At the scene of the crime
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Death due to drowning, old Sihlbett, January 7, 1921 Stadtarchiv Zürich -
Involuntary homicide, Bahnhofquai 15, January 1, 1942 Stadtarchiv Zürich -
Manslaughter, Burgwies tram depot, November 23, 1923 Stadtarchiv Zürich -
Gas explosion, Predigerplatz 27, April 2, 1938 Stadtarchiv Zürich -
Embezzlement, Giesshübelstrasse 36, May 27, 1933 Stadtarchiv Zürich -
Murder trial, Wegackerstrasse 50, December 27, 1936 Stadtarchiv Zürich -
Car accident, Rotbuchstrasse, October 12, 1925 Stadtarchiv Zürich -
Shooting accident, Lehmgrube Ziegelei Binz, April 14, 1929 Stadtarchiv Zürich -
Prostitution, Mainaustrasse 32, August 14, 1922 Stadtarchiv Zürich -
Illegal distillery, Brandschenkestrasse 14, April 16, 1936 Stadtarchiv Zürich -
Property damage, Seilergraben, April 9, 1933 Stadtarchiv Zürich -
Hand grenade accident, Allmend I, December 2, 1939 Stadtarchiv Zürich -
Abortion, Höschgasse 52, July 10, 1925 Stadtarchiv Zürich
Forensic scientists are trained to evaluate evidence. Often, it is the police who collect it. Historic photos belonging to the Zurich city archives show the wide range of incidents and locations that are potentially scenes of crimes.
This content was published on March 13, 2013
From the first recorded autopsy, performed on the body of stabbing victim Julius Caesar in 44 BC, to fingerprinting, developed in the 1890s, to DNA analysis, developed in the 1980s, numerous tools have evolved to help determine the circumstances surrounding a crime. Was a death due to an accident, suicide or murder? Who was responsible for the destruction of property? Who was at the scene when a crime occurred? Considerable time and effort are required to find out.
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