The Will West and William West case is a famous case in the history of personal identification. Will West was a prisoner in Leavenworth prison in 1903, and during the booking process, his measurements and photographs were taken. However, when his records were searched, it was discovered that there was already a prisoner named William West in the prison, who looked remarkably similar to Will West. The authorities were confused as they could not differentiate the two based on their physical appearance.
The case was finally solved when the prison's assistant keeper, Alphonse Bertillon, realized that the two men had different ear shapes. The prisoners' Bertillon measurements and photographs were used to differentiate them. However, this case highlighted the limitations of the Bertillon system and the need for a more reliable method of personal identification.
The importance of this case in personal identification cannot be overstated. It led to the widespread adoption of fingerprinting as a reliable method of identification. Fingerprinting is now used globally in various contexts, including criminal investigations, immigration, and civil identification.
Robert James Pitts was an American criminal who was arrested in 1902 for burglary. During his interrogation, he attempted to conceal his identity by wearing gloves. However, the police officers noticed that his fingers were stained with printer's ink, and upon closer observation, they discovered his unique fingerprints. Pitts became the first criminal to be convicted based on fingerprint evidence in the United States. This event played a significant role in establishing the reliability of fingerprinting as a forensic tool.
John Dillinger was an infamous criminal in the 1930s. He became notorious for his string of robberies and murders. The FBI started using fingerprinting as a means of identification during Dillinger's reign of terror, and they were able to identify and apprehend him using his fingerprints. This event further solidified the importance of fingerprinting in criminal investigations.
In summary, the Will West and William West case highlighted the limitations of the Bertillon system and the need for a more reliable method of personal identification. The case played a significant role in the widespread adoption of fingerprinting as a reliable method of identification. Robert James Pitts and John Dillinger contributed to the reliability of fingerprinting as a forensic tool by becoming the first criminals to be convicted based on fingerprint evidence in the United States.