FINGER-PRINT EVIDENCE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2660, 8 March 1905, Page 69

FINGER- PRINT EVIDENCE.

WELLINGTON, March 6. -^ The first case in New Zealand in which the prosecution depended solely upon fingerprint evidence was heard in the City Police Court before Dr M 'Arthur. S.M. John ulancy was charged with breaking and entering and robbery. The story of the crime before the court is briefly that the house of Mrs Williams. Wellington terraoe, was broken info during the absence of the occupants between 4- and 5.15 o'clock on the evening of the 23rd of last month. The bedroom of Mrs Williams was ransacked, and two gold rings and a pair of gold brooches stolen. Entrance was effected through one of the front windows, the upper pane of which was broken by the offender near the oaten. The following morning a d>etecthe found finger prints en tho broken pane, of glass, near where the bieaker had evidently cauaht hokl of the sash to pull tho window down. Pieces of glass where the prints showed were cut out and submitted to the finger-print branch of the Police Force for examination. The result was that one of the finger marks was found to correspond with the imprint of the third finger of the right hancl of John Oianoy, impressions of whose fingers had

been taken a considerable time ago by the police. This was reported, and Clancy was arrested next flay. Experts found 21 characteristics between the imprint on the glass r.ncl Clancy's finger print, and the opinion <jf expert? is that the chances arainst the marks on the glass having beer, irade by any other finger than Clancy's ; ie over t\\*o thousand billion to one. Clancy «as committed for trial.