How did the police keep accurate records of people when computers were'nt invented?

Well in the days before we had reliable computers crime and punishment was far different. First if you were caught in the act of something you would be taken to jail. It didn't matter if you had any previous arrests you would go to jail. The way they would then know of your other arrests is through a courier system. When you had been previously arrested they would right out the offense and perhaps a hand drawn image of you and send it to every station they could. So yes if you kept ahead of that system then you would be able to commit crimes in multiple states. Again though crime and punishment was different back then. For an example we look at bonny and clyde. They knew the root they were going to drive and set up and ambush. There was no stop were police they simply opened up on them. Another man was hiding in an inn and shooting down on the police officers. They got everyone else in the inn out and stuck dynamite underneath and blew him up. So yes as long as you weren't caught you could get away with alot but if you were caught red handed there isn't always a trial back then.