The Pilot

[mlm828]

I couldn't help thinking of the Pilot (and chuckling a bit) when I read the following, posted this morning by one of my legal colleagues:

I'm just doing my statement of facts and dutifully noting that an officer claims to have smelled cordite in a recently shot handgun. Based on my expertise as a reader of detective novels, I parenthetically mention that cordite is a propellant used in ammo. And then I think "hmm, maybe I better look that up to make sure I know what I'm talking about."

At which point Wikipedia tells me that "Cordite is now obsolete, and it is no longer produced. . . . The smell of cordite is frequently referenced (erroneously) in fiction to indicate the recent firing of weapons."

No wonder Karen doubted Jim when he insisted he smelled cordite in the stolen car. She was right!

For more on the fictional device of "smelling cordite," check out this article.

[inuvik]

Jun 24, 2011 1:44:05 GMT -5 mlm828 said:

I couldn't help thinking of the Pilot (and chuckling a bit) when I read the following, posted this morning by one of my legal colleagues:

I'm just doing my statement of facts and dutifully noting that an officer claims to have smelled cordite in a recently shot handgun. Based on my expertise as a reader of detective novels, I parenthetically mention that cordite is a propellant used in ammo. And then I think "hmm, maybe I better look that up to make sure I know what I'm talking about."

At which point Wikipedia tells me that "Cordite is now obsolete, and it is no longer produced. . . . The smell of cordite is frequently referenced (erroneously) in fiction to indicate the recent firing of weapons."

No wonder Karen doubted Jim when he insisted he smelled cordite in the stolen car. She was right!

For more on the fictional device of "smelling cordite," check out this article.

Interesting, but I sure hope that lawyers don't rely exclusively on Wikipedia for their info! I hope s/he double checked elsewhere too.

[mlm828]

Jun 24, 2011 15:17:56 GMT -5 inuvik said:

Interesting, but I sure hope that lawyers don't rely exclusively on Wikipedia for their info! I hope s/he double checked elsewhere too.

No, we don't, but in this instance, Wikipedia was correct. Check out the article I linked.

[Kasman]

The link to that article seems to be broken

[mlm828]

That's odd. It works for me.

Here's the url: www.leelofland.com/wordpress/?p=5004
Maybe it will work if you copy and paste it in the address bar. The site is the blog of a former detective who has written a book on police procedure for writers.