LECTURE BY CHIEF DETECTIVE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1275, 2 November 1911, Page 4

LECTURE BY CHIEF DETECTIVE.

— ■■ —» • FINGER-PRINT SYSTEM. "The System of Identification of Criminal by Finger Prints' 1 was (ho subject of a lecture delivered at the Museum last night by Chief Detective M'llveney, under tlio auspices of tho "Wellington Philosophical Society. Mr. Martin Chapman, K.C., presided, asd among those present was Mr. Justice Chapman. Some 70 lantern slides were used to illustrate the lecture, Mr. Hail, of tlio Finger Print Department, being in chnrga of the lantern, ami Mr. Dinnie, also of tho Department, explaining tho illustrations. The lecturer commenced by showing tho photographs of three men bearing n close facial resemblance, but having finger prints vastly different, the argument adduced being that, while tlio finger-print system was very uscflil in tho detection of criminals, it was also of great value in tho protection of tho innocent. Ho then traced tho history of the system from its initial stages u» fill the present tiine when it is in practical u«> in many parts of the world. The general characteristics of the finger prints were then shown, and the method by which thoy wcro primarily classified into archcs, loops, whirls, and composites (possessing moro than one of the first three characteristics) according to tho direction and curvature of the ridges on the fingers. 'J'hero is a secondary and a sub-classification for tho purpose of rapid search. Numerous illustrations were given as to tho means t)f taking finger prints, and tho manner of filing the records. The lecturer also touched on heredity as relating to finger prints, national characteristics, and the proportional clnrnco of similar finger prints. In New Zealand tho number of records had increased from some 700 in 1905 to more than 11,000 at tlio present timo, and, while 72 identifications wero brought about by means of tho evstom in 1005, the number had increased to 148 in 1910. Particular cases where ills svstem had been successful were also touched upon.

A vote of (hanks was accorded the lecturer.