Recent Book: A Recurring Welfare Problem: Matrimonial Suits and Property
| Date | 01 July 1979 |
| DOI | 10.1177/0032258X7905200332 |
| Published date | 01 July 1979 |
| Subject Matter | Recent Book |
HOLD
THE TORCH
"Forty Years
of
Murder"
Harrap
Books - £6.95
Professor
KEITH
SIMPSON
"Police: The Investigation
of
Violence"
Harrap Books - £4.95
The first book is an autobiography; the second volume is one of a series on various
aspects of police work under the general title of "Police Studies".
Keith Simpson has enjoyed a long and
distinguished career in his chosen field.
However, his autobiography, whilst it
contains some personal and interesting
material, is largely concerned with his
career and a catalogue of cases in which
he has been involved. Many of them
made the national headlines, some are
famous for what was done and for what
he managed to accomplish in bringing
the offenders to trial. Frequently the
autobiography isset aside to tell us of this
or
that
murder, and generally the stories
make absorbing reading. Indeed, it
would be difficult to remember any
important murder trial in the past thirty
years in which he did not figure in one
way or another.
Pathology attracted Keith Simpson
from his earliest medical days. He
declared himself unable to choose
anything else. Always ready to turn out
at a
moment's
notice,
and
his
preparedness to work under the most
difficult conditions, soon established a
reputation based upon his painstaking,
meticulous approach to the task in hand.
His conclusions, based upon his
examinations at the scene and elsewhere
were frequently of great help to
investigating officers, and invaluable at
the subsequent trials. Not all of his cases
were unqualified successes, and one
suspects that at times solutions were
tantalisingly close but eluded the best
efforts of police and scientists.
At the time he became involved in
criminal pathology, there were not many
other practitioners. The best known was
probably Sir Bernard Spilsbury, who
was then nearing the end of his career.
Keith Simpson's contemporaries who
became as well known as himself were
Francis Camps and Donald Teare. from
their earliest days they became firm
friends. However, a rare jarring and
perhaps sour note occurs when quite
severe criticism is levelled at Francis
Camps. It is a pity these references were
included for they do nothing to enhance
the story.
At times the list of cases becomes
tedious for often the accounts are
variations upon a theme, but having said
that, one cannot take away from the
author
his
truly
remarkable
achievements. .
The second book is a teaching text
book. All aspects of violence are dealt
with in a concise manner, well illustrated
with photographs. The role of the
scientist, and his needs, are well defined
and there is a great deal to interest the
police officer who, if the book is studied
carefully, willbe much better informed of
how the scientist will approach his task.
Upon many occasions there are
references to cases which are explained
more fully in the autobiography, and in
the latter there were occasions when
some scientific details would have helped
the story-telling.
Whilst there are two books, each
aimed at a different readership, one
single volume might well have made for
more
interesting
reading.
The
autobiographical aspects might well have
been even sketchier but they are largely
overshadowed by the case histories
which are liberally scattered through our
legal history in the post-war period.
W.
PULLINGER
A
RECURRING
WELFARE
PROBLEM
MARTIN
BERKIN
AND
MAURICE
YOUNG:
Matrimonial Suits and Property
Proceedings: Barry Rose £14.00
This is another book in the series of conduct cases in the matrimonial courts,
thumbnail guides to the law which began this book will be of immense value. The
with the Crown
Court
Index of
Common
authors have maintained the high
Penalties and Formalities and which has standards set by previous authors in the
gone from strength to strength in the series and the result is a book which
criminal field. It is not surprising, covers all those matters which are likely
therefore, that the publishers, having to arise in general matrimonial practice.
found such a successful formula, should The narrative is, of necessity, fairly brief
extend the series into a completely but the footnotes and references are
different branch of the law, and a branch sufficiently comprehensive to enable the
of the law which has previously been practitioner to obtain quickly and easily
covered only by large and expensive and accurate guide to the matrimonial
volumes. law.
For
those who have to advise and H.C.W.
July 1979 306
To continue reading
Request your trial