Tuesday, 29th April 1913 Slayer's Handprint Left On Arm Of Girl

Tuesday, April 29, 1913

Investigators looking into the murder of Mary Phagan received a promising lead yesterday when a reporter from a local newspaper discovered bloodstained fingerprints on the sleeve of the victim's jacket during a close examination of her clothing.

The prints appear on the right arm of her light silk dress, two finger marks just below the shoulder, pressed deep into the lavender fabric as though someone had gripped her arm with considerable force. A third print, belonging to a thumb, is partially smeared but may still be usable for analysis.

Detectives on the case now believe they have a concrete lead. Investigators plan to apply the Bertillon identification system, a widely trusted method at the time, to compare the prints against those of suspects. Agents from the Pinkerton Detective Agency, several of whom are already involved in the investigation, are particularly known for relying on fingerprint evidence, operating on the established principle that no two people share identical prints. Such evidence, courts of the era increasingly recognized, could be decisive in securing a conviction.

Atlanta police are more hopeful than before that the prints will help them identify Mary Phagan's killer.

Meanwhile, Dr. J. W. Hurt, the County Physician, conducted a private examination of the girl's body late last night to determine the full extent of her injuries. He entered the room alone and, upon completing his inspection, declined to share his findings with the press.