Studies in Identification. No. 1
| Published date | 01 October 1938 |
| Date | 01 October 1938 |
| DOI | 10.1177/0032258X3801100404 |
| Author | Sydney Smith |
| Subject Matter | Article |
Studies
in
Identification. No. 1
By SYDNEY
SMITH,
M.D.
Department
of Forensic Medicine, University of
Edinburgh
THE IDENTIFICATION OF AN INDIVIDUAL FROM HIS FOOTWEAR
ON
November 28th, 1937, a person was arrested in Falkirk
on premises into which he had broken. He was in his
stocking soles, and a pair of boots which he claimed as his own
were found on the flat roof by means of which he had entered
the building.
In
the same district two other cases of burglary
had occurred, one on September 14th and the other on
November rst, 1937.
In
each case the general
modus
operandi
was the same with regard to the time of breaking in, the
method of approach, the method of entry and general conduct
of the individual on the premises.
In
one of these cases a pair
of boots had been left adjacent to the scene of the crime, and
in the other a pair of shoes.
The
accused denied any know-
ledge of the two previous cases.
Detective Sergeant Williamson who had charge of the
case was convinced that all three crimes were committed by
the same person, and the three pairs of footwear were sent to
the laboratory for examination, to ascertain whether they
could be proved to have been worn by the same person.
The
boots actually identified by the accused as his own
were originally coloured two shades of brown which had been
blackened over, and agreed in all details with regard to colour,
brand, reference number, etc. with the boots found at the
scene of the burglary on November rst. On examination of
the boots it was found that there were distinct differences
between the right and left sides. (Figs. Iand 2.)
The
right upper showed a considerable amount of bulging
on the inside over the region of the base of the great toe.
The
left showed no such fullness
but
was rather wrinkled at this
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