Blood Is Best Witness

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21181, 31 October 1938, Page 14

Blood Is Best Witness

WHILE investigating a crime of passion, detectives surprised the suspected murderess while she was washing her linen. Questioned as to what she was cleaning, she rudely muttered that it was “her own business.” When she put on her coat in order to accompany the detectives, one of them pointed to dark red-brown stains on her sleeve and remarked, “Why don’t you remove these, too . . The marks on the coat were blood stains, a fact which eventually led to the suspect being convicted. Such incidents are an old story now. Bloodstains are by no means rigid proof as to the guilt of a murderer. The latest scientific discoveries are used in the legal proceedings. The supposed bloodstains are carefully tested in three different ways. First, to see whether they are really blood or merely rust stains, much the same in colour; second, whether in the event of being bloood the stains are of human or of animal blood; and third, if human, to

Stir in the yolks of eggs and grated lemon rind. Pour into a greased fireproof dish. Bake for 15 minutes. Beat whites, add the sugar. Spread over the rhubarb. Bake in slow oven till meringue is set. Serve hot or cold. Veal Fricandelle. Finely chop or mince the remains of cold, cooked veal, season it with salt and pepper, add 3 rashers of finely chopped bacon, 1 dessertspoonful grated onion. Add to the above an equal quantity of breadcrumbs, loz. melted butter,

Value In Crimes Of Passion

which blood group they belong. To discover blood marks on furniture, clothes or utensils in cases of murder or assault is the frequent but difficult task of detectives. Often the use of the microscope only will reveal them. Fresh bloodstains are red, but under the influence of light and weather they change to dark brownish shades or even to a greenish brown, so that they can easily be mistaken for rust, paint or any other dirt mark. It is extremely difficult to prove that a stain is blood once it has been washed out or exposed to sunshine, heat or decay for some time. Stains that are not recognisable by close examination in bright sunlight or under electric light can be more readily examined if the suspected spots are moistened with a 3 per cent, solution of peroxide. Small foamy gas bubbles are formed when the peroxide comes in contact with the blood. If bloodstains are thus discovered, they are further tested under the microscope

1 beaten egg and sufficient gravy to moisten the mixture. Mix well together. Press firmly into a greased basin. Cover with grease-proof paper and steam for i hour. Turn out and serve with a good gravy poured over it. Savory Cups. Wash and peel 21bs. of potatoes, drain, then mash well, adding milk, 1 beaten . egg, salt, pepper, ; l cupful grated cheese, and about 1 dessertspoonful of butter. When the mixture is a nice consistency, form into mounds on a greased scone

and spectroscope: Chemical reagents are also used to define the exact composition and blood group. One of the most important physiological discoveries is the fact that there are six different blood groups under which all human being fall. The divisions are made according to the ability of the serum or blood plasma of one group being able to coagulate the red corpuscles of another group. This incompatibility between the blood of different individuals is caused by the different composition of the plasma and the corpuscles, respectively. It is thus possible to find out from the bloodstains whose blood has been shed. Bloodstains on the clothes of a person connected with a murder case automatically made him a suspect. Scientific examination reveals clearly whether the bloodstains are thdse of the victim or not. If the examined stains belong to the same blood group as the suspect’s, no definite proof is possible. If, however, they belong to the victim’s blood group, it is clearly established that the suspect and the victim were in some connection, the details of which must be investigated according to the usual proceedings.

Beast in Man. Every day the newspapers tell of ghastly crimes, of the beast in man inciting him to raise a hand against father or mother, wife or child, friend or enemy. The deed done, the murderer naturally tries to rid himself of all traces of guilt. But blood is the best witness! The criminal does not know about corpuscles and blood crystals, does not realise the mysterious qualities of serum, is not aware that science has found means whereby his guilt can be proved in the face of the most baffling facts. To find out whether a stain is that of human blood, the blood extract is mixed with a human “anti-serum” and observed through the microscope against a dark background. In the case of human blood the mixture forms a kind of sediment, clearly visible through strong, lenses. The fundamental discovery that certain human blood alters the constituency of other human blood has resulted in the study of blood groups and experimentation. There are six distinguishable blood groups: O, Al, A2, B, AIB. A2B. One of the practical significances of this discovery lies in the fact that the specific qualities of blood follow certain known laws, and do not change during the course of life. Group Theory. Since Mendel’s Law of Heredity is known, the blood group theory is most important in defining parentage in legal cases. This definition is a mere chemical experiment.

For instance, the known serum of group A or B is added to the blood corpuscles which are to be tested. Again, the serum of the blood to be tested is added to the corpuscles of A and B. Similar reactions reveal the only possible combination. The discovery of the human blood groups has also abolished the danger of blood transfusions. Before the different groups were established, death occurred frequently as a result of a blood transfusion. If the transfused blood was “hostile” to the patient’s blood, circulation was impeded and death resulted. To-day it is known to a fraction which groups ccagulate and which do not, and transfusions are thereby rendered absolutely safe. Hospitals keep lists of donors of all groups on their files. Once the blood group of a patient is defined, a

tray, make a deep hollow in the centre of each potato. Glaze lightly with beaten egg or milk, and bake in a hot oven until nicely browned. Place on a hot dish, and fill with cooked green peas. Garnish with mint. These cups look nice if filled with cooked carrots cut into dice and mixed with green peas and ham. Honey Crust Sponge. One cup self-raising flour, J cup sugar, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 3 eggs, 1 tablespoon butter, 1 tablespoon

donor of a corresponding group is chosen for the transfusion. Crime and Vigour. It is of great interest to observe in how far intellect, physical appearance, talents or social sense are confined to certain blood groups. Group A is supposed to be frequent among intellectual people. Criminals often belong to group B. which is also the group of many athletes! The different blood groups are differently divided among the various human races. To take one country, Germany, where blood analysis has of late played such an important part, the figures for the different bloc J groups are averaged as follows: ' O group 43 per cent. A group 4J per cent. B group 12 per cent. A and B groups .. 5 per cent. The knowledge about blood groups is also useful in investigation into heredity. It is interesting to note that the blood group itself is not hereditary, but only the ability of the red blood corpuscles to coagulate. This is inherited—according to the Mendelian Laws.