Series forms part of Department of the Attorney General fonds and consists of reports filed with the Attorney General's department by provincial magistrates judges concerning the advisability of holding a formal inquest or magisterial inquiry concerning a death, or containing the results of such an inquest or inquiry. Under the Coroners Act and its 1960 replacement the Fatalities Inquiry Act, local coroners or medical examiners were required to report on all instances of death where there was reason to suspect foul play, the cause of death was unknown, the person died in jail, or another statute required a report. These reports give the name of the deceased, the cause of death, some particulars of identification such as age or occupation, and a recommendation about the need for a formal inquiry or inquest respecting the cause of the death. These reports were then filed with the Clerk of the Crown in the county where the death occurred, and with a provincial stipendiary magistrate who would then decide on holding a formal inquest or inquiry. If no further action was indicated, this was reported to the Attorney General for review. When such an inquest or formal inquiry was held, the report was also forwarded to the Attorney General.