Our Contemporaries
| Published date | 01 July 1935 |
| Date | 01 July 1935 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/0032258X3500800315 |
| Subject Matter | Article |
OUR
CONTEMPORARIES
Journal of Criminal
Law
and Criminology, vol. xxv,
NO·5,
Jan.-Feb., 1935·
Harold Cummins (p. 829) gives an article on Racial Differences in Finger-
prints and summarizes the position as follows:
"In
conclusion it may be
emphasized that races do vary in their finger-print characteristics.
It
is true,
further, that variations within the single race may occur as signs of sexual
or constitutional differences of its components. But such differences are
not diagnostic in the individual; they appear only by analysis of groups
as unlike frequencies of the various finger-print traits which are discussed
above." M. Edwin O'Neill (p. 835) continues the series of articles on Police
Microanalysis, dealing here with textile fibres and giving details of various
methods of distinguishing between classes of fibres. On p. 847 mention is
made of a case in the United States Appeal Court, in which a document
examiner was allowed to give evidence on his examination of photostatic
copies of documents, where the originals had been destroyed.
Vol. xxv,
No.6,
March, 1935. Harold Cummins deals with (p. 982)
"Attempts
to alter and obliterate finger-prints", by self-mutilation by
acid or cutting, citing definite cases, and discusses the advisability of using
palm and sole prints in special cases. On p. 1004 details are given of a
recent case in Wisconsin where by consent of both
parties"
lie
detector"
records, together with expert testimony on their interpretation, were admitted
in evidence.
Police
"13-13",
Chicago.
The
February number gives the second
article by Calvin Goddard, " In search of the Fire-arm," in which he details
anumber of devices for using in one fire-arm cartridges and bullets made
for another, and other means which may give rise to difficulties in the search
for the weapon used, such as interchange of automatic pistol barrels,
replacement or refiling of firing pin, refiling of breech face. Henry T. F.
Rhodes gives an article on "Psychology in Handwriting", and discusses
the question as to whether criminality can be diagnosed in handwriting.
The
March number gives an interesting account of the most recent
development of
"lie
detecting"
apparatus, pointing
out
its limitations
and the precautions necessary in its use and concluding with the remark,
"
If
properly used, it has definite value as an aid in preliminary investiga-
tions." Wilmer Sonder gives a short account of the use of science in crime
detection, with some excellent remarks on the qualifications necessary for
the personnel of crime laboratories and the undesirability of publicity in
such work.
The
April number mentions an improved " lie
detector",
the Darrow
Photopolygraph, with diagrams and photographs.
371
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