PONSONBY MURDER

Southland Times, Issue 18833, 28 May 1920, Page 6

PONSONBY MURDER

MORE FINGER PRINT EVIDENCE. AN AUSTRALIAN EXPERT. THE DEFENCE OPENED. (Per United Press Association.] AoCaLA.'iD, May 27. The trial of Denius uunn on a cnarge of niuiueung i>t ailtiwaite, lire postmaster at j . •..u.-uiiuj, was continued to-uay. The u.u_t important witness to-uay «nj Inspector conn .iicxiuuler t owler. in cnarge oi me r .tiger I'iiiu bureau ot ac.v r-ouiu \Vaies. He stareu tliat lie had had li years’ experience oi linger print work. He had occit connected wall it in tact ever since .1 was iiuiouuced into New Noutli Wales. He spent some tune m New .Scotland 1 aru, i—.*i .i.o, lit iji-j ;m,i iiumit ny comparison .i):.t n.3 own uutwa v. .ic wui'i.mg on quite si: list not ory lutes, continuing, witness said mat he arivtd at Aticklunu on Way 21. Alter rus antvat lie was asiced to undertake a test tit t!ie presence of a number of perrons. me i.e.-i ice extremely diilicutt, mte, sue it as he would t.oi inmsen ever think ot putting to an expert. He remarked on this at me tune, Ha was handed a revolver, on winch a print was indicated to nun. lie was also tianued a pnotograpliic enlargement ot a part ot a linger p.itd, about halt a lull print. He was asked to identity ims witn one print from 101 complete sets of ten prints each supplied to turn. ’lhe le.-t was ditiieull tor a number ot reasons, amongst winch were the absence of evidence as to the class ot pattern to which the paitial print belonged and the met that ttie enlargement and record prints were on different scales. He stated at once that the search might occupy a couple of days, but as it turned out he made his nieiniiicatjoii m about two hours. At an early stage he put one form aside, but u cut on through all the rest of the forms in view of the possibility ot finding something more. :Vlr Tote; There was nothing on any of ihe forms to indicate the name.;, of the sub je'-ts'i No; the forms had been specially prepared and there was nothing on them, nut the usual printed matter. Has Honor: Vou put one form aside at an early Huge? How early was that? After about half an hour or three-quarters f And that print pioved to he the cue which you iclentuied Y—Yes. Witness detailed his examinations of the revolver, cash boxes and photographic enlargement. presented to him. The finger print under the lid of the cashbox (No. 1) was exceptionally clear and the resemblance to the record print wits so marxed that even a tyro could not fail to sec that the prints were made by the same person. In addition to the 40 points of resemblance marked, there were a number of others, some of them most striking. One characteristic in particular was more clearly marked on the enlargement from the box than in the record print. Regarding the print on the top of the cashbox, witness said that he noticed nine points of resemblance. - He would not consider it satisfactory standing alone, but in conjunction with the other prints he found it of value. He could state definitely that it was identical with the record print made by Gunn. The print on the side of cashbox No. 2 was a better one and the one on the tray was small. Each of them indicated identity. Referring to the revolver prints, Inspector Fowler said that the evidence of identification which it offered was ample. He personally would have not the slightest doubt that the finger which made it was identical

with the left middle finger on Dennis Gunn’s record. The photograph was remarkably good, considering tne curved na ture of the surface photographed. It was inevitable that some portions of the print should be out of focus. The two prints showed a number of vary characteristic features, notably what were known as “split ridges.” These he pointed out to the jury. The print on the tray of cashbox No. 2 was- identical with both the revolver prints and the record print of Gunn's left middle finger. Mr Tole: Taking the prints in the aggregate, what opinion would you form? The witness: I stand here in this position in regard to the prints, and I have carefully considered the matter before giving expression to my opinion in tiie way that I do at present, and that is this; I am much more ceituin that Gunn made the prints on the box and revolver than I should be if I had a casual sight of'him making them. In other words I could conceivably make a mistake in facial identification, but I claim that I do not do so in regard to finger prints. There can be no middle course. Of photographs taken at different periods it is frequently said that they “look alike,” but with finger prints it is Yes or No always. In opening the case for the defence, Mr Prendergast said that accused desired to go into the box and tell his own story. Much of the evidence for the prosecution was highly technical. The remark made by Gunn when accosted by the detectives that he was at home all Saturday afternoon, and his subsequent concction. counsel suggested, was only natural and in keeping with his innocence.

Dennis Gunn then entered the box. On Saturday, March 13, he said, he left home with his brother, Charles, about 2 o’clock. They went to an hotel and then to the circus, but did not go in on account of the crowd. They then watched a boat race in the harbour, and then -went to another hotel. He returned home about 5 o’clock and left again about 7.15 with his brother Thomas. Accused l>ecaine parted from his brother in the crowd, and went to a picture show, leaving when the performance was over, about 10 o’clock. He met his brother after the show, and they walked home together. He did not go out again that night. Mr Prendergast: Had you had anything to do with the murder of Mr Braithwaitc or the robbery' at the Post Office?—No, I had not. In cross-examination accused said he had never been in the Ponsonby Post Office and did not handle the cash boxes or revolver oil the night of the murder. Hr- bad never had a revolver and the finger-print on the revolver was not his. Counsel for the prosecution: Well, have you any objection to giving a print of the palm of your hand, any print we may choose ? Mr Reed for accused objected and after discussion said that if accused refused it would tell against him and if he agreed he was putting himself in the banco of experts who were practically obliged to give an opinion one way. His Honour: AH I can say is that I would be sorry to think that responsible police officers, either here or in New South Wales would be obliged to give evidence in any one way. On the advice of his counsel the accused declined to submit his finger prints. Further witnesses were called, including one man who said that he saw Gunn outside a picture theatre just before eight o’clock. ' The evidence for the defence was not concluded when the Court rose.