Fatal Evidence: Professor Alfred Swaine Taylor and the Dawn of Forensic Science

“An engrossing read... Her description of the ways in which forensic experiments evolved is as fascinating as the courtroom dramas they accompanied.” —Jess Kidd, The Guardian, “Best Summer Books 2018, as Picked by Writers” A surgeon and chemist at Guys Hospital in London, Professor Alfred Swaine Taylor used new techniques to search the human body for evidence that once had been unseen. As well as tracing poisons, he could identify blood on clothing and weapons, and used hair and fiber analysis to catch killers. Taylor is perhaps best remembered as an expert witness at one of Victorian England's most infamous trials—that of William Palmer, “The Rugeley Poisoner.” But he was involved in many other intriguing cases, from a skeleton in a carpet bag to a fire that nearly destroyed two towns, and several poisonings in between. Taylor wrote widely on forensic medicine. He gave Charles Dickens a tour of his laboratory, and Wilkie Collins owned copies of his books. His work was known to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and he inspired the creation of fictional forensic detective Dr. Thorndyke. For Dorothy L. Sayers, Taylors books were the back doors to death. From crime scene to laboratory to courtroom and sometimes to the gallows, this is the world of Professor Alfred Swaine Taylor and his fatal evidence. “A must read for any lover of crime writing, criminology, and Victorian cultural history.” —Fortean Times “Totally fascinating... Refers to many famous and not-so-famous cases, as well as giving an insight into this clever, enthusiastic, honourable and dedicated man. Very clearly written and very enjoyable read.” —Michelle Birkby, author of The Baker Street Inquiries series Cover......Page 1 Title......Page 4 Copyright......Page 5 Contents......Page 6 Note on Text......Page 7 Introduction......Page 8 Chapter 1 Go Thy Way, Passenger......Page 10 Chapter 2 More of Impulse than Discretion......Page 21 Chapter 3 Fearful and Wonderful......Page 28 Chapter 4 The Light of an English Sun......Page 35 Chapter 5 One of the Most Eminent Men......Page 45 Chapter 6 My Heart is as Hard as a Stone......Page 57 Chapter 7 The Means of our Preservation......Page 67 Plate section......Page 78 Chapter 8 The Only Friend I had in the World......Page 94 Chapter 9 The Formidable Scourge......Page 104 Chapter 10 His Very High Position......Page 116 Chapter 11 Romantic, Mysterious, and Singular......Page 128 Chapter 12 Enter Not into the Path of the Wicked......Page 138 Chapter 13 Truth Will Always Go the Farthest......Page 168 Chapter 14 Grieved Beyond all Endurance ......Page 176 Chapter 15 You are the Villain......Page 191 Chapter 16 Blood Enough......Page 204 Chapter 17 The Eminent Opinion of Professor Taylor......Page 215 Timeline......Page 229 Acknowledgements......Page 231 Further Reading......Page 232 Selected Bibliography......Page 233 Notes......Page 238 Index......Page 250 "A surgeon and chemist at Guy's Hospital in London, Professor Alfred Swaine Taylor used new techniques to search the human body for evidence that once had been unseen. As well as tracing poisons, he could identify blood on clothing and weapons, and used hair and fiber analysis to catch killers.Taylor is perhaps best remembered as an expert witness at one of Victorian England's most infamous trials - that of William Palmer, 'The Rugeley poisoner'. But he was involved in many other intriguing cases, from a skeleton in a carpet bag to a fire that nearly destroyed two towns, and several poisonings in between. Taylor wrote widely on forensic medicine. He gave Charles Dickens a tour of his laboratory, and Wilkie Collins owned copies of his books. His work was known to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and he inspired the creation of fictional forensic detective Dr Thorndyke. For Dorothy L. Sayers, Taylor's books were "the back doors to death." From crime scene to laboratory to courtroom - and sometimes to the gallows - this is the world of Professor Alfred Swaine Taylor and his fatal evidence."--Book jacket A surgeon and chemist at Guy's Hospital in London, Professor Alfred Swaine Taylor used new techniques to search the human body for evidence that once had been unseen. As well as tracing poisons, he could identify blood on clothing and weapons, and used hair and fiber analysis to catch killers. Taylor is perhaps best remembered as an expert witness at one of Victorian England's most infamous trials - that of William Palmer, 'The Rugeley Poisoner'. But he was involved in many other intriguing cases, from a skeleton in a carpet bag to a fire that nearly destroyed two towns, and several poisonings in between. Taylor wrote widely on forensic medicine. He gave Charles Dickens a tour of his laboratory, and Wilkie Collins owned copies of his books. His work was known to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and he inspired the creation of fictional forensic detective Dr Thorndyke. For Dorothy L. Sayers, Taylor's books were 'the back doors to death'. From crime scene to laboratory to courtroom - and sometimes to the gallows - this is the world of Professor Alfred Swaine Taylor and his fatal evidence. BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Medical Cover 1 Title 4 Copyright 5 Contents 6 Note on Text 7 Introduction 8 Chapter 1 Go Thy Way, Passenger 10 Chapter 2 More of Impulse than Discretion 21 Chapter 3 Fearful and Wonderful 28 Chapter 4 The Light of an English Sun 35 Chapter 5 One of the Most Eminent Men 45 Chapter 6 My Heart is as Hard as a Stone 57 Chapter 7 The Means of our Preservation 67 Plate section 78 Chapter 8 The Only Friend I had in the World 94 Chapter 9 The Formidable Scourge 104 Chapter 10 His Very High Position 116 Chapter 11 Romantic, Mysterious, and Singular 128 Chapter 12 Enter Not into the Path of the Wicked 138 Chapter 13 Truth Will Always Go the Farthest 168 Chapter 14 Grieved Beyond all Endurance 176 Chapter 15 You are the Villain 191 Chapter 16 Blood Enough 204 Chapter 17 The Eminent Opinion of Professor Taylor 215 Timeline 229 Acknowledgements 231 Further Reading 232 Selected Bibliography 233 Notes 238 Index 250 First full-length book about the life and work of Alfred Swaine Taylor