1901 - death - certificate signed by procurator fiscal

[centrehalf]

A possible ancestor was found dead by side of the road in Corstorphine in 1901. Mary Morrison or Crawford aged 60 - death certificate seen along with RCE and newspaper report.

Would there be a PF report or anything else? Where could I find them?  thanks in advance.

[RJ_Paton]

Sadly these reports were rarely retained - the police side were weeded after 7 years (in some forces up to 10 years) and the PF's side a little longer. Often the RCE is the most information you will find or the newspaper reports you have already seen.

The procedure would have been that as the death happened in a public place that the police submitted a report to the PF. Acting on that information and as it is suggested that the family GP did not issue a death certificate (you say PF signed death certificate) there may have been a post mortem to establish cause of death.
Taking this information the PF had a number of options
1. If death was suspicious - have the enquiry continued
2. if not suspicious and cause of death attributed to natural causes - have the death certificate issued (info to Registrar who would create the RCE)
3. Continue Inquiry by interviewing witnesses to establish 1 0r 2 above
4. Establish cause for a Fatal Accident Inquiry.

It's a pity really that these reports were not retained as a full Sudden Death Report sometimes contained a summary of several generations of the family.

[centrehalf]

thank you.

I just wonder how they found her name if she was a tramp and died alone. I suppose she may have been known to some local folks?

[RJ_Paton]

thank you.

I just wonder how they found her name if she was a tramp and died alone. I suppose she may have been known to some local folks?

The police may have found some information, either on her or from locals who often knew everyone who lived or passed through their area far better than we do today

[centrehalf]

thanks again. I wonder if they buried her locally?

[RJ_Paton]

thanks again. I wonder if they buried her locally?

If the local council (poor relief) were responsible for her burial it would have been local and most likely in an unmarked grave in the areas of the cemetery often referred to as "common ground" - there may be some record if the Poor Relief records still exist.

[centrehalf]

Would anyone with local knowledge care to say where she could be buried in Corstorphine in 1901?

thanks

[Hibee]

Possibly in the cemetery on the east side of Drum Brae South?

Hibee

[centrehalf]

thank you Hibee