FINGER PRINTS

Hokitika Guardian, 13 October 1930, Page 2

FINGER PRINTS

NEW METHODS. SUCCESSFUL TESTS MADE. LONDON, July 12. It is revealed that Scotland Yard has invented a new finger-print -system which is expected to revolutionise methods throughout the world. it is the work of Chief Inspector Harry Battley, who is in charge of the finger-print bureau. It consists mainly of the use of a special glass with a centre spot and seven concentric circles. By this means a much more detailed and exact scrutiny is pbssib e. The method is an improvement on the single finger-print system, which introduced by Inspector Collins, Air Battley’-s predecessor, had been in use for seven years. The single finger-print -system had been created owing to the fact that ■-he occasions when more than one clear digital print is left behind by a thief are very rare. In many cases it may be only part o'f a- print. The system evolved had, ’ however, many drawbacks.

. . LONG SEARCHES NECESSARY. The task of searching foi' a duplicate in-the bureau collection of some 40,00'.) single impressions was found long ano difficult and sometimes entailed a search of. three-quarters of, the collection. The: few 'identifications made did not justify the time anl labour expended. Another difficulty, inherent in this and also previous systems, was that taken alone, ridge characteristics were bund unreliable as a- basis of classl-icat-ion for single prints, as they assume different forms according to varying pressures. Air Battley, whose method is described in a volume which is to be published by the Stationary Office, has now pVovided important new subgroups of characteristics for classification.

TRAIL OF CRIMES. An example of the uso of the method is provided by the*case of a travelling criminal whose itinerary was followed by the finger-marks lie left at various places. In July, 1928, a wine giass supposed to have been touched by the person who broke into a pavilion at Watford and which showed' a digital mark was forwarde dto the Yard Print .Bureau. During the next twelve months a series of articles bearing similar marks font d at scenes of crime were received from various provincial forces-—Staple Hill, Stinchcobe, and Cihppng Sudbury (Gloucestershire);, Harpeiiden, Rugby, Ecdbourne (Hertiforslirre), Loughborough, and King’s Langley. It each case there were points of (similar jty that enabled the bureau to say definitely that the marks were made by the same person—the one who handled the wine glass. Shortly afterwards a man was arrested at Hitchin for housebreaking and larceny, and his finger-prints were sent to the bureau, where they were at once recognised as identical with those placed on one -side. At his trial the man admitted having committed the offences.

Another burglar tried to bide hi.s identity by throwing into a water butt pieces of window glass he had broken in making his entry. When tlie police were called they searched for the missing fragments of glass. They were found, carefully dried, and the latent impressions developed, The marks suf--I'erod very little from the immersion if or many hours, and were identified as those of a. local criminal, who was afterwards sentenced for the offence .’ - Sir Trevor Bigbairi, Assistant Commissioner of Police, in charge of the Criminal Investigation Department at Scotland Yard, writes in a preface to the. hook that the results of a practical test of the new system have been most

encouraging. Insnector Chemill had given valuable help in perfecting the new system.