Fingerprint evidence has played a crucial role in many famous criminal cases throughout history. Here are some notable examples:

1. The Stratton Brothers (1905):
-This is considered one of the first cases where fingerprint evidence led to a conviction. Alfred and Albert Stratton were accused of murdering Thomas and Ann Farrow during a robbery in London. A thumbprint on a cash box at the crime scene matched Alfred Stratton, leading to their conviction and execution.

2. The Case of Francesca Rojas (1892):
-Often cited as the first case where fingerprints were used to solve a murder. In Argentina, Francesca Rojas accused a neighbor of killing her two children. However, investigator Juan Vucetich found bloody fingerprints at the scene that matched Rojas, proving she was the killer.

3. Thomas Jennings (1910):
Thomas Jennings was the first person in the United States convicted of murder based on fingerprint evidence. After a burglary and murder, Jennings was found with a revolver and was linked to the crime through fingerprints left on a freshly painted railing. His conviction was upheld by the Illinois Supreme Court.

4. The Mayfield Affair (2004):
This case is an example of the potential pitfalls of fingerprint evidence. Brandon Mayfield, an attorney from Oregon, was wrongfully detained after the FBI mistakenly identified his fingerprints as those found on a bag linked to the Madrid train bombings. Later, Spanish authorities identified the fingerprints as belonging to an Algerian national, highlighting the importance of caution in fingerprint analysis.

5. The Stephen Lawrence Case (1993):
In the UK, the murder of Stephen Lawrence, a black teenager, became a landmark case when forensic advances years later helped convict two men. In 2012, David Norris and Gary Dobson were convicted based on new DNA and fingerprint evidence, illustrating the evolving role of forensic technology.

6. The Hamm Kidnapping (1933):
The kidnapping of William Hamm, a brewery heir, by the Barker-Karpis gang, was a major case in the use of fingerprint evidence by the FBI. The gang demanded and received a ransom, but the FBI collected fingerprints from ransom notes and other items, leading to the capture and conviction of the gang members.

7. The Lindbergh Kidnapping (1932):
Charles Lindbergh's infant son was kidnapped and murdered. Bruno Hauptmann was arrested and convicted largely based on handwriting analysis, but fingerprints found on a ladder used in the kidnapping were also used to build the case against him, though their role was secondary to the handwriting evidence.

These cases demonstrate both the power and the limitations of fingerprint evidence in the criminal justice system.