In the early hours of September 19, 1910, 40-year-old Caucasian male, Clarence D. Hiller, was at home with his family in Chicago, Illinois. Awakened by the screams of his wife and daughter, Hiller confronted an intruder who had entered their residence at 1837 West 104th Street. A struggle ensued between Hiller and the intruder, during which both men tumbled down the staircase. The assailant then drew a revolver and fired multiple shots, fatally wounding Hiller.
The perpetrator fled the scene, leaving Hiller's wife and children in distress.
Approximately half a mile from the Hiller residence, police apprehended Thomas Jennings, an African-American man who had been paroled six weeks earlier. Jennings was found wearing a torn and bloodied coat and in possession of a recently fired revolver. Upon questioning, he claimed his injuries were due to a fall from a trolley. Notably, Jennings had a criminal history, having been sentenced to Joliet penitentiary for burglary in March 1909 and released on parole in August 1910.
Investigators discovered four fingerprints on a freshly painted porch railing at the Hiller home, believed to have been left by the intruder as he entered through a window. These prints were photographed and compared to Jennings' fingerprints, revealing a match. This evidence was pivotal, as it marked the first instance in the United States where fingerprint evidence was used to secure a conviction.
During the trial, the defense challenged the admissibility of fingerprint evidence, arguing that it was a novel and unproven method. However, expert witnesses, including two Chicago police officers experienced in fingerprint analysis, an inspector from the Dominion Police in Ottawa, Canada, and a U.S. government investigator trained at Scotland Yard, testified to the reliability of fingerprint identification. Their testimonies reinforced the credibility of the evidence against Jennings.
The jury unanimously found Jennings guilty of the murder of 40-year-old Caucasian male, Clarence D. Hiller. He was sentenced to death and subsequently hanged on February 16, 1912. The case, People v. Jennings, set a significant legal precedent, establishing the admissibility of fingerprint evidence in U.S. courts and influencing forensic practices in criminal investigations.
