FINGERPRINTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 252, 25 October 1933, Page 3

FINGERPRINTS.

VALUE OF EVIDENCE. MARKS LEFT ON GLASS. " CLEAR CASE," SAYS JUDGE. (133" Telegraph.—.Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, this day. One of tlie Jiiost famous murder case<> in the history of New Zealand was recalled in the Supreme Court to-day, when reference was made to the hanging of Dennis Gunn, whose conviction M'as secured on fingerprint evidence. During the hearing of a. case In which the Crown relied solely on the evidence of two thumbprints on a sheet of glass, Mr. Justice Reed said he had defended Dennis Gunn and consequently knew the uselessness of attempting to combat such evidence. The case before the Court was one in which Albert William Gauntlett was charged with breaking and entering a shop of the Self-Help Stores, in Aldwins Road, on August 23, committing theft, and also with breaking and entering the store with intent to commit a crime. Gauntlett unsuccessfully defended his own case, contending that it was impossible for fingerprints left on the glass above the shop doorway to be his. He pleaded not guilty. The judge said it was a very clear case and the jury returned a verdict of guilty. Accused was remanded for sentence.