Heinrich was one of the nation's first expert witnesses, working in a time when the turmoil of Prohibition led to sensationalized crime reporting and only a small, systematic study of evidence. However with his brilliance, and commanding presence in both the courtroom and at crime scenes, Heinrich spearheaded the invention of a myriad of new forensic tools that police still use today, including blood spatter analysis, ballistics, lie-detector tests, and the use of fingerprints as courtroom evidence. His work, though not without its serious--some would say fatal--flaws, changed the course of American criminal investigation.
Based on years of research and thousands of never-before-published primary source materials, American Sherlock captures the life of the man who pioneered the science our legal system now relies upon--as well as the limits of those techniques and the very human experts who wield them.
This is an excellent story of one of America's most prominent forensic scientist of the 1920s - 1950s. Suffice to say this is definitely one for all those who love to read about the development of forensic science as applied to crime.
The author introduces us - albeit briefly - to a man who has been lauded as one of the greatest forensic scientists of his time. A man who in his forty year career pioneered many forensic techniques still in use today; who opened his own private lab at his own expense; who became one of the first expert witnesses to be called upon; who was a father, husband, teacher, friend, and at times, curmudgeonly, arrogant and obsessive.
Kate Winkler Dawson comments that the "... archaic methods of crime fighting in the 1920s, procedures depending on hunches and weak circumstantial evidence, were futile ..... police were outnumbered and many times outsmarted ...". Here this mostly self taught man came into his own, with his knowledge of many disciplines that could be applied to the analysis of a crime scene.
The author looks at eight particular crimes in which Heinrich developed new techniques for detection or improved upon older ones. Each chapter is entitled "the Case of ...." (a bit like an episode of Perry Mason) and includes one on Heinrich himself, wherein the author delves into his personal history. All of the cases are fairly well known and take place in the 1920 and 1930s - so no spoiler alerts required.
The Case of Allene Lamson's Bath is spread over two chapters - one at the very beginning and one at the end. However, this first part essentially deals with the murder of said woman in her bath and the arrest of her husband (1933). Much of this case focused on blood spatter patterns, which he first introduced at a trial in 1925. The completion will be much later in the story, when we are taking through the trial of David Lamson - and the battle of the expert witnesses.
As mentioned, there is a chapter on young Oscar as he is known - The Case of Oscar's Demons. This is where (as mentioned above) we learn more about Heinrich and his entree into the world of crime and forensic science.
Chapter three - The Case of the Baker's Handwriting - focuses on the profiling of the suspect, the deciphering and analysis of handwriting, and .. the use of the first polygraph machine. In this instance, the case involves the kidnapping and ransom of a local priest, Father Patrick Heslin (1921). We are also taken through Oscar's rivalry with two other experts (he was third chair) and here we see the beginnings of his contempt for others whose skills are not in the same league as his own.
The notorious case of Hollywood actor Fatty Arbuckle is dealt with in the next chapter, The Case of the Star's Fingerprints. Obviously, it is the identification and analysis of fingerprints that sees Heninrich participating in this trial. It is also one in which his own credibility and reputation are called into question - and his views on Hollywood sees his personal feelings influencing his usually logical judgement.
The Case of the Great Train Heist two years later saw him brought in to profile suspects based on the evidence they left behind both at the scene and also in hidden caches. Again, handwriting comparison was a featured technique. Success was not immediate - the culprits were captured after four years on the run; however, business did increase and he was called upon as a criminologist.
Oscar Heinrich was not quiet in these years. He worked on many other cases from kidnapping, forgeries, murder - including the mysterious murder of Hollywood producer, William Desmond Taylor - a case still unsolved today. We also see a different side to Oscar - his fascination with writing detective stories, his obsessive compulsion with regards to data gathering and storage, and the collation of dossiers that he kept on both himself and his rivals.
Oscar's next big case was in 1925 and involved a noted chemist - the Case of the Calculating Chemist - who, after involvement in a sexual scandal, was found dead in his lab. Unfortunately not all was what it seemed, and saw Oscar delving into the realm of forensic anthropology - making some startling discoveries that would be more in line with an episode of the TV series "Bones".
However, Heninrich would not be so lucky in his next big case of that same year - the Case of Bessie Ferguson's Ear - which despite his profile of the suspect, soil and particle analysis, forensic entomology, the killer evaded authorities. On a more personal note, Oscar teaching methods were being called into question by his friend and confidant John Kaiser whilst at the same time he himself was compiling a long list of professional enemies, people whom he felt were encroaching on his territory of forensics. I guess bringing the science of forensics into the public forum was a bit of a double edged sword - it made the science more accessible but also created more scientists thus reducing his lucrative casework - and for Oscar, with his eye always on the financial bottom line, this was most distressing.
Again, Henirich was still called upon to work on many cases which saw the use of utra-violet light to reveal blood, the use of toxicology to reveal poison. However, when it came to presenting his findings in court, he more often than not put the jury offside, confusing them with his explanation. Unfortunately, his extreme hubris was also turning other experts against him too. Whilst Oscar's lab was funded by him privately, many new forensic experts were creating fnancially lucrative partnerships at labs funded by universities - and the competition for their services was quite vigorous.
In one of the final cases presented - the Case of Marty Caldwell's Gun - it is in the areas of ballistics analysis and his use of the comparison microscope (developed by Calvin Goddard and Phillip Gravelle). Up against his old rival and the conflicting information presented in court, Heinrich set up his equipment in court and invited the jurors to see for themselves - this was the first time such a thing was done.
We finish with the conclusion of the Alleme Lamson case, one in which we find Oscar on the side of the defendant rather than the prosecution. It was a messy case that went on for years, and saw the accused writing a book which was adapted into a movie. This case also called into question the bias of the judicial system, the harassment of jurors, and for Oscar, he too learned a valuable lesson - jurors reject what they don't easily understand - something which can make or break a case.
This fascinating read concludes with a follow up on the major players of the time; discusses the many methods developed by Oscar which are still used today, including his meticulous cataloguing of evidence; and gives us a brief run-down of his son's careers. Oscar was a rarity - in his own time and quite possibly even now. He was a mostly self taught man whose expertise encompassed many disciplines. I guess we must thank his life long confidant John Kaiser for ensuring materials of scientific interest were continually forwarded onto Oscar for use in the development of scientific methods.
This biography is presented in an easily read and understood manner - exploring all facets of the life of this unique man and also his methodologies. A highly recommended read for those with an interest in the development of forensic science and detecting techniques.
The Cases:
Allene Lamson's Bath
The Baker's Handwriting
The Star's Fingerprints
The Great Train Heist
- Southern Oregon Historical Society - Ray DeAutremont
- Southern Oregon Historical Society - Roy DeAutremont
- Southern Oregon Historical Society - Hugh DeAutremont
The Calculating Chemist
Bessie Ferguson's Ear
Marty Colwell's Gun
Further Reading
- Forensic Science Review (2017)
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