The Origins of Fingerprinting

In the early 1900s, a remarkable case of mistaken identity significantly altered the way law enforcement tracked criminals. This incident involved two men with nearly identical names and appearances, which set the stage for a pivotal change in identification methods.

At Leavenworth Prison in 1903, a man named Will West began serving a manslaughter sentence. During his intake process, he underwent standard procedures including physical descriptions, photographs, and various anthropometric measurements. Unfortunately, these methods proved insufficient to confirm his identity.

Upon reviewing the records, prison officials discovered that Will West had a history of serious offenses, including murder. He vehemently insisted on his innocence, but the evidence suggested otherwise. Another inmate, named William West, had identical measurements and photographs, leading to this extraordinary mix-up.

The situation escalated when a prison clerk realized that the second William West was already incarcerated at Leavenworth. In an astonishing twist, the two men bore an uncanny resemblance, with the only distinguishing factor being their fingerprints. The prison warden, R.W. McLaughry, famously declared, “This is the death of Bertillonage,” immediately ceasing the use of the outdated identification method in favor of the more reliable fingerprinting system, which remains in use today.

The twins theory has circulated over the years, with some suggesting that the two men might have been related and leveraged their likeness to evade the law. An inmate named George Bean even claimed familiarity with the pair outside of prison, asserting they were indeed twins. Other research has indicated that both men corresponded with the same individuals while incarcerated, hinting at possible familial ties.

A deeper dive into their Bertillon records revealed discrepancies that should have raised red flags for authorities, such as a seven millimeter difference in foot length—an anomaly larger than the Bertillon system permitted for identification.

The adoption of fingerprinting also addressed systemic issues in law enforcement, particularly concerning racial profiling. Authorities often struggled to differentiate between photographs of individuals from similar ethnic backgrounds, leading to unfair treatment. The uniqueness of fingerprints provided a more equitable method of identification.

While some scholars question the extent of the Wests' influence on the introduction of fingerprinting, their story at Leavenworth undeniably highlighted the flaws of existing identification systems.

The William West convicted of manslaughter lived a relatively uneventful life post-incarceration, fading from public memory after his release. In contrast, the William West convicted of murder faced a tumultuous time in prison, including lengthy solitary confinement and an escape attempt in 1916, before ultimately being paroled in 1919.

The first video, From a fair to fingerprinting: Here's the history behind how we identify suspects, delves into the origins of fingerprinting and its evolution in criminal justice.

Section 1.1 The Impact of Fingerprinting

Fingerprinting not only revolutionized criminal identification but also played a crucial role in addressing biases inherent in previous systems. As society evolved, so did the methods of ensuring justice.

Subsection 1.1.1 The Misidentification Dilemma

Chapter 2 The Future of Forensic Identification

The second video, Fingerprint Evidence (Featuring Associate Professor Simon Cole), explores the nuances of fingerprinting and its ongoing relevance in forensic science.