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People Vs. Jennings - Case about Fingerprints
BSCriminology (PBSCRIM 013)
University of La Salette
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People vs. Jennings
252 lll. 534, 96 NE (1911)
Supreme Court of Illinois
FACTS: On the night of September 19, 1910, Clarence B. Hiller.. an intruder [in his home] and a struggle ensued. Both fell to the foot of the stairway and Mr. Hiller was shot twice. He died moments later. Mrs. Hiller screamed and the intruder fled...[Luckily,] the [outside veranda] had recently been painted and it was here that the imprint of four fingers of someone's left hand was found imbedded in the fresh paint.. about 2:38 a. Thomas Jennings was spotted by police and was questioned as to what he was doing out so late.. searched him and discovered he was carrying a loaded revolver.., the police found out that Jennings had just been released on parole in August 1910 after serving a sentence for burglary. His fingerprint card was on file and was compared to the prints lifted at the Hiller household. The officers took Jennings to the station on the street cars, and when examined there, sand was found in his shoes. Jennings, when arrested, first told the officers that he lived at 1244 State street, Chicago, and later 577 Twelfth street; that he left for Harvey about seven or eight o’clock the evening before to visit friends, and that when he started to return from Harvey, about twelve o’clock, not finding a street car, he had walked back to that point.
ISSUE:
Is there sufficient evidence to support the jury's finding that Jennings was guilty of first-degree murder on each of the three theories advanced by the prosecution - murder by poison, murder by torture, and premeditated murder?
RULING/HELD: Four fingerprint experts at Jennings' trial declared the fingerprints from the crime scene were a conclusive match to Jennings own prints. Based on this evidence, Jennings was convicted of murder on February 1, 1911. It was shortly after this event that fingerprint science spread to all the major American cities across the nation. “All of these witnesses testified at more or less length as to the basis of the system and the various markings found on the human hand, stating that they were classified from the various forms of markings, including those known as “arches,” “loops,” “whorls” and “deltas.” It was further insisted on oral argument and in the briefs of the plaintiff in error that the evidence is not sufficient to support the verdict. However, in view of the character of this case and the sentence pronounced we deem it not improper to say that all the incriminating proof points to the accused. There is absolutely nothing in the record tending to show that the crime was committed by anyone else. Jennings was convicted of Murder on February 01, 1911.
google/url? sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=law.justia/cases/illinois/supreme-court/1957/33937-
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google/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=case-law.vlex/vid/96-n- 1077-ill- 613164642&ved=2ahUKEwixy9Gbzpz4AhXDxIsBHfdXCSEQFnoECAcQAQ&usg=AOvVaw EQSucXIPhqsqWock6ONH
People Vs. Jennings - Case about Fingerprints
Course: BSCriminology (PBSCRIM 013)
University: University of La Salette
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