| Stratton Brothers’ Cashbox | |
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Origin |
Stratton Brothers Case |
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Type |
Cash Box |
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Effects |
Opening contains lost personal items |
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Downsides |
Usually related to private or disreputable acts |
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Activation |
Opening |
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Section |
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| [Source] | |
Origin[]
Alfred Edward Stratton (1882-1905) and his brother Albert Ernest Stratton (1884-1905) were the first men to be convicted in Britain for murder based on fingerprint evidence.
A paint shop owner Thomas Farrow was found dead in his storefront and his wife Ann severely beaten, later passing during treatment. A cash box emptied of £13, equivalent to £1,400 in 2020, and two black masks made from stockings were found. No signs of a break-in led investigators to believe the culprits had tricked their way in and attacked the couple at separate times. Police noticed a greasy smudge resembling a fingerprint in the tray and sent it for analysis at Scotland Yard. No registered matches to a right thumb returned, so they waited until witnesses identified the two brothers as leaving the shop the same morning. With known criminal contacts, they were arrested, matched the print to Alfred and set for trial at the Old Bailey.
Prosecutor Richard Muir knew having a single print as the only physical evidence made convincing a jury difficult. Fingerprinting for ID purposes was still a relatively virgin field, and many critics to the idea would be in attendance. Most would default to eyewitness accounts, so Muir ushered in as many witnesses who recognized the brothers. Muir later brought a jailor who heard Albert sighing away the punishment the two would likely receive. To continue, he summoned an inspector to show the marked box and explain to all present how fingerprinting worked and twelve points matched on the print and defendant. For a final trounce, he brought a rival expert to the stand and showed two letters selling his expertise to the highest bidder. After two hours of deliberation, they were sentenced to hanging. They were both executed at 9 am on 23 May 1905 at HM Prison Wandsworth.
Effects[]
The girlfriends of both brothers reported odd behavior the day leading to the crime. One was asked to borrow several of her stockings, and later forced to dispose Alfred’s coat and shoes. Albert suddenly brought home more money than a vagrant normally would and also asked for his clothes to be destroyed. Both women were told to say they were together with each brother the attack day, which they relayed to the jury.
Opening shows an object that the user has previously lost. It won’t recreate something destroyed, but will return anything missing or unaccounted for. Users have no control over what will come out. Most times it’s something they can identify as theirs, such as a signed card or picture. Unfortunately, the object is also normally related to some sordid act they have tried to hide. Like secret letters to another lover, or images before an unexpected accident. All the gushy bits that can be confirmed without doubt.