Fibras En La Ciencia Forense

Milestones in Discovery and Invention

FORENSIC SCIENCE
FROM FIBERS TO FINGERPRINTS

i
Lisa Yount

In memory of my mother, who taught me to love mystery stories.
FORENSIC SCIENCE: From Fibers to Fingerprints Copyright © 2007 by Lisa Yount All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, includingphotocopying, recording, or by any information storage or retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the publisher. For information contact: Chelsea House An imprint of Infobase Publishing 132 West 31st Street New York NY 10001 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Yount, Lisa. Forensic science: from fibers to fingerprints / Lisa Yount. p. cm. — (Milestones in discovery and invention)Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 0-8160-5751-6 1. Forensic sciences—History—Juvenile literature. 2. Forensic scientists— Juvenile literature. 3. Criminal investigation—History—Juvenile literature. I. Title. II. Series. HV8073.8.Y68 2007 363.25—dc22 2006001748 Chelsea House books are available at special discounts when purchased in bulk quantities for businesses, associations,institutions, or sales promotions. Please call our Special Sales Department in New York at (212) 967-8800 or (800) 322-8755. You can find Chelsea House on the World Wide Web at http://www.chelseahouse.com Text design by James Scotto-Lavino Cover design by Dorothy M. Preston Illustrations by Melissa Ericksen Printed in the United States of America VB Hermitage 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 This book isprinted on acid-free paper.

e
PREFACE ACKNOWLEDGMENTS INTRODUCTION

CONTENTS
vii xi xiii

1 DEADLY POWDER: MATHIEU ORFILA, JAMES MARSH,
AND DETECTION OF POISONS Founding a Science A Sensitive Test Pretty Poisoner A Legacy of Students Connections: Was Napoléon Poisoned? Modern Poison Detection Chronology Further Reading 1 2 4 6 8 9 11 11 13

2 ARCHES, LOOPS, AND WHORLS: FRANCIS GALTON,EDWARD HENRY, AND FINGERPRINTING Wordless Signatures Mark of a Thief A Society of Strangers Measuring Criminals Scientific Study Other Scientists: Alphonse Bertillon (1853–1914) Social Impact: Eugenics A Better System Fingerprinting Takes Over Fingerprinting Today Issues: How Reliable Are Fingerprints? Chronology Further Reading 15 15 17 18 19 20 21 25 26 27 30 31 32 35

3 THE LANGUAGE OF BLOOD:KARL LANDSTEINER AND
BLOOD TYPES A Risky Procedure Clues to a Puzzle Four Types of Blood Testing Blood to Solve Crimes Connections: Blood Transfusions in World War II A Delayed Reward “Blood Fingerprints” Spatter Tells a Story Chronology Further Reading 38 38 40 40 43 44 46 47 48 49 52

4 EVERY CONTACT LEAVES A TRACE:
ALEXANDRE LACASSAGNE, EDMOND LOCARD, AND FORENSIC SCIENCE LABORATORIES ACareful Investigator Other Scientists: Hans Gross (1847–1915) Two Famous Cases The First Forensic Science Laboratory Connections: Modern Forensic Science Laboratories Telltale Dust Parallels: Sherlock Holmes, Fictional Forensic Scientist Clues to Identity The Exchange Principle Secrets in Trace Evidence Chronology Further Reading 54 54 56 56 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 68

5 THE NAME ON THE BULLET:CALVIN GODDARD
AND FIREARMS IDENTIFICATION From Medicine to Murder An Unjust Conviction Setting up a New Science A Disputed Verdict Parallels: Tracking a Shootout Death on Valentine’s Day Return to the Army Trends: Murders by Firearms Forensic Ballistics Today Chronology Further Reading 69 69 70 72 73 76 78 79 79 82 83 86

6 LIAR, LIAR: LEONARDE KEELER AND THE POLYGRAPH
The First Lie DetectorsConnections: Wonder Woman and Her Magic Lasso The Frye Decision Keeler Improves the Polygraph Popularizing the Lie Detector The Polygraph Test True or False? Polygraph Evidence in Court I Was There: The “Unbeatable” Machine Issues: Screening for Spies Other Ways to Spot Lying Chronology Further Reading

88 88 90 90 91 92 93 95 96 97 98 99 100 102

7 VOICEPRINTS: LAWRENCE KERSTA AND VOICE...