Marshall Houts, a native of Chattanooga, was a graduate of the Minnesota School of Law. During the Second World War he was a special agent for the FBI and later with the OSS - which became the CIA.

He became a professor of law and a professor of forensic pathology. In 1959 he launched the prestigious medico-legal journal "Trauma"

In his spare time he joined with Erle Stanley Gardiner, the creator of Perry Mason, in the "Court of Last Resort". This was a group of about a dozen dedicated individuals who toured the States when a doubtful death sentence had been passed. Their work ( which was financed by the proceeds of the Perry Mason TV series) saved dozens from an unjust death.

A noted British pathologist, Francis Camps, visited the States in the early sixties and witnessed the work being done by this organisation. Camps brought the idea back to Britain and introduced it to the British Academy of Forensic Sciences.

Houts always sought to bring the science on investigations to the common man. In his later years he became a technical consultant on the TV series "Quincy" - which was about a pathologist.

---

Press to return to the INDEX PAGE