SCIENCE AND THE DELINQUENT

Evening Star, Issue 18866, 14 February 1925, Page 7

SCIENCE AND THE DELINQUENT

* —— A SOCIETY THAT STUDIES CRIME. The scientific detective of fid inn is no longer without his parallel in real life. Sir Bernard Rpilshury, Mr .lolin Webster, Dr Bronte, and a few others, havo often demonstrated in the conns how far science has progressed in the investigation of the puzzling phenomena which present themselves in so many criminal cases. But- it is perhaps not. so generally known that there is in existence a society —the Medico-Legal Society—whoso chief object is flic study and discussion of just those, problems which come _ before lawyers, doctors, coroners, and scientists generally. About one© every month this unobtrusive social y holds a meet in': in London. Many of its members have names which are known from Land’s End to John o’ Groats. Some famous authors—Mr Bernard Shaw among them —are members; but. in the complete list there arc many names of men who work behind the closed doors of laboratory or study, quietly carrying on investigations in tho vast realm of criminology, and quite unknown to tho public al large. The society is, in fact., the only one of its kind in England which has amongst its members tho leaders of the great professions, and the greatest authorities on particular subjects bearing upon the medical and scientific aspects of cases which have come, or may at any timo come, before the law courts.

Tho methods pursued by the body are simple enough in themselves, A member who has had an opportunity of studying some subject or case (in the course of his actual experience) prepares a paper dealing with it, and reads this to the society. General discussion follows, in which those present who have bad similar experience give their views or raise questions to be elucidated. Finally the whole transactions are printed and 'circulated privately to members. Year after year this goes on, and 50 a great edifice of curious knowledge is built up. The volume of transactions for the last session makes strange and sometimes macabre reading for the layman. Tho ethics of suicide, attempts to defraud insurance societies, and the use of that extraordinary instrument tho microspectroscope in the detection of blood stains are but a few of the subjects covered.

We often hear that the publication of details of sensational crimes is not good for tho public. That may or may not bo true. But if only, the general public could also read and understand fully the transactions of tho Medico-Legal Society I think that, as a deterrent, the effect would be as great as any punishment which tho State could inflict. It makes onto shudder to think of what cold passionless science can do nowadays in the detection of crime!