heater

n. a crime or criminal case that attracts a lot of (media) attention. Subjects: English, Crime & Prisons, Media, Police

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Citations: 1986 Tom Fitzpatrick Chicago Sun-Times (July 24) “Echeles is up to elbows in case of fugitive killer” p. 7: “The thing that I’m concerned about,” Echeles said, “is that this was the first ‘heater’ case for Judge Themis Karnezis.…” “What do you mean by a “heater’ case?” I asked. Echeles sighed at my lack of knowledge. “A heater case is one that brings a lot of press coverage, like the Marquette 10 or any Greylord case.” 1987 Mary Durusau Baton Rouge Sunday Advocate Mag. (La.) (Jan. 18) “Unholy Matrimony” p. 4: In 1974, John Dillmann was a 27-year-old detective on the New Orleans Police Department’s homicide unit and hungry for his first “heater” case—a big publicity case that would earn him status on the force. He didn’t know how soon that case would come. 1993 Anne Keegan Chicago Tribune (Dec. 22) “Chicago Speak” p. 1: Heater case: A crime that’s getting a lot of publicity. It means the pressure is on to solve it immediately, a k a “front burner.” 1996 James Varney Times-Picayune (New Orleans, La.) (Jan. 27) “Teen Guilty Of Murder Outside Quarter Lounge” p. A1: Hill pointed out police had called Superintendent Richard Pennington within a half-hour of the shooting, calling it evidence that “this case was a heater from the beginning.” 2005 David Heinzmann, Jeff Coen Chicago Tribune (Jan. 4) “Rapes in poor areas rarely get spotlight”: Bernie Murray, head of the Felony Trial Division in the Cook County state’s attorney’s office, said that though the office handles more sexual assaults in economically depressed areas of the city, he understands when some cases become “heaters.” “In deference to (the media), if there’s a neighborhood where there is not a lot of crime, and then you have a situation where there’s a serial rapist in the area, that’s news,” Murray said.

Posted 5 Jan 05 | Permalink | Tell a Friend

Reader comments:

There was in the 1800’s and early
1900’s an occupation known as a
‘heater’

Does anyone know what that occupation involved ? What type of industry ?

by John Gombita 05 Sep 06, 0247 GMT

Could be any number of jobs. Dozens, maybe. Like a guy who heats up pitch. You’re going to have to be more specific about context and where you heard or read the term.

by Grant Barrett 05 Sep 06, 0301 GMT

While doing research about Pittsburgh Firefighters from the turn of the century I came across several whose previous occupation was “heater.” I thought that it might be related to the steel industry. The term was found in several old Pittsburgh newspapers and also that occupation is listed in the census from 1880-1900-1910-1930.
Thats all I have.

by John Gombita 05 Sep 06, 1254 GMT

I too am trying to learn what occupation a “heater” was. I have an ancestor whose occupation is listed as “heater” in the 1904 Pottstown, PA Directory. There was a small iron/steel industry in the Pottstown area in 1904.

Any additional information would be welcome.

by Roger Staiger 12 Dec 06, 1030 GMT