Dr. Walter C. McCrone--his contributions to environmental microscopy

This paper briefly highlights Dr. McCrone's contributions to the recently emerging field of forensic environmental microscopy. Few, if any, criminalists are not familiar with Dr. Walter C. McCrone's voluminous contributions to the field of forensic microscopy and the analyses of micro and ultra micro transfer (trace) evidence. Dr. McCrone was renowned for his life long efforts in promoting the application of the Polarized Light Microscope (PLM) to problem solving. It is therefore not surprising that Dr. McCrone would also apply his analytical and deductive skills employing the PLM to problems in environmental analysis. He is well known for his many publications dealing with the analysis of asbestos and asbestos like materials by PLM. His philosophy of presenting intense professional training courses stressing the practical applications of the PLM carried over to a series of courses offered to students requiring education in other areas of microscopical analysis. Through McCrone Research Institute, Dr. McCrone can be said to have been responsible for the training of a large majority of microscopists who literally analyzed tens of millions of samples. These analyses were performed utilizing methodologies developed predominately by him and adopted by regulatory agencies in the United States and abroad. The methods he fostered are a major part of the arsenal of microscopical techniques employed by forensic environmental microscopists in their efforts to identify a manufacturer of an insulation product for the purpose of litigation.     

A tribute to Dr. Ellis R. Kerley: the Kansas years.

Dr. Ellis R. Kerley, one of the founders of the Physical Anthropology section of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, was born in Kentucky and received his undergraduate degree at the University of Kentucky. Following the completion of his doctoral degree (University of Michigan) he was a visiting professor at the University of Kentucky before joining the faculty at the University of Kansas in 1966. At Kansas he was a major advisor for many graduate students who were to become leaders in the new area of Forensic Anthropology.     

重构我国民事举证责任分担规则的设想

民事举证责任分担规则是民事举证责任制度的核心问题,被中外诉讼理论认为是"民事诉讼的脊梁"。它是指举证责任在当事人之间的分配,它要解决的实质问题是争议事实真伪不明时,由何人承担不利的诉讼后果。由于我国民诉法对此规定得过于简略,加之相关学说又混乱不清,导致审判实践中无所适从。为此,拟对我国民事举证责任分担规则存在的缺憾作一剖析,并试图提出重构该规则的新设想和运作该规则的基本思路。     

Dr. T. Dale Stewart's travels

Renowned forensic physical anthropologist Dr. T. Dale Stewart traveled extensively to countries all over the world. The reasons for his journeys were manifold. He did fieldwork, took part in congresses, visited scientific institutions, and lectured by invitation at various universities. This paper deals with his journeys in general and with his four visits to Czechoslovakia in particular. Three of them were undertaken in connection with scientific congresses dedicated to Dr. Ales Hrdlicka. Dr. Stewart, as Hrdlicka's successor in the Smithsonian Institution, always chose an appropriate topic for his lecture. His visits to Hrdlicka's native country and town contributed to better mutual understanding and exchange of ideas between physical anthropologists and anatomists from both countries, the USA and Czechoslovakia (the today separate Czech and Slovak Republics).     

Dr. Walter C. McCrone's contribution to the characterization and identification of explosives

Dr. McCrone was an amazing individual, possessing many talents and having many interests. He especially loved applying polarized light microscopy (PLM) to answering the question-at-hand and solving problems. He applied PLM to many different fields including the identification of air pollution particles, asbestos identification, art conservation, pharmaceuticals, industry problems and forensic sciences. A field that I believe he enjoyed the most was the characterization and identification of explosives. Throughout his life he worked on, gave presentations and published articles on the characterization and identification of explosives. Also, he encouraged other scientists to give presentations and publish on the subject by providing "behind the scene" advice and/or be a co-author on a paper. He unselfishly taught others how to apply PLM and incorporate this invaluable tool into their analytical scheme.     

The case of Dr. Shipman

On January 31, 2000, Dr. Harold Shipman was convicted at Preston, England, of murdering 15 of his patients by administering lethal doses of diamorphine (pharmaceutical heroin). Investigations indicate that, during his working life, he killed about 220 to 240 of his patients. The bodies of many victims were cremated. Twelve victims were exhumed, and 9 of these deaths were included in the indictment. Most victims were elderly and had histories of natural disease. Autopsies confirmed known natural disease but showed no evidence of acute lethal events. Analysis of skeletal muscle disclosed significant quantities of morphine, to which the deaths were attributed. Circumstantial evidence was strong, as illustrated by the convictions in 6 deaths without autopsy or toxicology, because the bodies had been cremated. Organic compounds are remarkably stable in buried bodies. Even so, detection and quantitation of morphine in exhumed bodies may become problematic after burial for 4 years or more. Morphine glucuronide is slowly converted back to free morphine in the buried corpse.