Smith And The Media: Part Three; Smith of the North: In Search of the 1918 Virus;

"CHARLES WAS WHAT THE IRISH CALL A SEANNACHIE, A STORYTELLER. I THOUGHT, "WHO BETTER TO DEAL WITH A GRIEVING FAMILY THAN THIS KIND, GENTLE AND GENEROUS MAN WHO WOULD LISTEN AND TRY TO BRING PEACE TO A DEEPLY TROUBLED RELATIVE." DR. KIRSTShe Y DUNCAN: HUNTING THE 1918 FLU: ONE SCIENTISTS SEARCH FOR A KILLER VIRUS;

 In 1997 Dr. Charles Smith was in the spotlight again as he travelled to Longyearbyen Norway on an expedition in a bid to discover the bodies of seven people who succumbed to the 1918 flu pandemic. Smith had been asked to join the expedition by Dr. Kirsty Duncan, a geographer at the University of Windsor. Duncan describes her first meeting with Smith in her fascinating book, “Hunting the 1918 FLU: One scientists search for a killer virus,” published in 2003, by the University of Toronto Press. Duncan's description of her first meeting with Smith illustrates how Smith had an uncanny ability to make a powerful, emotional, lasting and positive impression on people from the very first meeting. ”Charles Smith is a paediatric forensic pathologist at Toronto's Hospi­tal for Sick Children ('Sick Kids') and an associate professor in the Fac­ulty of Medicine at the University of Toronto," she writes in a chapter called "Beneath the Crosses." "I met him in 1993 to discuss the epidemiology of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) for another project on which I was working. We met at Ontario's Paedi­atric Forensic Pathology Unit, which performs post-mortem examinations of children who have died suddenly or under suspicious circumstances. On the elevator ride up to the unmarked pathology floor, I wondered what kind of person chooses to be a pathologist and what qualities such a specialist requires. My first thoughts: such an individual would be detached, cool, and unemotional, particularly if he works with the bodies of children and daily witnesses trauma, abuse, and neglect of young people. However, I was greeted by a warm, smiling, tall, blond man, sporting a Bugs Bunny tie, who quickly ushered me into his office – strewn widely with autopsy slides, microscopes and tractor drawings by his two young children. He immediately told me of his family, his cattle farm, and his involvement in the church. Charles was what the Irish called a seannachie, a storyteller. I thought, “Who better to deal with a grieving family than this kind, gentle and generous man who would listen and try to bring peace to a deeply troubled relative. This was the beginning of our friendship. One day in 1994, while the two of us were walking to the Office of the Chief Coroner of Ontario for a meeting on SIDS, I reminded Charles of my search for influenza victims and told him that I had found the burial place of seven Spanish flu victims in Svalbard, Norway. I explained that I hoped that he would agree to serve as the pathologist for my planned project. I wanted him because I admired his ethics and his caring. If I was going to ask to disturb someone's final resting place in another country, I wanted the person doing the work to do so with sensitivity. Charles beamed and proudly announced, 'Consider me on board.' (Compare this dramatic moment of acceptance to Smith's agreement to accompany Hamilton police to India as set out in the previous posting, "Smith and the Media: Part Two; Smith Goes To India.") The story­teller explained that he was of Norwegian descent; his grandfather, Tobias Nelson, had journeyed from Norway and had actually founded a Norwegian town, Mandel, in Charles's native Saskatchewan. The seannachie looked into the distance, 'Norwegian culture gave me so much. This will give me an opportunity to give something back to Norway.' " In an interesting foot-note, Duncan says that when her team returned to Longyearben for the exhumations, “Charles Smith and Barry Blenkinsop, arrived at the same day as the Lear jet. Charles had been bumped to first class, as the airline was pleased to help a documentary film maker who was recording “Charle’s every move.” The film was to be part of a documentary regarding Charle’s work as a pathologist “as seen through the eyes of his young daughter” Duncan also paints a powerful connection between Smith and religion (as does reporter Jon Wells in his description of Smith's journey to India as part of a police investigation and reporter Christie Blatchford in her interview with him during the notorious Dooley trial) as she describes Smith leading prayers before the exhumation of the Longyearbyen sailors. (See Blatchford's interview with Smith in earlier posting: Smith And The Media: Part One: The Media Share Some Of The Blame.") “Dr. Smith led us in prayer, as Pastor Jan Hoifodt was away on holiday." she begins. "Charles related that his grand-father Tobias Nelson (later called Bjorndahl) had left Norway to settle in Saskatchewan in the same year that Norway had achieved its independence from Sweden. He drew parallels between the lives of his grandfather and those of the seven young minors: Both Bjorndahl and the minors had traveled to distant parts of the world to build a better life, and both had come to rest a great distance from their native Norway. He then spoke of visiting his grandfather’s grave just a few weeks before his own trip to Norway. He noted that the cemetery in which his grandfather lay was well maintained “just like the cemetery in Svalbard. “He felt it a privilege to be a guest in Norway and to be part of this special project. He regretted that Pastor Hoifodt was away, as he loved to hear him pray in Norwegian – the language of the heavens, according to his grandfather. Charles then apologized for speaking in English and prayed. They were beautiful, heartfelt words. A minute of silence in memory of the miners followed. Over the next two weeks, dozens of townspeople, in a town of just 1,200, said how much they had appreciated the tribute.”

(I find it extremely difficult to reconcile this picture of a devout, thoughtful man, with the Dr.Charles Smith who brought his 11-year-old son to the exhumation of an 11-month-old baby girl. (See previous posting: Smith Accused of "Uncivilized" Behavior For Bringing 11-Year-Old Son To Exhumation;) In like manner as reporter Wells portrayed Smith as a hero who valiantly performed the exhumations in India in spite of warnings that he may be offending terrorists, Duncan paints a dramatic image of Smith voluntarily standing “overnight sentry duty” at the burial grounds to protect the team from polar bears." "Charles had again volunteered for sentry duty," she writes. The weather was stormy – grey sky, freezing drizzle and gusting winds. The fear of polar bears was strong – and this time for good reason. The coffin’s contents were emitting a sweet, sickly stench. Charles was concerned that the odour of decaying flesh would attract bears. " Duncan praises Smith for volunteering to do sentry duty, saying: “After the day’s work, there was night watch to protect the site and supplies. "I could not imagine anything more unpleasant. Barren, wind-swept, and dark. There would be no sleep, no warmth and no protection," wrote elsewhere in her book, evoking images in my mind of a stalwart Lawrence of Arabia.

This powerful imagery says much about Smith's ability to mesmerise others and cast himself in a dramatic light. See other postings in the "Smith and the Media: series: Part Five: Taking on Charles Smith: A second example of fearless journalism; Part Four: Fifth Estate probe triggers plea to Premier Mike Harris for Inquiry into Smith cases; Part Two: Smith Goes to India; Part One: Why the media share some of the blame;

Harold Levy;

Smith And The Media: Part Two: Smith Goes To India;

"HE WAS THE CLOSEST THING TO A FORENSIC PATHOLOGY STAR IN CANADA;"

REPORTER JON WELLS: HAMILTON SPECTATOR;

In August, 1997, Dr Charles Smith travelled to India to help Hamilton Police Service homicide officers locate and exhume the bodies of two infant twins children believed to have been murdered by their father Sukhwinder Dhillon.

Smith was later canonized in a lengthy series of stories by Hamilton Spectator reporter Jon Wells who spent more than a year crafting this true crime story, researching and interviewing the people involved.

Wells' stories drew upon more than 70 interviews, direct observation, policewitness statements and other investigation documents, written and videotape court exhibits, and transcripts - and they focussed on Dr. Charles Smith's efforts to locate the bodies, exhume them, and return with them to Toronto, where he performed the autopsy.

These stories are just another example of the manner in which journalists treated Smith with great reverence and dramatized his actions - and they illustrate the manner in which he was idolized by police officers and officials in the Chief Coroner's office.

"Cops and forensic pathologists agree that autopsies may not be pleasant but they are part of the job," Wells wrote in one of the stories. "Yet for both, child autopsies are a different matter, often too hard for the heart and the soul."

"But child autopsies were what Charles Smith did for a living," he continued. "As a pediatric forensic pathologist he specialized in the deaths of those who get to barely experience life."

"On the emotional level, he felt the pain, the loss. If the child had a favourite teddy bear, Smith would place it gently next to the corpse as he performed the autopsy.

In a field where clinical, scientific detachment is required, Smith was a believing, practicing Christian.

When it comes to death almost everyone returns to their religious roots for comfort. Smith did so all the time. God, he believed, is a god of justice, and every wrong will be righted.

As he opened the bodies of children, that thought helped."

As I read this pasage, I thought of Christie Blatchford's impression of Dr. Smith in the context of the notorious Dooley case. (See earlier posting: Smith And The Media: Part One: Why the Media Must Share The Blame:)

"Dr. Smith is a gentle man, and a religious one," Blatchford wrote.

"God loves the little children," he whispered to me on the way out of court. "As a Christian, I wondered how did the love of God ever penetrate that bedroom."

I felt shivers crawling up my spine as I read Wells' comment that, "God, he (Smith) believed, is a God of Justice, and every wrong will be righted. As he opened the bodies of children that thought helped."

Smith, like any one else, was entitled to his religious views.

But when he performed an autopsy for the Chief Coroner's office, as Wells correctly pointed out, he was duty-bound to exercise clinical detachment.

Wrong was not to be presumed.

Vengeance was not to be exacted.

------------------

Wells explains that when Dr. Jim Cairns, Deputy Chief Coroner of Ontario, he was asked by the police to recommend a forensic pathologist to assist them, “Cairns immediately thought of Dr. Charles Smith at the Hospital for Sick Children.

Smith, Ontario’s best known pediatric pathologist, was also perhaps Canada’s foremost hands-on expert in exhumations.

In fact, Smith had performed every exhumation of a child in the province since the mid- 1980’s.

Back in 1984, Smith had been asked to locate an unmarked grave in Bracebridge after a woman claimed a child she had lost thirty years earlier had been murdered.

Smith and his team not only found the infant in its coffin – with a clavicle suggesting possible infanticide – but five other babies in unmarked graves.

(No records or references are presented to backthis up. HL);

Smith would later travel to the Arctic with an international team of experts to exhume bodies in order to solve the mystery of the 1918 influenza pandemic that killed more than twenty million people worldwide. (This venture will be discussed in a future posting: "Smith And The Media" Part Three; HL);

When it came to studying the dead, Charles Smith was a star."

Wells then presents the dramatic scene where Detective (Warren) Korol asks Smith to sign on;

“Korol grinned.

He could sense the excitement in Smith’s voice, could tell he was engaged.

He knew Smith would take the job.

Smith did his duty, presenting every caveat he could imagine.

He agreed with Cairns that the entire project was a risk.

But then Charles Smith wanted the job.

Jim Cairns had tagged him.

He was the closest thing to a forensic pathology Star in Canada.

And he didn’t shy away from putting his reputation on the line.

Smith looked at the tall, square-shouldered detectives. “If you need my help,” he said at last. “I’ll go with you.”

Wells also presents another dramatic scene set in India where Smith insists on carrying onwithhis work even though the police have informed him that he could be attacked by terrorists while Smith is unloading a ground penetration radar machine from a van in the "blistering" heat.

“Two police guards armed with rifles stood nearby," Wells writes. "The Punjab police had sent them to protect the Canadians.

There was also a handsome Sikh man in uniform, four stars gleaming on his epaulettes.

He had studied at Cambridge, spoke English with a British accent. His expertise? Extremist movements in India.

“The newspapers are aware that you are here. You are at risk,” he told Smith.

Extremist Sikhs weren’t pleased that Indian authorities allowed the Canadians to chase Dhillon into his own back yard.

Smith wiped the seat from his forehead. Terrorist threat. The crowd. The clock ticking away. Unknown number of dead buried here. Rice paddies! Had he ever felt so much pressure?”

I also was fascinated by another passage in Well's series that demonstrates how brilliantly calculating Smith can be when he needs to get his way.

"More red tape. Tomorrow, tomorrow, " Wells writes. " Kevin) Dhinsa (a Hamilton detective) and Smith burned."

Charles Smith thought the Indian officials he encountered, obsessed as they were with social status, did not show respect to Dhinsa.

Smith started wearing a tie to look formal, introducing himselfas often as he could.

He was a physician, was tall and, perhaps most important, had white skin.

Smith had skimmed the newspapers.

The personal ads fascinated him. The big selling points: height and fairness of skin -- "wheaten" colour, boasted one.

He sensed the power, began using his face in an attempt to get things done.

"Yes, my name is Charles Smith,... Doctor Charles Smith, " he would announce, standing as tall as possible."

See other posts in the Smith and the Media series:

Part Five: Taking on Charles Smith: A second example of fearless journalism;

Part Four: Fifth Estate probe triggers plea to Premier Mike Harris for Inquiry into Smith cases;

Part Three: Smith of the North;

Part One: Why the media share some of the blame;

Harold Levy;

Smith And the Media; Part One: Why The Media Share Some Of The Blame;

DR. SMITH IS A GENTLE MAN, AND A RELIGIOUS ONE"..."GOD LOVES THE LITTLE CHILDREN," HE WHISPERED TO ME ON HIS WAY OUT OF COURT. "AS A CHRISTIAN, I WONDERED HOW DID THE LOVE OF GOD EVER PENETRATE THAT BEDROOM?"

REPORTER CHRISTIE BLATCHFORD: GLOBE AND MAIL;

One of the untold stories of the Charles Smith saga is the role that the media played in conveying the image of the brilliant, competent, wise, sensitive and caring Dr. Charles Randal Smith.

A perfect example of this phenomena is a Christie Blatchford story published in the Globe and Mail on April 18, 2002, during the gruesome trial of Tony and Marcia Dooley in connection with the death of their son Randall.

"Another day, when Dr. Charles Smith, a pediatric pathologist who has performed autopsies upon the bodies of hundreds and hundreds of children, was testifying, he could not help but remember his visit, the day Randy was found dead, to the Dooley townhouse and the small second-floor room where the boy slowly died," Blatchford wrote.

"Dr. Smith is a gentle man, and a religious one.

"God loves the little children," he whispered to me on his way out of court. "As a Christian, I wondered, how did the love of God ever penetrate that bedroom?"

Once, on his way to the downtown courthouse from the farm north of the city where he raises beef cattle, Dr. Smith thought of his own baby son, who died years ago of birth defects.

"I remembered how my wife and I willed him to live," he said. "If only I could have transferred some of that here."

And one day, this while Dr. Smith was using a video monitor to display some of the autopsy pictures of Randy's terrible injuries, he came into the courtroom a little early after the lunch break.

Up on his monitor, for just a minute before things resumed, were pictures of a darling baby calf, just born the Saturday before.

"On March 2," Dr. Smith said, making it as important a thing as it was. "At noon."

There on the monitor was Wedgewood Micah, born of Royal Lady, getting his very first bath from his mum, who licked and nuzzled him clean.

Dr. Smith carefully explained to me that when a calf is first born, the mother imprints her voice on him by lowing, with all the other cows gathering around to low too, so the calf learns to distinguish from all the voices the one calling him home."

Something is wrong with this picture.

Smith, an important witness for the Crown, is giving a columnist for a major National newspaper an interview on the very case he is testifying on in court, full of inflammatory content which risks harming the two accused persons before the court.

I have reported many murder cases over the years and cannot recollect a single case where the forensic expert didn't say words to the effect of, "I will be pleased to talk to you, Mr. Levy. After this this trial is over. "

In many trials, the expert declined any comment on the basis that a new trial might be ordered if there was a successful appealed and he or she did not want to do anything that would risk prejudicing the right of the accused person to a fair trial.

Here is another example of the way reporters used to routinely canonize Dr. Charles Randal Smith.

It is a story by my former Toronto Star colleagues Kevin Donovan and Moira Welsh, on the case of Tammy Marquhardt who had been charged with murdering her child.

"Charles Smith, pathologist, cleans up after other people's mistakes, the kind made by children's aid workers and doctors who miss or fail to act on the warning signs of children at risk," the story reads.

"His tools consist of a scalpel and scissors. The dead children he examines, most are just babies, require nothing more.

When he has completed each autopsy there is not much left of the child, just an empty sack really.

In the blinding light of his autopsy room, Ontario's leading pediatric forensic pathologist sees all the missed opportunities that could have saved a life.

And then he gently puts the child's body into a bag, and goes on to the next case."

Donovan and Welsh go on to describe the injury Smith detected by Smith as a “Spiral fracture" noting that "Too often this indicator of child abuse – a type of broken leg or arm - is dismissed as accidental by doctors. And children's aid does not think dirty. "

"Experts like Smith say this fracture of the long bone in the arm or leg typically comes from an abuser violently twisting a small limb," Donovan and Welsh continue. "All fractures in small children should be investigated but spiral fractures are red flags. .."

Something is wrong in this picture too.

As Dr. Michael Pollanen testified in the Ontario Court of Appeal, thinking dirty leads to miscarriages of justice... The forensic pathologist must approach his or her work neutrally as an objective scientist. (See previous posting: "Mullins-Johnson Acquittal Notable Quotes);

In an another story - about Jordan Heicamp, a child deprived of necessities by his mother under the watchful eyes of the Toronto Catholic Children’s Aid Society, Donovan and Welsh wrote:

"The sight of Jordan’s emaciated body sickened Dr. Charles Smith, a hospital pathologist who has seen hundreds of abused and neglected children."

"Smith, who describes himself as a "strong Christian," was so upset when he saw Jordan's body that he did something he never does. He swore "Holy s---," Smith said. His pathology assistant looked up in surprise," they continued.

"Smith's gentle, quiet manner is well-known by police, prosecutors and the coroner's office, who frequently rely on him when investigating child deaths.

Smith has seen every manner of abuse on the autopsy table: a child whose skin has been "degloved" by scalding water; a baby kicked and punched to death; a little girl bludgeoned to death with a hard piece of plastic pipe.

He worked in Nigeria as a young doctor 20 years ago and saw many babies who died of starvation.

"I had seen starvation in northern Nigeria after I finished medical school and this was so awful that, for a moment, I forgot myself."

"For a brief moment my tongue was not under control. This was as bad as it gets. This little wee body with ribs sticking up, just covered by skin. This was worse than anything I ever saw in Africa. For days before this baby died anybody who looked at him would have known he was in trouble.

"For him, (Smith) Jordan is also the one who so obviously fits the child protection definition of "a child at risk. "

Smith oversees much of the forensic pediatric pathology work in the province.

Another pathologist, Dr. Ernest Cutz, did the autopsy, but Smith went in to view the body and, as he so often does, make sure that the child in death receives better care than the child did in life. "

I have talked to reporters who were shocked to learn that the man they had written about so glowingly was now accused of being responsible for more miscarriages of justice than any other person in Canadian history.

To a large extent they were sucked in like the judges, police and prosecutors who allowed their horror of sexual crimes against children to cause them to suspend their usual critical judgment when it came to dealing with Dr. Charles Smith.

But there is more at play here.

Some reporters told me that Smith had an uncanny way of attracting the media: He was accessible, articulate, intense - (read photogenic) - welcomed the cameras in his labs, appeared genuinely sympathetic, provided excellent copy and knew all of the buttons to push in order to get placed above the fold.

The Goudge Inquiry has commissioned a wide variety of research papers to try and explain phenomena connected with Dr. Smith.

It's too bad the Inquiry is not looking into the role the media played in facilitating the rise of Dr. Charles Randal Smith and uncritically selling his image to the public.

Such a project might prove worthwhile.

Other posts in the "Smith and the Media" series:

Part Five: Taking on Charles Smith: A second example of fearless journalism;

Part Four: Fifth Estate probe triggers a plea to Premier Mike Harris for Inquiry into Smith cases;

Part Three: Smith of the North;

Part Two: Smith goes to India;

Harold Levy;





















































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