SUMMARY OF FINDINGS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 21, 25 January 1934, Page 8

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS.

"61 PIECES OF HUMAN ORIGIN" When Dr. Gilmour re-entered the box, he said he had examined and considered the bone exhibits he had put in. Of these CI pieces were of human origin.

Mr. Meredith: Of these, how many are there from the skull?— Fifty-five. Fifty-two are derived from the vault of the skull. One can distinguish them as skull bones quite easily from their structure, consisting of an inner and outer plate of hard bone, with spongy bone in_ between. That is called the diploc. "I place them as human for the following reasons: —They agree in thickness with the typical human skull; they agree in the curvature, which is quite distinctive compared with that of ail animals; there were well-marked impressions for the blood vessels. The depth of these is determined by the huge supply of blood required for the human brain. On the inside of the skull were small depressions known as pacchionian pits. These are particularly marked on the human skull bccause of the size of the brain. This pit is also of some importance in determining the age of the individual. These pits arc not present at birth, and they gradually deepen with the advance of years. The depth of the pit in this case would suggest an individual in middle life. Another point which is of importance in these pieecs of bones is the presence of suture lines. These are characteristic of skull, but not necessarily of human skull. There are pieces of skull which were quite characteristic of the human.

Mr. Meredith: Why?—lt is very prominent because it gives attachment to a membrane which supports the weight of a considerable portion of the brain, and also shows the grooves for the large vessels which lie in the attachment of this membrane—the transverse sinuses.

"The next piece of skull bone is known as the petrous bone. It is typical in every way with the human petrous bone, agreeing in size and in the various markings. The last piece, part of the left cheek bone, agreed in all respects with the typical human cheek bones." Vertebral Bones. Are there any characteristic vertebrae bones?— Yes, the most characteristic is the atlas. This is determined by the erect posture of man, and it accordingly differs in sheep or the fourfooted animal where the head is carried forward. Another portion of vertebra is part of the dorsal vertebra. This agrees in all respects with the typical human vertebra. The right elbow joint is very characteristic. Man and the anthropoid apes are the only animals capable of rotating the forearm.

What enables them to do it? —This rotating movement is produced by the rotation of the radius on the humerus. We have both these in the exhibits, and the head of the corresponding radius closely fits the corresponding piece of humerus. "Another characteristic bone is a piecc of heelbonc," continued the doctor. "The heel is only well developed in man and anthropoid apes, and is better developed in man than in the apes." Were there definite indications on thi3 particular bone?— Yes. It shows certain very- typical points. It shtfws the sustentaculum tali and facets for articulation with the astragalus, and also the groove for one of the tendons of the big toe. Age and Sex. Arc there any indications by the bones of the age and sex of the individual ?— There i 3 definite indication as to age, the bones being that of an adult. For instance, the ends of the radius are united to the shafts, so that the individual must have reached the age of 18. The inner end of the collarbone is united, bringing the age up to at least 25. The depth of the pacchionian pit in the skullbone would indicate a male in middle life, and these points areconfirmed by the size of the pieces of the long bone and by the prominence of the muscular attachments. The muscles are attached to the bone and are much used. The parts of the bone to which they are attached become prominent and rough. The bones which we have give no definite evidence of sex, but the attachments of muscles are strongly marked, and they are therefore probably male. How was the radius? —It is that of a well-developed adult. "Burned Recently." From anjnspection of the bones could you draw any inference when they were burned?— Yes, they clearly were burned recently. Most of them were so fragile that they would not have stood exposure to the weather. None of them showed signs of weathering. The broken surfaces are freshly broken. There is no impregnation of dirt with the exception of cow manure on some of them. Olio very important point is that there is evidence on the surface of charred flesh—this is extremely friable and is easily rubbed off.

Can you say from examination what was the age of the bones at the time of burning?— The blackness of the bones indicates that they contained a considerable quantity of organic matter, which would suggest that they were fairly recent. Of course, the presence of the charred matter on the surface of the bones indicates that they are not bare bones. It is really impossible to give the age of the bones.

Why ?—Because the removal of the flesh from bones is such a variable tiling, f am talking of bodies that are buried or are lying in the open. A buried body will retain the flesh for years, but with a body lying in the open the rate of the disappearance of the flesh will depend on such things as the weather, the presence of animals, which may destroy the flesh, and whether or not the body is clothcd. There is no wp.y of ascertaining how fresh or how old the bones were at the time of burning. With Dr. Gilmour's evidence uncompleted, the Court adjourned for lunch. After the luncheon adjournment, Dr. Gilmour gave details of numerous exhibits received by him from the detectives, and eventually handed back to them or to Mr. K. M. Griflin, Government analyst. These details took a considerable time. Dr. Gilmour's evidence has been completed, and Dr. P. P. Lynch, of Welling ton, followed him in the witness-box.