319 Manslaughter, 4 years Alv Lytle #10360 Bank robbery, 12-15 years Bert Martin #3656 Horse theft

Charles Martin #238 Safe blowing and burglary James Pappas #8927 Arson, 5 years George Ray #3566 Manslaughter, 10 years John Reid #4747 Manslaughter, 7 years F. P. Johnson #846 Fraud Mary Shannon #8783 Mayhem, 2 years Stephen Shock #6970 Grand Larceny, 2 years Jake Vohland #11408 Chicken theft, 1 year James White Water #84 Manslaughter Thomas Whitney #203 Obtaining money under false pretenses Goldie Williams #228 Vagrancy