the
files and had not been able to find any thumb-print resembling the one
on the paper, and recommended me to endeavour to obtain prints of the
thumbs of any persons who might have been concerned in the robbery. He
also gave me an enlarged photograph of the thumb-print for reference if
necessary. I accordingly went to St. Mary Axe and had an interview with
Mr. Hornby, when I requested him to allow me to take prints of the
thumbs of all the persons employed on the premises, including his two
nephews. This he refused, saying that he distrusted finger-prints and
that there was no suspicion of anyone on the premises. I asked if he
would allow his nephews to furnish their thumb-prints privately, to
which he replied, 'Certainly not.'"

"Had you then any suspicion of either of the nephews?"

"I thought they were both open to some suspicion. The safe had certainly
been opened with false keys, and as they had both had the real keys in
their possession it was possible that one of them might have taken
impressions in wax and made counterfeit keys."

"Yes."

"I called on Mr. Hornby several times and urged him, for the sake of his
nephews' reputations, to sanction the taking of the thumb-prints; but he
refused very positively and forbade them to submit, although I
understood that they were both willing. It then occurred to me to try if
I could get any help from Mrs. Hornby, and on the fifteenth of March I
called at Mr. Hornby's private house and saw her. I explained to her
what was wanted to clear her nephews from the suspicion that rested on
them, and she then said that she could dispose of those suspicions at
once, for she could show me the thumb-prints of the whole family: she
had them all in a 'Thumbograph.'"

"A 'Thumbograph'?" repeated the judge. "What is a 'Thumbograph'?"

Anstey rose with the little red-covered volume in his hand.

"A 'Thumbograph,' my lord," said he, "is a book, like this, in which
foolish people collect the thumb-prints of their more foolish
acquaintances."

He passed the volume up to the judge, who turned over the leaves
curiously and then nodded to the witness.

"Yes. She said she had them all in a 'Thumbograph.'"

"Then she fetched from a drawer a small red-covered book which she
showed to me. It contained the thumb-prints of all the family and some
of her friends."

"Is this the book?" asked the judge, passing the volume down to the
witness.

The sergeant turned over the leaves until