FINGER-PRINTS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 207, 27 May 1920, Page 6

FINGER-PRINTS

EVIDENCE IN MURDER TRIAL

THE CHARGE AGAINST DENNIS GUNN

By Telegraph-Press Association,

, Auckland, May 2G. Ihe trial cf Dennis Gunn on the charge of murdering A. B. Braithwaite, postmaster at Ponsonby, on March 13 last, was continued to-day, when further evidence for the Crown was taken. As already stated by counsel for the Crown, tho case for t!io prosecution depends largely upon finger-print evidence. Among tho witnesses to-day was Edmund Walter Dinnie, senior sergeant in chargo of the Criminal Hogistmtion Branch, Wellington. He stated, in answer to Mr. Martin, that he had 17 years' experience of finger-print registration, and had received a part of his training at New Scotland Yard, London. Air. Martin: So far aa your knowledge and experienco go, have you over found or heard of two prints of similar fingers —that is, first, second, third, or any othor fingers—of any person being identical ?

Witness: No, and no two prints of different fingers or any combination of them.

Mr. Martin: So far as your study and experience go, ia it not a. fact that tho fingers of persons in the absence of physical injury retain their characteristics from childhood to old age?

Mr. Reed: I must object to that question, because the science, if it enn ho called a science, of finger-print identification is of comparatively recent origin, I suppose that it does not date back more than twenty years, and twenty, years does not cover the ordinary span of human life. It I>o only theory that there is no variation. It may be shown that in the caso of certain persons it is so, but how can the witness say that thero is no variation? Mr. Martin: I have asked him to. say so far ns his experience goes. Mr. Reed: Neither his knowledge not his experienco can cover a lifetime. In the last ten or twelve years finger-prints have been more carefully studied than they were before. Mr. Tole remarked that it was, at anj rate, a fact that finger-markings persisted after death until decomposition of the skin. His Honour: I .don't know wtiethei anyone has tried to take the linger prints of Queen Cleopatra, but he* mummy, with a hand protruding from tho wrappings, may be seen in the Vatican Museum.

Mr. Martin: I don't know about Queen Cleopatra, Your Honour, but it is a fact that finger-prints have been taken from mummies.

The witness, resuming, said he had taken prints from the same person at an interval of fifteen years, and there was no difference in tho characteristics of the two sets of prints. Dealing with marks on the first cashbox, witness said that on top of the box a rather poor print of the right middle finger of accused was found. He also found on exceptionally clear print of accused's left ring finger, and on one of the sides lio found a print of accused's right ring finger, together with a print of a of the late Mr. Braithwaite. Other prints, identified as Mr. Braithwnite's, wero found on various parts of the box and tray. One of the revolvers found subsequent to the murder had a linger print on the chamber which was similar to the print of- the left middle finger of nccused. The hearing will be continued to-mor-row.