Criminal Investigation - A Practical Textbook for Magistrates, Police Officers and Lawyers

1934. Third edition. xviii, 586pp. Hans Gustav Adolf Gross (1847-1915) was an Austrian criminal jurist and criminologist, and is known as the "Founding Father" of criminal profiling. He is probably best known for his 'Handbuch für Untersuchungsrichter als System der Kriminalistik' (Criminal Investigations, a Practical Textbook), first published in 1893. The purpose of the book was to make up for a deficiency in criminalistics, and was written as an instructive book, focusing on human nature and the motives of a criminal. The work goes beyond legal codes and statutes to explore the practical knowledge and skills needed by investigators, from understanding the psychology of criminals to deciphering evidence left at crime scenes. The author emphasizes the importance of meticulous observation, drawing on diverse fields like medicine, physics, and even superstition to extract valuable insights. This book equips investigators with the tools to navigate the complexities of witness testimony, analyze footprints and bloodstains, and crack secret codes. The book is bound in the original blue cloth covered boards with gold titling on the spine and a blind-stamped emblem on the front board. The case of the book is in very good condition with light shelf wear to the boards and bumping to the spine ends. The contents are tight and clean with some light foxing to the last few pages and browning to the free endpapers. There is no inscription. PLEASE NOTE: This is a large and heavy book and extra postage may apply for delivery outside the UK.