A RAZOR AND A BRUSH

Evening Star, Issue 21881, 19 November 1934, Page 8

A RAZOR AND A BRUSH

THEFT FROM A HOUSE POLICE INVOKE SCIENTIFIC AID [Per United Press Association.] AUCKLAND, November 19. How scientific aid was invoked by the police, who sought to identify a man with theft from a house, came out in the Police Court to-day when Edward MacFarland (25), and Edward Ross (27), were charged with stealing from a house in Mount Eden a shaving brush and a safety razor, valued at ss. The owner of the house was able to identify Ross as one of two men lie saw leaving his place. The police searched MacFarland’s house and found a razor and a brush, which MacFarland asserted he had bought. The police then took the complainant to the Government analyst in whose presence the complainant shaved. The analyst then microscopically examined the bristles and soap on the razor, and in his evidence to-day said that the bristles were consistent with those found on the razor in MacFarland’s house. Evidence was given that MacFarland could -not have bought the razor where he said he did. Both men pleaded not guilty and were committed for trial.