Coroners and Crime Scenes -- In 1940 by Jan Edwards
On reading out a section of work in progress at my writing group I was asked whether a coroner really would attend a scene of crime in 1940. And I had to admit that I didn't know. Online research had let me down somewhat on this one as the only references I could find were in a modern context. Pottering back from an appointment pondering this question I realised that I was strolling past the Coroner’s Offices on Hartshill Road (as you do). So with a little time to spare I wandered in and asked. The Coroner’s clerks were really helpful and gave the following info. In a modern context a coroner will rarely if ever attend a scene of crime, at least when the body is still on site. This is because SOCO teams now gather all of the necessary evidence. (One said he had never known it happen in the 20 years he had worked there.) I was then told that in 1940, however, a coroner may well have gone to the scene of a homicide because SOCO teams, and indeed forensics to a great...