Latent Fingerprints after 18 Months
| DOI | 10.1177/0032258X7404700307 |
| Date | 01 July 1974 |
| Published date | 01 July 1974 |
| Subject Matter | Article |
DETECTIVE
SERGEANT
1.
M.
STRACHAN
Fingerprint Department
Durham Constabulary
LATENT FINGERPRINTS AFTER
18 MONTHS
On Wednesday, June 20, 1973, workmen dismantling an old
barge on the banks of the River Tyne at Newcastle discovered a
suitcase lying in the mud at the river's edge. When they opened the
case they found the body of a small child wrapped in a white'shawl.
The police were informed and Detective Superintendent Whittaker
of Durham Constabulary mounted a full-scale investigation into
the incident.
The following day Home Office Pathologist Dr. J. A. J. Ferris
performed an examination which revealed that the partly mummi-
fied body found in the case was that of a female child between 18
months and two years old and that death had taken place several
months previously. Significantly, the body
had
only been in the
river for a few days. Dr. Ferris formed the opinion that death was
due to a subjural haemorrhage.
The most pressing problem facing the investigating officers was
to identify the body,
and
as a principal line of inquiry Superinten-
dent Whittaker organized a check on 25,000 female children born
between 1970 and 1972 in the densely populated areas on both
sides of the river. These names and other particulars were com-
piled from official registers of births in the area and teams of de-
tectives set about checking the whereabouts of each child, who was
not eliminated from the investigation until she had been physically
seen.
On June 26, 1973, I was asked to obtain the child's finger and
palm prints. My first impression on examining the right hand was
that I
had
wasted my time travelling to the mortuary. What re-
mained of the fingers was smooth and showed no sign of ridge
detail, whilst the palm, with the exception of the interdigital area
immediately below the forefinger was almost completely de-
composed. On closer examination of this piece of palm I found
fine
but
nevertheless clearly defined ridges. The left hand was in
J~lm
m
To continue reading
Request your trial