“THE DOPPELGANGER MANSLAUGHTER CASE OF TWO WILLIAM WESTS” and More Freaky True Tales! #WeirdDarkness
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Deep Dive
Why did the case of William West and William West highlight the limitations of the Bertillon system?
The Bertillon system, which relied on body measurements and photographs, failed to distinguish between two men named William West who looked identical and had nearly identical measurements. This case demonstrated the need for a more reliable identification method, leading to the adoption of fingerprinting.
What was the punishment for Dorothy Talby, and why was it considered severe?
Dorothy Talby was hanged for killing her three-year-old daughter. Her punishment was severe because, in the 17th century, women were believed to be more easily influenced by Satan and witchcraft, and her refusal to cooperate with the court was seen as evidence of her demonic possession.
What evidence suggests that time travel might have occurred in the case of the Norwegian mayor's sealed package?
The package, sealed in 1912, contained newspapers dated 1914, which were not supposed to exist at the time. Experts confirmed the envelope had never been opened since 1912, suggesting the mayor may have obtained the newspapers from the future.
How did the Morrigan, an Irish war goddess, use shapeshifting in mythology?
The Morrigan could transform into various animals, such as a crow or an eel, and even into an attractive woman. She used these transformations to influence battles and seek revenge on her enemies, such as Cú Chulainn, whom she tried to defeat through her shape-shifting abilities.
What is the legend of the Selkie in Scottish folklore?
Selkies are seal-like beings that can transform into humans by removing their seal skin. Female selkies often become trapped in human relationships when their skin is stolen, forcing them to live on land. If they recover their skin, they return to the sea, abandoning their human lives and families.
- Two men with the same name and nearly identical physical characteristics were both imprisoned in Leavenworth.
- The Bertillon system, which relied on body measurements, failed to distinguish between them.
- Fingerprinting technology successfully identified the two individuals.
- This case played a pivotal role in promoting the use of fingerprinting in criminal identification.
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