The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Roe Richard \Roe, Richard\ (Law)
   A fictious name for a party, real or fictious, to an act or
   proceeding. Other names were formerly similarly used, as
   John-a-Nokes, John o', or of the, Nokes, or Noakes,
   John-a-Stiles, etc.
   [Webster 1913 Suppl.]