The first coroners were appointed in 1194 by Richard I. He actually had sheriffs to represent his interests, but they were often corrupt. Furthermore, they embezzled shares of the taxes, so Richard I. decided to create a new office: the coroner. Their official task was to "keep the pleas of the Crown"; this included the investigation of sudden deaths, but also administrative duties.

If a person died, the first one who found the body had to inform the Bailiff of the Hundred, who then had to notify the coroner. His mission was to look at the dead, check the body for wounds and draw conclusions for the coroner's inquest. Moreover he had to find out, if it was a case of homicide. Unless this was the case, he had to conclude, who killed the person and which weapon had been used.

The latter conclusion was of...