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Among the evidence found at the murder scene were some cork-tipped cigarette butts which were found to bear traces of saliva. The smoker was blood group AB, the rarest group, believed to be found in only 3% of the population.
When police arrested Dinnivan’s old friend Joseph Williams as a suspect, he railed at the police for their stupidity in arresting him. Meanwhile they plied him with cigarettes, one after the other. Williams had no idea that the cigarette stubs were sent off, moments later, to the forensic laboratory where tests were carried out revealing Joseph Williams’ blood group was AB.
A judge dismissive of new techniques
Williams was charged with murder, but the trial judge, the honourable Mr Justice Croom-Johnson was newly appointed to the high court bench, this was his first murder trial, and he seemed very reluctant to don the black cap.
He poured scorn on the vital saliva analysis as in 1939 such science was still relatively new. Williams was found not guilty by the jury, yet he broke down and confessed his guilt to a News of the World reporter, who finally revealed his story on Williams’ death in 1951.
- Read about Strange Weapons
