SILENT EVIDENCE

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 29, 4 February 1941, Page 8

SILENT EVIDENCE

CITY ROBBERIES

FINGER-PRINTS COMPARED

The discovery of finger-prints on articles in six premises in the city after robberies had been committed was the basis of the case for the Crown in the Supreme Court today when Leo Sylvester Hannan, a bushman, aged 39, pleaded not guilty to six charges of breaking and entering, and theft. The jury was told that nine points of similarity between two finger-prints could be taken as conclusive evidence that the prints belonged to the same person. Mr. Justice Johilston presided. Mr. C. H. Weston, K.C., with him Mr. W. R. Birks, appeared for the Crown, and Mr. G. I. Joseph for the accused. The accused was charged with breaking into the following premises and committing theft:—Tui' Bottling Co., Ltd., Allen ■ Street (August 20, 1940) , v B. J. Ball (N.Z.), -Ltd., Cuba Street (September 5), Ross and Glendining, Ltd., Victoria Street (October 5), Makower, Mcßeath and Co., Ltd., Victoria Street (October 6), National Electrical and Engineering Co., Ltd., Wakefield Street (October 13), and the Elite Lingerie Co., Ltd., Wakefield Street (October 13). Mr. Weston, opening the case for the Crown, said it was rather interesting to see the fruits of the crimes. From the Tui Bottling Company 18s 6d and a few bottles of beer were stolen; from Ball and Company, £3 2s 6d; from Ross and Glendining, 13s 9d; from Makower, Mcßeath, £1 6s and a watch and chain valued at £11 15s; from the National Electrical Company, 2s; and from the Elite Lingerie Company the biggest haul of all, £17 ss. I

The material point in the cases was that in each of the premises something with a finger-print on it was found, and the Crown asked the jury to hold that those finger-prints were those of the accused. Nowadays it was possible, said Mr. Weston, for a jury to accept implicitly the evidence of finger-prints, providing a print corresponded with another print to the extent of nine points. Every person's finger-prints were entirely, distinct from any other person's, and existed from two months before- birth until the body decomposed after death. A'print never changed, and was what an Australian Judge had called "an unforgeable signature." A complete impression was not obtained if a print was taken hurriedly or left accidentally, but nine points of similarity with a properly-taken print were sufficient proof. 'The jury examined enlarged photographs of finger-prints found by the police on various articles in the robbed premises and finger-prints taken from the accused. In five instances, said Mr. Weston, the points of similarity were 17, 16, 18, 12, and 10.

The hearing of evidence is proceeding.