Medical Examiner for the City of Halifax and Town of Dartmouth fonds

1895-1967

6.6 m of textual records

In 1895 the government of Nova Scotia amended the law respecting coroners to provide for the appointment of a licensed medical practitioner as the medical examiner for the City of Halifax and the Town of Dartmouth. The medical examiner was empowered to determine the deceased's identity and the time and method of death and to file a report with the Halifax County clerk of the crown and the appropriate stipendiary magistrate. The magistrate could then convene an inquiry and hear testimony if it was deemed necessary. In 1896 the act was amended to extend jurisdiction to include deaths occurring on the grounds of the Nova Scotia Hospital which at that time was beyond the Dartmouth municipal boundary.

Fonds consists of reports of the Medical Examiner concerning deaths occurring within the City of Halifax or the Town of Dartmouth as required under the Medical Examiner's Act. The reports generally identify the deceased and the circumstances of death and may include testimony and evidence of police officers. The fonds also contains records of testimony and findings of inquests held by the stipendiary magistrate of Halifax or Dartmouth. The reports are arranged by the number assigned to each report by the clerk of the crown.

Notes

Records up to 1928 are available on microfilm.

A chronological file listing available. The listing may also be searched though an on-line database.

The Department of the Attorney General fonds has records of fatality inquiries referred to the Attorney General. Coroners' fonds for each county contain similar materials.