HANDS IN FLAMES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22139, 19 June 1935, Page 19

HANDS IN FLAMES

MAN'S DESPERATE ACT FEAR OF FINGER-PRINTS A young man in Sydney, following his recent arrest on a charge of start-ing-price betting, attempted to burn his finger-tips in a police station before his finger-prints were taken. Several of his fingers were badly burned, but he refused medical treatment. The man was arrested at Bondi Junction and was taken to the Paddington police station. A sergeant entered a list of his property in the station record book and the prisoner was then taken away to have his finger-prints taken. He was being led past the fire in the grate when ho suddenly threw something into the flames, at the same time declaring that he had inadvertently thrown away his cigarettes, lie dashed over to the fire ostensibly to retrieve the packet, but thrust both his hands into the blaze, letting the flames liek around them. Although tlie pain must have been excruciating, he did not flinch. The police quickly suspected his motive, and dragged him away from the fire. Most of his finger-tips were seared. An examination showed that two of his fingers had not been badly burned, and satisfactory prints were taken of them. Subsequently the man obtained bail.