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The identical inmates that showed the need for fingerprinting, 1903 (rarehistoricalphotos.com)
22 points by davesailer on June 22, 2021 | hide | past | favorite | 4 comments


Twins can still be convicted for a crime they did not commit, and for which fingerprints would have likely been able to distinguish between.


They look similar but certainly not identical from the photographs at least, and even the article later mentions, "he looked startlingly like the first one." (not identical).


Yes, but note that the word is being applied to more than the photos: having the same name and matching on a list of recorded physical attributes.


From the article:

"The William and Will West story is somewhat sensationalized and omits prison record information, uncovered by later researchers, indicating that William and Will West both corresponded with the same family members and thus were probably related. Prison records also cite that Leavenworth inmate George Bean reported that he knew William and Will West in their home territory before prison and that they were twin brothers."

Non-story.




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