Evening star., 1943-11-01
Fingerprint Identified
As De Marigny'sb by
New York Expert
By the Associated Press.

by the Associated Press.
NASSAU, Bahamas, Nov. IA
scholarly New York police expert
testified today that fngerprint re-
ported by the Crown to have beer
found in the room where Sir Harry
Oakes was slain is the impression of
Alfred de Marigny's little right
finger.
Frank Conway of the New York
Bureau of Identification, the first
witness of the third week of De
Marl9nys trial on a charge of mur-
Ger IN connection with the bludgeon-
ing and burning of his millionaire
father-ln-laW, said he studied the
fingerprlnt on exhibit and the i'm
preston made by De Marigny when
he was flngerprinted after his arrest.
Seeks to Impress Jury.
My conclusion is that they are
Identical, and were made by the
same person, he swore.
Mr.. Conway sought to impress the
jury with the value of fingerprints
IS a means of Identification. He
Gid so because the f1ngerprint
brought in by the Crown is the first
ever introduced at a murder trial
in the Bahamas.
Capt. James q. Barker of the
Miami police testified last week that
the print was found on a bedscreen
which stood in the death room.
Chief Justice Sir Oscar Bedford
DAILY, who had no experience with
fnCerprints before the trial began
hut now speaks famiharly of latent
prints, rubber lifts and the like, fol-
lowed Mr. Conways testimony
closely.
He turned to Chief Defense Coun-
sci Godfrey s. HIggs and asked;
Is the defense contesting that
these are the aCcused's finger
rrjnrs?'
No s.r, We are not contestlng
them, Ny Hlggs replied.
Photographs Given to Jurors.
Each Juror was given a set of
photographs Of the print on exhibit
and of rolled print of De Ma
rlcny'S little right finger.
Mr.. Conway pointed out what he
said were 13 identical markings
The defense attempted to knock
tire fingerprint-eXhibit J-out of
evidence because it is a lifted print
one which is transferred from the
original surface to Scotch tape or
adhesive rubber but the Chief
Justice ruled the exhibit admiss-
able.
Nr. Conway defended the lifting
Ct prints, saying the process pre-
serves them and permits accurate
examination TO eliminate quickly
innocent suspects or witnesses.
is lifting good practice?" point
ed,y asked Special Prosecutor A. F.
Adderler.
Absolutely. it is a good practice" ,"
Nj. Conway replied,
He said prints seldom are pro-
coEecd on the original surface.
Capt Barker testified he raised
the print from the screen and
discovered it was the mark Of Do
Na1Igny's little finger He stuck to
h.s testimony throughout A severe
cross es-cXamlnauon that lasted two
and 4 half GAYS. during which the
defense suggested the print was a
fake Capt Barker denied the sug-
geluon emphatically.
Defense Appeal Seen,
Nj. COnWar's testimony j, a cor
r0horatI0n Of Tho ioenu1catlon of
the print as d NarjcnE's. The de-
fen5e has m5Go a point that Mr
Conwav VAS not present when the
print was discovered by Capt Barker
and has no direct EnOwicd2e that it
came from the screen.
The bitter attack en- Capt. Con-
ways testimony was believed to be
CroLndR ork for 2 defense appeal to
have the case dismissed for lack of
evidence when tho prosecution rests
some time this week.
Under court procedure in this col
onE the l.,Tv may Gccide a verdict
~ l7r0cCNt IS justified without hear
Ing defense testimony.
The Crown, however, has II more
Witnesses in addition to Mr. Conway.
and among them is Lady EuniCe
C2kcS, the widow Of the slain man.
VII Last Over -Four Weeks.
Lacy OaECs was a tragic fCUc At
the preliminary hearing when she
told Of the family dlscord that fol-
lowed the marriage CE her I9-year-
old daughter Nancy to tWice-mar-
RCD De NaricOT.
Walker Fos':otJ Fa.m Beach al
torncy Tor tie Oahes estate. is an
other important Crown witness.
OIgmaI estimates that the trial
would las, tour weeks nave been
revised upward
The defense ha4 summoned 20
Witnesses and De &farignv himself
VIII -@iIo the stand at the end.
FRIENDS said To-Day his testimony
would be the most detailed of the
trial and that he probably would
he in the witness chair for three
or four caES.