FINGER-PRINT EVIDENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 255, 18 March 1913, Page 7

FINGER-PRINT EVIDENCE.

QIT.STIOX OF A MAORI'S IDENTITY. Auckland, March 14. A Maori named I'ati Uenata, about whoso identity there lias boon some dispute, was linmjilit up for sentence at the Supreme Court before Mr. Justice Cooper on a charge of theft. The Crown Pro-erutor intimated that lie had absolute proof that Iteuata was identical with a Maori uaiiied Matini. who was convicted of theft at Thames during Hill). Detective Cooney. of Thames, swore that lieiialii. under the name of Matthews, alias M-ifini. had h"cn convicted of (heft at Thames. On that occasion his (injjcr-print* had been taken. Allan l'.ell. warder at Mount Fahm ! :.-■--'. deposed that \v:s (lie p-iive pi-vio!|sly nmvietcd of 'heft. iie produced tin-cr-prints tinned l.v Matthews, alias .Matini. ]-'.d<'ar Hooker, ward.".-, produced I'ea-trer-prhiis taken on January IS. 11112. Detective Waterman, linker-print expert, .swoi-e that the dilVerent (iiiit't-r----prinfs produced were identical in till respects, end were those of ltenata. His Honor: Do you still deny that. you were th" man convicted at Thames'; Eeuafa: Certainly. I do. His' Honor: lint the evidence i- conclusive. His Honor went on to explain that ihre" wit.ne-cs had sworn that accused and Ma'tini were identical. in addition, ilivvi- \va- the evidence of !ine,e.r-prints, whi-h could not lie. Accu-cd pleaded tliat further enquiries mi.id.it,. be made, hut his Honor said the ra-e was perfectly clear. He would senile ftenata to twelve months' imprisonment v.-iiU herd labor, and order him io be Vi'tained for reformat ivc treat- ' inent,Tor a period Hot exceeding- two ] years.'