Non-L&C FFQ: English forensic practice in 1949 - 05/05/10 03:41 PM
I've actually found quite a bit of detail on the technology available then. Fingerprints were mainly used for ID-ing people and stuff. Problem is, everything I do find is geared toward criminal areas. What I need is info on what people would do if someone was in a really bad accident (one that probably involved upwards of 50 people) and a bunch of bodies weren't recognizable.
Here's some of the possibilities (not all of them very likely) that I've come up with:
a. Hope that everyone has either ID on them (and what passed for ID back in 1949, especially if you're dealing with some people aged 12-20?) or personal effects that are recognizable (necklaces, rings, watches, etc.). (This works all well and good assuming that one of those is available to ID someone by. If they don't have ID or any identifiable accessories, then we have issues.)
b. Have relatives look at the mangled remains of their loved ones. (Besides the nightmare-inducing aspects of this one, what if they can't recognize them even by looking at arms, legs, etc.?)
c. Fingerprint the bodies. (The reason I'm doubtful on this one is the amount of effort that would have to go into it--if police back then were anything like today, they would try to focus that time and effort on solving criminal cases rather than use it all over the place. But again, I don't know that much, so maybe?)
d. Use the logic of "well, they were known to get on this train/bus this morning, so they must be among the bodies". (This doesn't hold up well if someone is declared dead who actually isn't 'cause they got off early, one stop before the accident, so it makes me doubtful they'd use it.)
Here's some of the possibilities (not all of them very likely) that I've come up with:
a. Hope that everyone has either ID on them (and what passed for ID back in 1949, especially if you're dealing with some people aged 12-20?) or personal effects that are recognizable (necklaces, rings, watches, etc.). (This works all well and good assuming that one of those is available to ID someone by. If they don't have ID or any identifiable accessories, then we have issues.)
b. Have relatives look at the mangled remains of their loved ones. (Besides the nightmare-inducing aspects of this one, what if they can't recognize them even by looking at arms, legs, etc.?)
c. Fingerprint the bodies. (The reason I'm doubtful on this one is the amount of effort that would have to go into it--if police back then were anything like today, they would try to focus that time and effort on solving criminal cases rather than use it all over the place. But again, I don't know that much, so maybe?)
d. Use the logic of "well, they were known to get on this train/bus this morning, so they must be among the bodies". (This doesn't hold up well if someone is declared dead who actually isn't 'cause they got off early, one stop before the accident, so it makes me doubtful they'd use it.)