The use of fingerprints to identify people began when two men who looked nearly identical, with the same name, arrived at the same prison. They had never even met!

Backhause, Tyler; Backhause, Tyler. 1,000 Random Facts Everyone Should Know: A collection of random facts useful for the bar trivia night, get-together or as conversation starter. (p. 19). Kindle Edition.

It happened in 1904 at Leavenworth Prison.

Click here to see the story about that.