NRS-1788 | Registers of bodies received [Sydney City Coroner]

Full description

Registers, each entry of which was apparently filled in by the person (usually a policeman) depositing the body. Give number and date, name and sex, age, where born and occupation, when and where found, remarks giving full personal description ( in cases which bodies have not been identified ), and a statement of all wounds or injuries appearing thereon. Signed by the person depositing the body.

From about 1920 photographs of the body are sometimes included in the volumes when the identity is unknown. This practice stopped 1926. From 7 September 1951 a change in format occurs with the expansion of remarks to include data on the circumstances under which death took place, particulars of property found on deceased and how disposed. The person who received the body for the undertaker and date the transfer from the Morgue took place is also noted. Miscellaneous property receipts are sometimes included with entries or at the back of the register. In addition an alphabetical index to bodies is located at the beginning of each register.

2 Aug 1908-5 Nov 1947 (3/2225-39), 6 Nov 1947-16 Oct 1958 (3/5527-50), 16 Oct 1958-31 Jan 1965 (3/6254-77). 63 vols

Note:
This description is extracted from Concise Guide to the State Archives of New South Wales, 3rd Edition 2000.