VPRS 407 Fire Inquest Deposition Files

This series consists of files relating to inquests conducted into the causes of fires by coroners courts throughout the state. The files were registered by the Office of the Registrar General. Some of the files in this series were at some stage prior to their transfer to archives part of VPRS 24 Inquest Deposition Files.Section 4 of the Act for Preventing the Careless Use of Fire 1858 established that irrespective of whether a death occurred, the damage to or destruction of any building, ship, merchandise or growing crop could be investigated by means of an inquest provided that a Coroner was notified of the request in writing and a specified payment (initially 5 guineas) was made. Coroners could also decide to investigate fires of suspicious origin provided that the fire occurred within their area of jurisdiction. Fire inquests were conducted according to the same rules and procedures as those concerning the cause of death. (Inquest files for persons who died in a fire will be found in VPRS 24.)The number of inquests held under this initial legislation was significantly reduced by an 1869 amendment to the Coroners Statute (1865) which had incorporated the original provisions. This amendment significantly increased the fee payable and also provided that inquests on fires of a suspicious origin required an order from the Attorney-General. Under these new provisions it was not unusual for no inquests to be held during a year.The files in this series are generally more complete than those in VPRS 24 Inquest Deposition Files for the same period. All files contain at a minimum level, an inquisition form, a number of depositions and a cover sheet noting the subject, date and place of the inquest. Many files also variously include items of documentary evidence and exhibits, Victoria Police reports, the original written request or order and the receipt for payment of the fire inquest fee. Files relating to inquests giving rise to criminal charges (i.e. arson) will also contain copies of recognizances bonding witnesses to appear at the resultant trial and a statement by the accused, if that person(s) chose to make one.The `inquisition form' is the official record of the inquest. It records the subject of the inquest as well as the verdict and if applicable, the names of accused persons committed for trial. It should also include the names and signatures of the Coroner and, if applicable, jury members. Depositions are the record of evidence of each witness appearing at the inquest. They are in handwritten or typed prose form in the first person although evidence is given on the basis of a question and answer format. The witness involved and the Coroner must sign them as being a true and accurate record.

本系列档案收录全州范围内验尸官法庭（Coroners Courts）针对火灾起因开展的调查相关文件，由总登记官办公室（Office of the Registrar General）登记归档。本系列中的部分档案在移交档案馆前，曾隶属于VPRS 24《验尸证词档案》（Inquest Deposition Files）。

1858年《防止疏忽用火法案》（Act for Preventing the Careless Use of Fire 1858）第4条规定，无论是否伴随人员死亡，只要验尸官收到书面调查申请并收取指定费用（初始为5几尼（guineas）），即可对建筑物、船舶、商品或种植作物的损毁或灭失开展火灾调查。验尸官还可自主决定对管辖范围内疑似人为纵火的火灾展开调查。火灾调查的规则与程序，与针对死亡原因的调查完全一致。（火灾中遇难人员的验尸档案可在VPRS 24中查阅。）

1869年对纳入原条款的1865年《验尸官法规》（Coroners Statute 1865）的修正案，大幅缩减了依据初始立法开展的调查数量。该修正案大幅提高了调查费用，同时规定对疑似纵火火灾的调查须获得检察长的书面批准。根据此项新规定，某一年内未开展任何火灾调查的情况并不罕见。

本系列档案的完整度整体高于同期VPRS 24《验尸证词档案》。所有档案至少包含三类核心文件：调查笔录（inquisition form）、多份证人证词，以及标注调查主题、日期与地点的封面页。多数档案还会额外包含各类书证与证物、维多利亚州警察局（Victoria Police）报告、原始书面申请或命令，以及火灾调查费用的缴费收据。涉及引发刑事指控（即纵火罪）的调查档案，还会包含确保证人出席后续审判的具结书副本，以及被告人自愿作出的供述声明（若被告人选择作出供述）。

“调查笔录”为火灾调查的官方正式记录，载明调查主题、裁决结果（如适用）以及被移交审判的被告人姓名。该笔录还应包含验尸官的姓名与签名，以及陪审团成员的姓名与签名（如适用）。证词为出席调查的每位证人的证言记录，以手写或打印的第一人称散文形式呈现，但取证过程采用问答式结构。证词需由相关证人与验尸官共同签名，以确认其内容真实准确。