Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology Volume 61 | Issue 3 Article 8 1971 Sherlock Holmes: Father of Scientific rC ime and Detection Stanton O. Berg Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarlycommons.law.northwestern.edu/jclc Part of the Criminal Law Commons, Criminology Commons, and the Criminology and Criminal Justice Commons Recommended Citation Stanton O. Berg, Sherlock Holmes: Father of Scientific rC ime and Detection, 61 J. Crim. L. Criminology & Police Sci. 446 (1970) This Article is brought to you for free and open access by Northwestern University School of Law Scholarly Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology by an authorized editor of Northwestern University School of Law Scholarly Commons. TnE JOUBNAL OP CRIMINAL &W, CRIMINOLOGY AND POLICE SCIENCE VoL 61, No. 3 Copyright a 1970 by Northwestern University School of Law Printed in U.S.A. SHERLOCK HOLMES: FATHER OF SCIENTIFIC CRIME DETECTION STANTON 0. BERG The author is a consulting firearms expert in Minneapolis, Minn. He is a fellow in the American Academy of Forensic Sciences and a member of the International Association of Identification and several organizations interested in firearms. Mr. Berg has contributed to this journal and other techni- cal publications. He writes of his long interest in Sherlock Holmes, and this interesting presentation traces the interrelationship of the Sherlock Holmes stories and the growth of scientific crime detec- tion.-EDrIoR. Reading has always been one of my most to attach a significance to the literature that is enjoyable pastimes. This interest resulted in my greater then pure and simple entertainment. early introduction to Arthur Conan Doyle's Aside from some admitted personal bias, I feel Sherlock Holmes. I spent many enjoyable hours a strong case can be made that the famous sleuth during my youth devouring the series of stories. had a decided stimulating influence on the develop- A re-reading of the tales in later years has however ment of modem scientific crime detection. I do been a continuing source of pleasure to me. not claim that this theory is original with me as other writers have briefly touched on the idea UNIVERSAL APPEAL from time to time. I do not however find any in The Sherlock Holmes stories have presented a depth treatment of the concept that Holmes acted phenomenon of universal appeal. The master as a catalyst in the evolving of the modem investi- detective employing observation, deductive rea- gative, identification and forensic sciences. I soning, and scientific knowledge has fascinated the think it would be interesting at this point to young and the old, the rich and the poor. Somerset review what others have had to say on this theory. Maugham has written of the great admiration of Doyle and Holmes by the intelligentsia. Sherlock OraER AUTHORS Holmes has appeared in 60 narratives (56 short The Criminologist Ashton-Wolfe writing in stories and 4 full length novels) published be- The Illustrated London News (27 February 1932) tween 1887 and 1927. The stories have enjoyed said: enormous international popularity down through the years. Scores of articles, essays, and books "Many of the methods invented by Conan Doyle are have been written analyzing the stories, their today in use in the scientific laboratories. Sherlock origin and the characters of both Holmes and Holmes made the study of tobacco ashes his hobby. Dr. Watson. A number of "Holmesian" clubs are It was a new idea, but the police at once realised the in existence of which the 'Baker Street Irregulars" importance of such specialised knowledge, and now is the most famous. President Franklin Roosevelt, every laboratory has a complete set of tables giving the appearance and composition of the various a Holmes fan, is reported to have christened the ashes ... mud and soil from various districts are also Intelligence Department "Baker Street" during classified much after the manner that Holmes de- the Second World War. Even in the present space scribed ... poisons, hand-writing, stains, dust, foot- age there is little indication that the public prints, traces of wheels, the shape and position of affection for the "Holmesian" lore is about to die wounds.., the theory of cryptograms, all these and out. This current interest is evidenced by literature many other excellent methods which germinated in to be found in a diverse array of publications. Conan Doyle's fertile imagination are now part and The literature can be found in university publi- parcel of every detective's scientific equipment." cations, professional journals, newspaper feature Henry Morton articles, and even as full page color cartoons in Robinson in his book Science Playboy magazine. Catches the Criminal (1935) states: A GREATER SIGNIFICANCE "When Sherlock Holmes whipped out his magnifying glass to examine a flake of Latakia tobacco found on Because of the pleasure Mr. Holmes has given the smyrna rug in the Boscombe Valley affair, he be- me, I suppose it is not unusual that I would seek came not merely a very charming character in de- 1970] SHERLOCK HOLUF_.S-SCIENTIFIC CRIME DETECTION tective fiction but an exponent of a whole new way of Afterwards he gives proof of his skill by instantly looking at life. The enormous popularity of Conan recognising the origin of a mud stain." Doyle's hero and the downright affection in which he has been held for nearly fifty years can perhaps be Luke S. May (Criminologist, Director of the best explained by identifying him with that elusive Scientific Detective Laboratories, President of the wraith known as the time spirit-the protean shadow Institute of Scientific Criminology and President that hovers over an age, compelling it to think, act, Emeritus of the Northwest Association of Sheriffs write its stories and catch its criminals in a highly and Police) in his book Crime's Nemesis (1936) particularized manner. For Sherlock Holmes dra- states the following: matically typified the new spirit of investigative curiosity that broke over the world during the latter "However, many of Bertilon's exploits in the sci- half of the nineteenth century; while he was endear- entific investigation of crime outrival those of Sher- ing himself to us with his lenses and test tubes, other lock Holmes, the figment of Conan Doyle's imagina- searchers and analysts-detectives all-were track- tion. Without disparaging progressive police officers ing down the constituent elements of matter, and of all nations, I believe that the writings of Conan delving into the atomic mystery of life itself... a Doyle have done more than any other one thing to new heaven and earth were unrolling before men's stimulate active interest in the scientific and analyti- eyes, a heaven and earth that demanded to be ex- cal investigation of crime. All of these men helped plained in terms of the new scientifjc method." introduce a fundamentally new technique in crime detection." Sir Sydney Smith (Professor of Forensic Medi- cine, Edinburgh University and formerly Medico- CONTEMPORAMuS OF Hor.'s Legal Expert to the Ministry of Justice, Egypt) Probably the greatest evidence of the value and in his autobiography Mostly Murder (1959) com- influence of the Holmes stories can be found by ments as follows: looking to Holmes contemporaries in the fields of "Therein lies the value of the Sherlock Holmes the police and forensic sciences. In this area we stories apart from their excellent entertainment. will examine some of the prominent pioneers who Today criminal investigation is a science, and the were responsible for developing our modem plodding policeman gaping admiringly at the gifted scientific crime investigation and identification amateur is an anachronism. This was not always so methods. We will find that they were willing to and the change owes much to the influence of Sher- give credit to Sherlock Holmes both as a teacher lock Holmes. An author may feel satisfaction when of scientific investigative methods as well as a his fiction is accepted as true to life. Conan Doyle had germinator of the ideas they later fostered into the rare, perhaps unique, distinction of seeing life being. become true to his fiction.... Full of significance and interest, however-especially to anyone con- Bertillon is one of these. Alphonse Bertillon cemed professionally with the detection of crime and (1883-1914) a French criminologist is regarded by criminals-is the anticipation of modem scientific some as the creator of the forensic science. He methods of investigation. For instance, the use of the encouraged the development of scientific methods hand lens and the microscope; the measuring tape; in all areas of criminal investigation. He founded the plaster cast of footprints; the extraction and the Department of Judicial Identity in Paris and examination of dust and the like from clothing; and was its first chief. He is noted for devising the the discrimination between bloodstains and other first scientific system for the identification of the stains." person through a number of detailed anthropologi- In the book Conan Doyle--A Biography by cal measurements (Anthropometry). He also Pierre Nordon (1967) we find the following pionered a standard system of criminal (Mugg) reference: photography utilizing a full front and profile view. Bertillon, an early Sherlock Holmes fan, is quoted, "The fact that the publication of Conan Doyle's as saying: first books coincided with progress in the science of criminology raised the question as to whether these "I love detective stories. I would like to see Sherlock could be cause and effect and if so to what degree. Holmes methods of reasoning adopted by all pro- Conan Doyle's first novel was not exclusively con- fessional police."' cemed with detection, but he prepared the way by insisting on the value of observation and scientific Dr.