NEW FINGER-PRINT TERROR

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 17, 14 October 1933, Page 18

NEW FINGER-PRINT TERROR

A Scientific Discovery

“Two scientists of University College. Nottingham,” says the “Glasgow Herald.” "have added p new terror to the life of the criminal. They have produced a method by which recognisable finger-prints can be brought out on a multi-coloured or highly patterned background. The experiments have been conducted by Professor Henry L. Brose and Mr. C. G. Winson, who have collaborated with high officials of the provincial detective force. “Professor Brose and Mr. Winson give the results of their experiments in the current issue of “Nature.” They state that by the use of ultra-violet rays on a powder called anthracene or phosphorescent zinc sulphide the highly coloured background can be eliminated and the finger-print characteristics clearly reproduced by photography. “Professor Brose explains the development :—‘lf a murderer or burglar left his finger-prints on an article of an ordinary colour it was quite easy to photograph after the article had been dusted with powder, but if finger-prints

were loft on a highly coloured article, it was found that when this was photographed tlie reproduction of fingerprint characteristics was not at all clear, and could not be definitely used by the police. Therefore' the culprit escaped. “ ‘Mr. Winson was determined to find a method of photographing fingerprints on a ‘jazz’ coloured article. We discovered that if a fine powder of anthracene or zinc sulphide is sprinkled on the ridge of an imprint on a highly coloured article and then exposed to dark ultra-violet rays the powder retains the ultra-violet light. “ ‘lt thus becomes phosphorescent and when a photograph of the article is taken the phosphorescent light negatives the highly coloured background, and the important finger-print ridge characteristics are clearly reproduced.’ “The phosphorescent powder has also been found particularly useful by the police in the detection of forged notes. The phosphorescent ray shows up certain characteristics in a genuine note which fail to appear on a forged one.”