GUNN'S TRIAL

Evening Post, Volume XCIX, Issue 125, 27 May 1920, Page 8

GUNN'S TRIAL

AT AUCKLAND SUPREME COURT

THE FINGER-MARKS QUESTION.

(BY TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.)

■ ■ AUCKLAND, 26th May. The trial of Dennis Gunn on the charge of murdering A. E. Braithwaite, postmaster at Ponsonby, on 13th March last, was continued to-day, when further evidence for. the Crown was taken. As already stated by counsel for the Crown, the case for the prosecution depends largely upon finger-print evidence. Among the witnesses to-day was Edmund Walter Dinnie, senior sergeant in charge of the Criminal Registration Branch, Wellington. He stated, in answer to Mr. Martin, that he had seventeen years' experience of finger-print registration, and had received a part of his training at New Scotland Yard, London. Mr. Martin: "So far as your knowledge and experience go, have you ever found or heard of two prints of similarfingers—that is, first, second, third, or any other fingers—of any person being identical?" Witness: " No, and no two prints of different fingers or any combination of them." Mi. Martin: "So far as your study and experience go, is it not a fact that the fingers of persons in the absence of physical injury, retain their characteristics from childhood to old age?" Mr. Reid: " I must object to that question, because the science) if it can be called a science, of finger-print identification is of comparatively recent origin. I suppose that it does not date back .more, than twenty years, arid twenty years does not cover the ordinary span of human life. It may be only theory that there is no. variation. It may be shown, that in the case of certain persons it is so, but how can the witness say that there is no variation?"

Mr. Martin: "I have asked him to say as far as his experience goes."

Mr. Reed :" Neither his knowledge nor •his experieni>e can cover a lifetime. In the last ten or twelve years finger-prints have been more carefully studied than they were before."

Mr. Tole remarked that it was, at any rate, a fact that finger-markings persisted after death until decomposition of the skin.

The witness, resuming, said he had taken prints from the same person at an interval of fifteen years, and there was no differe-nce in the characteristics of the two sets of prints. Dealing with marks on the first cashbox, witness said that on top of the box a rather poor print of the right middle finger of accused was found. He also found an exceptionally clear print of accused's' left ring fingei), and on one of the sides he found a. print of accused's right ring finger,, together with a print of a finger of the late Mr. Braithwaite. Other prints, identified as Mr. Braithwaite's, were found on various parts of the box and tray. One of the revolvers found subsequent to the murder had a fingerprint on the chamber which was similar to the print of the left middle finger of accused.

The hearing will be continued to-mor-row.

AUCKLAND, This Day. At the trial of Dennis Gunn. charged with murder and robbery at Ponsonby, Inspector Fowler stated^ that he was in charge of the Finger-print Bureau of the New South Wales police for seventeen years, and for some time in the same work at Scotland Yard. His own bureau had 70,000 sets of prints (ten fingers each); Scotland Yard had about 250,000 sets. In "all his experience he had never seen two sets of prints alike, unless made by the .same person. From finger-prints submitted to him in the present case he picked half a print of one finger out of 1010 prints recorded on .101 different forms made by 101 different people. The forms were not marked in any way.

InspeEtor Fowler said: "I am more convinced that Gunn handled the revolver and cash-box than if I had actual sight of him handling them."