Alphonse Bertillon invented "anthropometrics", a method with which to identify people based upon their individual measurements. His theory was that each person is highly individual.  Therefore no one else would possess another person's exact measurements.  This system was initially accepted and used by various law enforcement agencies throughout the United States.  Bertillon cards were printed reflecting these measurements, and oddly enough, a fingerprint.  Bertillon chose the following parts of the body for the his measurements:

The choice between using the left or right sides was entirely arbitrary. Although the theory suggested that it would succeed, there were instances where it would fail.  Anthropometrics relied upon the recorder being exact in his measurements.  If the recorder was tired or inattentive, the measurements could fail to identify a person.  Suspects who were drunk, ill, or uncooperative would also result in inaccurate measurements.

In 1903, a prisoner by the name Will West was sentenced to incarceration at the United States Penitentiary at Leavenworth, Kansas.  During his inprocessing, the records clerk obtained Will West's Bertillon measurements and photograph.  Will West denied ever being incarcerated at the facility.  The records clerk doubted this information, and referenced his Bertillon measurements into the system, retrieving the Bertillon card for a William West.  Will West continued to deny that the William West card was his.  Subsequent investigation disclosed that William West was already incarcerated in the facility as of September 9, 1901.  By examining the photographs, one can see the failure of the Bertillon system.  Compare the Bertillon measurements in particular, keeping in mind the various factors that would affect the measurements.  This failure strengthened the science of fingerprints as the normally accepted method of personal identification.  Recent opinions suggest that Will and William West were related, therefore the closeness in measurements.