The Missing Finger

Failed Attempt to Evade Fingerprints: Burglar's Amputation Foiled in 1913 New York

In the year 1913, a newspaper in Elko, Nevada published a story about a clever but ultimately unsuccessful attempt to beat the developing fingerprint identification system. The incident took place in the state of New York.

Joseph Sniple was identified at police headquarters despite having a sixth finger on his left hand amputated in an effort to fool the experts. Sniple, a man with a prior burglary sentence served in Elmira, was arrested along with three other men. The attempt to hide his identity failed because the prints of his remaining fingers matched those already on file for him. Upon closer examination of his hand, police discovered a tiny scar where the sixth digit had been removed. Sniple then confessed that a specialist had performed the operation.

The four men were caught in a basement at 170 East Fourth Street, where police reportedly found $2,000 worth of stolen hair goods. All three of the other men arrested also had previous sentences for burglary.