Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1943-10-31

some Things which IL IL ncScSSd
There are three methods OF
identifying latent fingerprints
once they have been raised or
processed:
First. by powdering the finger
printing so that II becomes visible
when photographing that print on
the object in question and then
comparing the photographs with
an actual print rolled out upon
a piece of paper from the finger
OF a hand.
Second, by powdering the print
and then making an actual COM
parison with a magnifying glass
on the object in question.
Third. by putting piece OF rub
Der tape or scotch tape over the
powdered fingerprint and pulling
off the entire print from the OBJ
jet in question. When the last
method is used. the fingerprint
has usually been completely re-
moved.
. SYSTEM ILLUSTRATED
To show the facility with which
this can be done the foreman
of the jury placed his own finger
print on the screen in the court
room and Capt. Barker powdered
that latent print so that il was
visible clear across the courtroom.
Barker then placed some tape
over the powdered print. pulled off
the print, placed il on a card,
and there, within a matter of Sec
onds, was the fngerprint Of the
foreman.
The very apparent danger In
this method is that II that print
should now be included in the
large number Of similarly lifted
prints which were taken from the
scene of the crime. a strong pos
sibllity would exist that the ex-
pert subsequently examining IL,
wsuld feel certain that the fore
man of the jury had been at the
scene of the crime.
s5ttold you yesterday that Bar
ker is the sort OF man you would
send into the pitchers box to stop
a--hatting rally when the bases
are full.
TENSION Is TERRIFIC
told you also that when Bar
ker took the stand the tension
was terrific with a feeling that
anything could happen. desire
to make no comment on Barker's
testimony other than to say that
within very short time you could
feel that tension evaporate.
It is no secret TO those who
have been watching and studying
the manner in which the case has
Developed that the defense had i'm
tended TO blow the case sky high
by@its cross-examination of Bar
ker. A whole mine Of forensic
dynamite had been planted under
the path over which Barker was
destined to travel.
In short, Barker had previously
placed the only fingerprint which
the prosecutions experts were
prepared to identify as that OF the
accused. within an area he had
marked on the screen.
ANYTHING POSSIBLE
Obviously, II the defense could
have gotten Barker. in open court,
TO try 10 fit that print back into
the place marked. and II the print
would not fit, the terrific impact
Of that situation. coming on top
OF what had gone before. would
have brought about a condition
IN which almost anything might
have happened.
You could literally have writ
Ten your own ticket and been
pretty sure that anything on il
would have been within the realm
Of possibility.
The defense did not explode
that mine under Barker for the
simple reason that Barker ex-
ploded IL first by stating quite
calmly that he was not now pre-
pared to say from what portion
Of the screen the print had beer
Fitted other than that IL came
from somewhere within six inches
Of the top panel number five.
II was quite apparent to any
trained observer that this came
Is q terrific surprise 10 the de.
tense counsel Having had his en-.
tire plan OF croSs-exsminatior
Knocked out from under him
Godfrey Higgs made the best pos.
Sible cross-examinston of a wit.
pess with whom II is unsafe Il
20 on any legal fishing expedi
tons.
The witness kept stealing Tho
bait from all hooks presented