FINGER-PRINT CLUE

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 655, 6 May 1929, Page 11

FINGER-PRINT CLUE

ARREST 15 MONTHS AFTER ROBBERY A finger-print found on a stolen silver entree dish 15 months ago has led to the conviction of Edward Moreton, aged 39, in connection with the robbery after two other persons had already been arrested. Moreton, a man of no fixed abode, appeared at Highgate Police Court, London. It was stated that in November, 1927, property valued at £3OO was stolen from a house in Etchingham Park Road, and at the time a girl name Peggy Reynolds, a servant in the house, and Patrick Steele, were arrested and convicted. Included in the stolen property was an entree dish, and when this was examined the police found finger-prints on it. These were photographed and examined with the records at Scotland Yard, but none was found to correspond. Toward the end of last year Moreton was arrested, and it was discovered that his finger-prints corresponded exactly with those on the entree dish. There could be no mistake, said Mr. E. B. Knight, for the police. The man was told he would be charged with being concerned with Reynolds and Steele in the robbery. He replied, “That is all right. I will have ago to get out of it. I was the mug. All I got out of it was £l, after doing all the dirty work. When the other two got knocked off one of their pals gave me 15s to clear off to Reading. I got the keys off the girl and handed them to Pat.” Moreton said he took no part in the robbery. On the night in question, he said, he met the two maids, and Reynolds called him aside and said Steele would be at the corner, and asked him to go and give him the key of the house. He did so, and when he met Steele the latter asked him to help to carry some stuff. With regard to the entree dish, he said he assisted Steele to pack it and other articles Steele wanted to sell. Moreton was sentenced to six months’ hard labour.