What is the origin of referring to people whose identity is not known as 'John Doe' or 'Jane Doe'?

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In English-speaking common-law jurisdiction, the name John Doe is used for a defendant or victim in a legal example or for a person whose identity is unknown or is intended to be anonymous. Male corpses whose identity is unknown are also known by the name John Doe. A female who is not known is referred to as Jane Doe. An anonymous plaintiff is known as Richard Roe. The Oxford English Dictionary states says that John Doe is "the name given to the fictitious lessee of the plaintiff, in the (now obsolete) mixed action of ejectment, the fictitious defendant being called Richard Roe. An account of the reasons why a fictitious tenant and a fictitious defendant were named is found in Charles Rembar's book The Law of the Land. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Doe Apr 30 04, 12:54 PM

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Who is John Doe? What are the rules, if any, as to when it is appropriate to use "John Doe, esq." rather than "Mr. John Doe?" Why is a married lady referred to as Mrs. Jane Doe, when there is no R sounded in the pronunciation of the title? In the short-lived show "John Doe" the title character had a strange mark on his chest. What was that mark?

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