A Problem in Identification
| Published date | 01 October 1938 |
| Date | 01 October 1938 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/0032258X3801100412 |
| Subject Matter | Article |
A
Problem
in
Identification
N
OTE.-
The
case described in the following article was investigated by the
Royal Canadian Mounted Police last autumn, and we print it by courtesy of
Inspector C. E. Rivett-Carnac, Editor of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Quarterly. It offers an interesting problem in identification, and whilst most
police officers will probably agree that there was little doubt as to the identi-
fication of the remains, the verdict of the twenty-seven medical men who
examined the remains certainly justified the coroner's verdict.
ANinteresting case arose in Saint John detachment area in
which medical opinion was at variance with apparently
insurmountable facts. During September last a human skull
was handed to one of our men by a resident of Saint John who
had, while hunting with a party of friends, found a complete
skeleton and later guided a police party to the remains.
The
skull was shown to the Coroner of the District, who ordered
that it be taken to the Provincial Pathologist, being of the
opinion that it was fully a year since death had taken place.
There was no flesh on the bones and one foot was covered by
a sticky substance.
The
main part of the skeleton was in the
original position,
but
many of the smaller bones had been
disturbed by rodents, with the result that they were some
distance from the body. There were no insects present and
very little odour.
With the skeleton were found the following articles of
clothing:
Acap; avest; fleece-lined combinations; strong cotton
trousers; one grey sock; one leather belt; a medallion of
religious significance.
In
the pockets of the clothing were
a watch with fine chain attached; atailor's thimble; a
portion of a comb; aportion of a tobacco pouch with the
name " Bagpipe " printed on it. Thirty feet away a grey
flannel shirt was found.
The
remains and clothing were taken to the city.
An investigation was conducted as to missing persons
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