典藏书目

A corpse found murdered by the roadside was initially suspected to be a robbery homicide. However, upon inspection, personal belongings were found intact on the body, which bore over ten wounds inflicted by sickles. The coroner stated, "Robbers intend to kill for wealth; here the property remains while injuries are numerous. Is this not an act of revenge?" He dismissed his attendants and questioned the victim's wife: "Who did your husband harbor the deepest grudge against?" She replied, "My husband had no deep enmity with anyone, except that recently a certain Person A came to collect a debt without success and made threats regarding a deadline, but this is hardly a deep feud." The coroner silently noted her residence. He then dispatched numerous runners to inform nearby residents: "Bring forth all sickles in your households for immediate inspection; any concealment will be deemed as harboring the murderer and will be thoroughly investigated." Soon, seventy or eighty sickles were presented and laid out on the ground. It was midsummer, and flies had gathered on one specific sickle. Pointing to it, the coroner asked who owned it. Suddenly, a man confessed; he was the debtor who had issued the threat. Upon arrest, he still denied guilt. The coroner pointed to the sickle and said, "No flies are on others' sickles; yours attracts them because the blood scent from your murder lingers. How can you hide this?" Those watching sighed in admiration; the murderer knelt and confessed.

Previously, a drowned body was found in a deep pool after a long period. The case involved a wealthy family due to a feud. The investigating official saw only skull and bones remaining, as flesh had completely decayed. Several officials refused to inspect. Under pressure from superiors, only one official accepted the task. He inspected the bones on-site and found no marks on other bones. He took the skull, washed it clean, and carefully poured hot water into it through the fontanelle (Xinmen acupoint), observing if fine sand or dirt particles emerged from the nasal cavities. This determined whether death occurred from drowning while alive. If one drowns while alive, breathing draws in sand and soil; after death, this does not happen.

In Guangxi, a villain plotted to kill a child beggar and steal his earnings. By the time the crime was discovered, much time had passed since the incident. The prisoner had confessed: "I beat him, robbed him, and pushed him into the water." The constabulary retrieved the corpse downstream, but the flesh had completely decomposed, leaving only bones that could not be identified. Suspicion arose that it might be a fabricated composite corpse, so judgment was delayed. Later, reviewing the case files, the official saw the initial report from relatives stating the brother originally had a pigeon chest (turtle chest) and was short. An exhumation confirmed this chest deformity, allowing for a final verdict.

In southern regions, people often commit suicide during minor disputes to frame others. They may use Zelkova bark (Zelkova schneideriana) to create post-mortem marks resembling injuries from other objects. How to verify? Examine the mark: if the interior is dark black with cyan-red edges spreading out, without swelling, it indicates the mark was created using Zelkova bark while the person was alive. This is because living blood circulation interacts with the bark juices to form such marks. (If pressed and the area swells, it is not caused by Zelkova bark.) If applied after death, there is no spreading cyan-red color, only slight blackness, and pressing yields no hardness. This is because blood circulation stops after death, preventing the bark's effect. One must also scrutinize the context and measure the length of the injury against potential weapons to ensure accuracy.

For fat corpses with no injuries and not emaciated, one must not conclude death was due to illness. Similarly, for corpses with no injuries but appearing yellow and thin, one must not simply record it as natural death. One must carefully determine the actual cause of death; such inspections are prone to error.

In difficult cases or when disputing parties have some influence, select experienced coroners and diligent clerks. Monitor their food, drink, and activities closely. Rest when necessary. Without strict supervision, bribery and private arrangements may occur. Even if the inspection is accurate, if officials accept bribes, the facts may be altered. While officials facing punishment is one matter, altering facts to wrongfully cause death is a grave offense.

When inspecting a corpse with no visible injuries and no signs of disease, making determination difficult, first require written statements from next-of-kin. Then, shave the deceased's hair, fearing that a sharp object may have been driven into the fontanelle or brain while alive to cause death.

For victims of mutilation, inspect the teeth, tongue, ears, nose, hands, feet, and fingernails for foreign objects like pins or needles used for harm.

When certifying deaths claimed to be suicide by poisoning, hanging, or drowning following a beating, visual confirmation must be precise before reporting. Often, murderers beat victims to death, force poison down their throats to fake suicide by poisoning, hang bodies post-mortem to fake suicide by hanging, or throw bodies into water post-mortem to fake suicide by drowning. Any error has serious consequences. Carefully inspect the body for injuries. Unless vital areas show fatal trauma consistent with the alleged method, and there is corroborating evidence for the specific mode of death, do not certify it.