GUILTY OF BURGLARY

Southland Times, Issue 22156, 26 October 1933, Page 6

GUILTY OF BURGLARY

FINGER PRINT EVIDENCE. FAMOUS TRIAL RECALLED. (Per United Press Association.) Christchurch, October 25. One of the most famous murder cases in the history of New Zealand was recalled in the Supreme Court when reference was made to the hanging of Denis Gunn, whose conviction was secured on fingerprint evidence, in the course of a case in which the Crown depended solely on the evidence of two thumb prints on a sheet of glass. . Mr Justice Reed, referring to fingerprint evidence, said he defended Dennis Gunn and consequently knew the uselessness of attempting to combat such evidence. The case before the Court was one in which Albert William Gauntlett was charged that on August 23 he broke and entered the shop of the Self Help Stores in Aidwin’s Road and committed theft and also with breaking and entering the store with intent to commit a crime. Gauntlett unsuccessfully defended his own case, contending it was impossible for the fingerprints left on the, glass above the shop doorway to be his. He pleaded not guilty. The Judge said it was a very clear case and the jury returned a verdict of guilty. Accused was remanded for sentence.