Legal Term: DEAD BODY

Definition: crim. law. A corpse. 2. To take up a dead body without lawful authority, even for the purposes of dissection, is a misdemeanor, for which the offender may be indicted at common law. 1 Russ. on Cr. 414, 1 Dowl. & R. 13, Russ. & Ry. 366, ii. b, 2 Chit. Cr. Law, 35. This offence is punished by statute in New Hampshire, Laws of N. H. 339, 340 in Vermont, Laws of Vermont, 368 .c. 361, in Massachusetts, stat. 1830, c. 51, 8 Pick. 370, 11 Pick. 350, in New York, 2 Rev. Stat. 688. Vide 1 Russ. 414, n. A. 3. The preventing a dead body from being buried, is also an indictable offence. 2 T. R. 734, 4 East, 460, 1 Russ. on Cr. 415 and 416, note A. 4. To inter a dead body found in a river, it seems, would render the offender liable to an indictment for a misdemeanor, unless he first sent for the coroner. 1 Kenyons R. 250.

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