Young P.C. Frank Martin
 
Greetings from North Carolina, from a former member of Bermuda Police, 1970-1974.  My first years, prior to the dreadful assassinations, were indeed the halcyon days!   Permit me to recall a vivid moment of levity from one of many.  You may wish, if you think it OK and the story hasn't already been told, to include this in your excellent web site for former colleagues.
 
Around 1970/71, we - the members and staff of Bermuda Police - were invited to a lecture by a man who probably was the foremost forensic scientist in the world: Professor Keith Simpson, CBE, FRCP, FRCPath, who worked extensively with the Metropolitan Police.  Interestingly, from Wikipedia, Prof. Simpson pioneered forensic dentistry, was instrumental in identifying "battered baby syndrome", and he was involved in many famous cases in the annals of the Metropolitan Police.  It's too bad that he wasn't born earlier - we may have known the identity of Jack the Ripper!
 
Professor Keith Simpson
 
But to my story:  The lecture was held at the PRC, the room packed with young and old officers.  Since the PRC bar was easily accessed, liquid pleasures and a smoke-filled environment heralded the moment when Dr Simpson was asked to speak.  I recall Det/Superintendent Frank Hammond  asking an early question.  Unfortunately, Mr Hammond, in getting to his feet, disturbed some empty beer bottles and the room echoed with the sound of rolling beer bottles, pitching and clinking across the floor for a few embarrassing seconds, an unwelcome musical interlude to a very serious subject!  I believe Frank Hammond's question was a request to Dr Simpson to give advice to young officers who first encounter scenes-of-crimes.  I don't recall the answer, but it must surely have entailed something like, "Don't touch a bloody thing!"   It was the next question, to coin a phrase, which provided the "Coup de Theatre!"
 
Most of us will remember Sid Gordon, happily, I believe, still on the right side of terra firma (Australia perhaps?)  Anyhow, Sid was never without a good-humoured remark, blessed too with the ability to demonstrate, via his wonderful ear-to-ear grin, that he always meant fun.  Everybody liked Sid.   Anyhow, gauging the seriousness of the moment and managing to avoid a repeat disturbance of the beer bottles, Sid rose to his feet with his probing question, one which dealt with the fact that Dr Simpson had probably done more autopsies than any other human being:
 
'DR. SIMPSON, DID IT EVER MAKE YOU SICK?"
 
P.C. Sid Gordon
 
Now, just for a fleeting moment, the room was quiet.  Was the question one of Sid's send-ups, or an inspired and thoughtful response to put a great forensic scientist off  guard?  One or two of the members who were present laughed, not heartily, probably only sufficiently to disturb the awkward silence.  Had Sid really done it now?   Dr Simpson thought carefully of his response to what, doubtless, was Sid's beaming face.  Like Sid's question, I will never forget his answer.
 
Seizing the opportunity and proving that humour is the best antidote sometimes for a man whose business is death, Dr Simpson's reply - like Sid's question - was a classic:
 
"NO, I CAN'T SAY I HAVE.  BUT I'LL TELL YOU, AND THIS IS A FACT, THERE ARE SOME REALLY ADVANCED CASES OF PUTREFACTION THAT MAKE ME RAVENOUSLY HUNGRY!".
It was game, set, and match to Professor Keith Simpson.  I'm sure Sid Gordon hasn't had such a good response before or after!  I can picture it all in my mind as if it was yesterday!  Thanks, Sid!
 
Thanks for letting me indulge, Roger. Best wishes to you and to all former colleagues.
Frank Martin
 
Editors note  -  It was great to receive this excellent article from Frank. I can also vividly remember Professor Simpson's lecture in the PRC main hall which held us all spellbound, but I recall something else Professor did during the evening to keep us all in good humour.  He gave a slide presentation showing us a series of gory slides taken at murder scenes, but just occasionally he would put up a slide of a voluptuous young lady clad in a skimpy bikini, very much alive and well, then flick to the next gory scene in a split second!  It sure had the 'desired' effect.  We were all glued to the screen, and his words, throughout his presentation.
 
I'm fairly sure the Professor was visiting Bermuda to give evidence in the trial of Paul Belvin for murdering a young Royal Gazette reporter who was found in the water off Pomander Gate Road, and whilst here he attended another murder scene  in Devonshire Marsh just off Vesey Street  where the body of a middle aged woman had been discovered.  To the best of my recollection both murders were solved and the culprits were convicted.
 
 
 

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Terry
George Rose said :
You're correct Roger. Before a hushed Supreme Court at the Paul Belvin murder trial the Crown called the British Home Office's top pathologist Professor Keith Simpson as a surprise witness on Monday 17th January 1972 - the third day of the trial. Paul Belvin murdered Jean Burrows during the early hours of Saturday 3rd July 1971 and was convicted accordingly.Editors note - Many thanks George. Look forward to receiving your article
Any chance of us reading this polygraph article?ThanksEditors note - apologies for the confusion. George's article with mention of the first polygraph test conducted during a Bermuda murder investigation has been renamed "Brutal Murder on Pomander Road" and that is where you'll find the reference to a polygraph test being carried out in the US on a suspect in the murder.

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Terry
Terry said :
The lady that was murdered and left in the Devonshire Marsh just across the street from where the horse arena is was killed by her son and the *&^%$## even had sex with her dead body according to Gruff and the pathologist.I won't mention names.Editors note - gruesome but I believe this was given in evidence during the trial.
Of course it was; the mentioning in the trial et al.I was just trying to be civil because there are members of that family that read this site.Shalom.Editors note - I was just pointing out that the details you provided came out in open court so they are a matter of public record. I do recall that it was a very sad case indeed.

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Terry
The lady that was murdered and left in the Devonshire Marsh just across the street from where the horse arena is was killed by her son and the *&^%$## even had sex with her dead body according to Gruff and the pathologist.I won't mention names.Editors note - gruesome but I believe this was given in evidence during the trial.
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Terry
Interesting read by Frank et al.The irony is I was there at this lecture and my Father knocked down Paul as a child when he ran in front of his taxi ; and had some steel plate put in place of his skull.Further on my Father was the one that found Jean Burrows whilst walking to get his punt on Pomander Road.Then sometime later I was riding my Triumph up at old Buck Burrows et al's target practice area at the fort above Bleak House when I came across and old Cortina with a rag in the gas tank that had been set alight but never engulfed the car.The owner was missing and was later found just down the hill over a cut of water under a palm tree murdered.Shalom.Editors note - Those are fascinating connectios on several levels Terry. Very interesting that your father was involved in the accident resulting in Paul Belvin's brain injury requiring steel plates in his head. Would anyone know if it came up in his trial that Belvin has sustained a serious head injury as a child? Many thanks for your input Terry.
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John McQuaid
Can't resist another moment from the same lecture, which I too remember like it was yesterday. At five minutes to the lunch break and time for his departure, he told us. " Now then you young men, about to seek your fortune in the big city, I have two last pictures that I want you to see." His first slide was a photo of a delectable and well-blessed young lady on a gurney. His second slide was of the same 'lady', now full length and with a male package any man would have been proud of. His closing remarks were "Be careful out there gentlemen."
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John McQuaid
During my training at Hendon in the long lost past, I also recall a lecture from the great man in his work place, in which he was talking on the subject of autopsies. When I spied a pile of old newspaper's - The Financial Times - I cheekily asked him if he had the time to read. Not thinking for too long, he quipped, "when we have removed the brain, it is popped into a jar and sent to the lab. Purely for the sake of appearances, we stuff old newspaper into the cranium casing for the burial. I gestured, "But why the Financial Times, is it because they are pink in colour?" Goodness no,' he replied, "If you were an intelligent person in life, would you want your head stuffed with 'The Mirror' or 'The Daily Mail' I kept quiet for the remainder of the talk. A great man.Editors note - ... and with a great sense of humour!
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George Rose
You're correct Roger. Before a hushed Supreme Court at the Paul Belvin murder trial the Crown called the British Home Office's top pathologist Professor Keith Simpson as a surprise witness on Monday 17th January 1972 - the third day of the trial. Paul Belvin murdered Jean Burrows during the early hours of Saturday 3rd July 1971 and was convicted accordingly.I shall shortly send you a most interesting article concerning the unusual use of a polygraph during this murder investigation.Editors note - Many thanks George. Look forward to receiving your article

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