CURIOUS CLUBS.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3490, 19 May 1920, Page 7

CURIOUS CLUBS.

" ’ THE IMPORTABTCE OF TRIFLES.

Notliing should be too éniall to..bC taken into considerzttion by the crime investigator, writes .H-. L. Adam, author of “The Story of Crime,” in the “Daily Mail.” Also he cannot know too much, and the more varied his knowledge the better his chance of succeeding. The really scientific detective, of the future will be a man of almost unlimited knowledge and uccolllplishments. For even when there exist clues it may require certain expert knowledge in order to discover and make use -of them. Let us take :1 few examples by ixiaiy of illu>:tl'ution.

One night 21 man was i"o'und inurdered on the side-wtilli. The nlnrdel~..~r had fled, leaving behind his cap, which he had dropped. "Inside the «up were found two hairs, which were subinih ted to microscopical examinzition, rc—vealing to ‘the experts the following important faets:——The man was of middle age, and of robust constitur tion, had :1 mixture ‘of black and grey hair, which had been recently out; he was also becoming bald. These details eventually led to the ni:ln’s nl'rest.. To :\nybod_\,' devoid of the _knowledge necessary to make use of them the two hairs would have meant next to nothing. In another case of murder :1 ':ig'.irholder was found near the body. It had an amber mouthpiece, upon which appeared two teeth~nl:=.rl:.~:. A close exuinination revealed the fact that the teeth that made therh must. have been of unequal length, and that in consequence of the peculiar shape of the mouthpiece it must have been held in :1 certain position. To whom did the cig'ar—holdei' belong‘? Not to the dead man, for he hat’: no irregular teeth_ But his nephew had the identical teeth which could have made the marks on the holder. This discovery sealed the fate of the nephew, who was eventually convicted.

Although ‘:1-ifles have served to hang men, I know :1 case WhGl'o a trifle actually saved an accused’s life. 4 _ A sclloolmaster was found murdered in his study. He had been attacked. while seated in 21 chair dozing. One of the teaeller:< was seen to come from the room about the time the murder must have been committed. He was arrested am. charged with the crime.

It came out in evidence that when the prisoner came from the house he immediately went up to some boys who were ‘tossing coins in the playground and said, “You don’t knows how to toss a coin. Let me’ .;ll.'>W‘ you.” With that he took :1 coin and tossed it in the air. * \Vhen this evidence was given by‘ one of the boys the ‘judge put this question 10 the witness: “Did the prisoner’s "hand :1l1ake‘?” The witness repliecl that it did not. Thzit saved the p:'isoliel"s-» life, the judgre arguing that if the prisoner had come,straight from committing :1 violent

murder, as was alleged‘b_v the prosecution, he would certainly not. have had a firm ham}. ‘Of course the judge might have been mistaken. ‘ Dr. Gross, the well-known criminologist, relates :1 case in which :1 scientific knowledge of dust played an important part. At the scene of the crime a garment was found, the ownor of which was not known. It was placed in a strong and well-gumimed paper bag and beaten with Sl‘ieAl~l‘.~'. The bag was then opened and the dust submitted to chemical ex:1111i_11;i—----tion. _ In the dust was found some wood fibrous matter finely pnlverisefl. From this it was deduced that the owner was either :1 c:u'penter, joiner. or Sawyer. However, nniong the pal'tiales of dust were also found some golutincn and powdered glue. This discover}-’ served to el'lnlinn,’re the cur-

pon‘lel' and snxvyel‘, who did not as :1 rule use glue. But :1 jninm‘ does. min! it was e\'entuall_v proved that thv galmont did belong to :1 jn'lll('_-I'. \\'l‘» was the c:~‘prit.