Bullet Holes and Chemical Residues in Shooting Cases
| Published date | 01 July 1941 |
| DOI | 10.1177/0032258X4101400313 |
| Date | 01 July 1941 |
| Author | Joseph T. Walker |
| Subject Matter | Article |
Bullet Holes
and
Chemical Residues
in Shooting Cases'
By
JOSEPH
T.
WALKER
Massachusetts State Police,
and
Department
of Legal Medicine,
Harvard
University.
SEVERAL
new and important objectives are introduced
when the medico-legal post-mortem examination of the
victim of a gunshot injury is undertaken.
In
ordinary practice
an autopsy is performed to secure information of medical
or scientific interest.
In
medico-legal practice it is performed
primarily to determine, for legal purposes, the cause of death.
Although both of these objectives are important, many medical
examiners and investigating officers are unfamiliar with certain
potentially rich sources of information which are extremely
useful in the investigation of the crime.
To
determine the
cause of death is, of course, fundamental. But to determine,
in so far as possible, the circumstances surrounding the fatal
acts is often more useful in the administration of justice.
Among others, answers to the following questions should be
sought. Was the wound produced by a bullet? Could the
injury have been self-inflicted?
From
what direction was the
shot fired? How far was the firearm from the victim when
the shot was fired? What kind of ammunition was used ?
What kind of firearm was used ?
The
answers to these and other questions may depend
entirely upon the examination of the body and clothing of the
victim. With the legal status of evidence of this kind already
established in the higher courts," its value in reconstructing
the circumstances surrounding the shooting and in appre-
hending the responsible person can hardly be over-estimated.
'" Reprinted from The Journal of Criminal
Law
and Criminology, by courtesy of the
author
and
of
Mr.
Fred
E.
Inbau,
Editor.
The
small numerals in
the
text
referto
the
Bibliographywhich will'be
published
1ltthe conclusion of
the
article. . .
316
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