FINGER-PRINT CLUES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1445, 4 May 1905, Page 2

FINGER-PRINT CLUES.

DETECTION OF A CRIMINAL, I 'CEbc Fresa Association.)' ■Wellington, last night. At the Supreme Court to-day John Clancy, a young man, was charged with breaking and entering and theft at Wellington on February 23rd. There were two counts, one of breaking and entering with intent to commit a crime, and another of breaking and entering and stealing two gold rings and two brooches, the property of Mary Ann Williams. The case was unique in New Zealand, in that it is the first in which the sole evidence for the prosecution was , the print of part of the finger-tips alleged to have been left by accused on a window-pane of the house broken into. Counsel for the Crown said the case was very important to the public. Theft was generally discovered by the way stolen property was disposed of by the offender. In this instance, however. such was not the case. The stolen property had not been recovered. As for accused, he had not, been seen in the locality of Mrs Williams 1 dwelling-house on the day in question. The Crown would prove its case beyond the possibility of doubt solely upon the finger-print. The piece of glass on which the print was left was cut out by a glazier, photographed, and compared with accused finger records in the finger print branch of the Police I -Department. The result of the compari Bon was that 24 characteristics corresponded. The possibility of a mistake was absolutely eliminated. The Chief Justice, in summing up, said if the jury were satisfied that the finger-print on the glass was identical with the records put in by the department's officer, it was a reasonable inference that that print belonged to the man who went into the house, and a further reasonable inference was that the mau entered the house to commit a crime. Prisoner was found guilty of breaking and entering, and remanded for sentence.