Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-14

HEntfreiy So" said Lane. II do not know
why they should be otherwise"
rs It not fact that you proposed mar
rage t., to j. Miss crostic some time ago7
And were told that she was already en-
gagged to marry the defendant
II believe the answer was something of
that sort" was the reply. in tone so low
that those at the rear of the room could
not catch the answer.
And was It not you who told Mr.. Crostic
that the accused had been a frequenter OF
certain disreputable resort in the city?"
Lane shifted uneasily In his seat, while
the judges gavel tapped necessarily for
order to still the buzz of conversation. The
prosecution objected to the question. but
the Judge sustained Sheldon, and finally, in
a hating manner, Lane spoke.
II might have said that I did not think
that Melden had done sowing his wild
OATS he said II think 1 did not mention
any particular resort
yet the prisoner has said that Mr.. Cros-
tic said you were his accuser."
a Il know nothing of that was the defiant
answer. Mr.. Crostic cannot speak for
himself"
Where were you the night of the muir
der?'
"At my Office all the evening I had occa-
sion to call up several persons on the tele-
phone. They can substantiate my state
ments-if that's what you are driving at"
THAT will be ALL said Sheldon. Then he
asked that the room might be darkened,
and called to the stand one of the police
experts who had already testified for the
prosecution.
You have told the court" began Sheldon,
that there can be no possible error in the
Identification of the thumbmarks found
upon the sheets of Mr.. Crostic's bed with
those of the defendant. That Is SO, is 1t
not?"
Entirely so,' was the confident reply.
No two thumb marks are ever exactly
alike The prints on the sheet are remark
ably clear. There is no room for error"
II wish you would make a print of my
thumb" said Sheldon.
The expert handed down glass slide, and
presentlythrew upon the screen the result.
That is not in the least like that of the
accused?" said Sheldon, questioningly.
Not in the least" was the prompt reply.
Even a laynan can see the diferente''
And yet" said Sheldon, IF you will let
me have another slide" He pressed his
thumb upon the glass, and presently II was
flashed upon the screen.
A gasp ran through the room as It was
realized that the two prints were entirely
unlike.
don, smilingly. The expert shook his head
Not bit like 1t" he admitted.
us 1t like the print you made of the hand
of Herman Battle?' asked Sheldon.
The expert fumbled in his case, and pres
emily threw a second print on the screen.
They were identical.
Let's have a third trial." suggested Shell
don. BE particular to see that the glass
does not pass from your possession.
Every one in the courtroom pressed for
ward in his seat to see the test. Presently
this, too, was thrown upon the screen.
rs not that the print Of the accused's
thumb?'' he asked.
The crowd exclaimed with excitement
Even to the scar the print was the same.
That is the print of the prisoners hand
agreed the expert. Il would know 1t now
among a thousand"
And yet the prisoner has not left the
dock, reminded Sheldon. =
L cannot understand it,, was the puzzled
response. 1T is not reasonable that you
should be able to change the prints at will"
If we may have a little light 1 will en-
tighten the court" was the response. 1T
is all perfectly simple
In the stiffness the green shades were
sprung up with snap that sounded like a
roar. For a moment every one blinked as
the strong light blinded their eyes Shell
don turned toward the jury box
You will recall he began evenly, that
some few weeks ago an estimable citizen
of this town was accused of burglary.
safe had been drilled Open and on the
window sash were found prints of a finger
stained with oil and the dust from the
boring.
These prints were found to be those of
Herman Battle, who is now waiting trial
for that offense.
Mr.. Battle was not near the scene of
the alleged burglary that night. He was
an old friend of the accused's father, and
consented to aid us In an experiment. Be
cause no finger print is ever duplicated by
nature there has existed no doubt but that
Mr.. Battle was the offender, and yet the
real offenders. If they are such, are Mr.
Twining, junior counsel in this case; Miss
Crostic, Miss Melden and myself.
1T was desired to show that while the
peculiar marking Of the cuticle of the
hands are never exactly duplicated, 1t is en-
ti~nIr roly4 d. IS tl,Ie
fact to fasten upon entirely innocent
person the blame for crime.
1T Is well known that for several years
DR.. Lane has had q fad for studying finger
print identified tons. He has been called as
an expert witness in numerous cases in this
and other states. and it to him that l
first turned for information when I re-
turned home and found that the accused
had been put in jeopardy of his life on ac-
count of a few finger prints on a bit of
cloth.
But 1 also found that DR. Lane carries
his studies further than most. He not only
makes collections of prints, but of the
fingers making those prints.
HE did not call my attention to them,
but | perceived that he had q large collec-
ton of casts Of hands. From the accused
l learned that he had given DR.. Lane per-
mission a few months ago to make cast
of his hand, but that only the thumb had
come out clearly.
From experiments l made I found that
1t would be entirely feasible to reproduce
these casts in other materials than plaster
in the composition used by printers to
ink their forms for instance.
The prints made by me before the
court were made from these casts Just
as were the prints the linen placed in
evidence. DIR. Lane has admitted upon the
stand that he was refused by Miss Helen
Crostic when he made a proposal of mar
riage to her. With her father dead and
her lover hanged for his murder, there
might have been possibility of her recon-
sidering her determination
'At the same time Lane supposed that
the death of Mr. Crostic would free him
from the payment of certain obligations he
contracted and which he supposed We're in
the possession of the deceased, though in
point of fact they were in my safety de-
post box in the city.
He prepared a composition stamp and
carefully left behind the evidence that
would incriminate his rival while he estab-
lished a telephone alibi I demand the ar
rest of Thomas Lane for the murder of
John Crostic."
All eyes were turned on Lane who sat
at the rear of the room. One OF the court
attendants went over to him and laid a
hand upon his shoulder. AS he did so
the body lurched forward and fell to the
floor Another physician sprang forward
and bent over the body for an instant.
"HyGrOcyaDiP acid no said terSaIy