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From: wmartin@brl-tgr.ARPA (Will Martin )
Newsgroups: net.legal
Subject: Use of John Doe
Message-ID: <3570@brl-tgr.ARPA>
Date: Wed, 25-Jul-84 11:12:17 EDT
Article-I.D.: brl-tgr.3570
Posted: Wed Jul 25 11:12:17 1984
Date-Received: Sat, 28-Jul-84 06:35:29 EDT
Organization: Ballistics Research Lab
Lines: 13

What is the origin of the term "John Doe" for an unknown male person
(or body)? Is this an "official" term, however that may be defined?
Is "Jane Doe" the female equivalent, or does "John Doe" act as a 
non-sex-specific general term? I have also heard "Baby Doe" used
recently in the case about medical treatment for an infant. Is this
term in any way "Official", or was it a media invention? If it is a
valid term, at what age does "Baby Doe" become "John Doe", and why
is there no sex-identification for "Baby Doe", as there is for "John"?

Who chose "Doe" as the name, and what was the rationale for "Doe" as
opposed to "Jones" or "X" or whatever?

Will