The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1867-08-06 00:00:00

ELF,CTION OF CORONER.

A Court was held at the Royal Portland Arms Rotel,
for the purpose of vlecting • Coroner, to supply the
valiancy osessioned by the resignation of F. C. Stagg.ll,
Esq., who has held this office for the past nine years.
T. Coombe, Era, as the ITeder.filterilF for the County
held the Court,. which woe opened at one o'clock, and
occupied a very. short period.
Mr. Coombe having read the writ addreeeed to the
Sheriff authorising the election at that special County,
Court, explained that the freeholders of the were
the parties entitled to vote on the 'object, and sailed
upon them to proceed with the appointment.
Mr. J. llshey said they were irnet there to elect a
coroner. Nose years ago they assembled for a similar
Purpose, and he then opposed the gentleman who had
just resigned, but they had during that period found
him to be a gentleman indeed. It was now his pleasing
duty to propose for the second time another gentleman
who woo no stranger to them, and who having a country
house in Portland would ocessionslly stelae amongst
them, and he knew of no gentleman more qualified to
fill the important and honourable office of Coroner than
Howard—(applanse). He (Mr. Whey) thought
that Dr. Carruthers bsd acted wisely in hauling down
his colour.; he did not think a medical man woo a fit
person for a coroner. Supposing by any chance he
should administer wrong medicine to • poor person and
that person should die, an inquest would be held, and
perhaps in that ease their own coroner would he com-
mitted for trial, and returned to Portland amongst the
convicts --(llanghte,). This eventuality could not how-
ever apply to Mr. Howard, sod he should therefore
nominate Richard Nicholas Howard, Esq., ass fit and
proper person to fill the important and honourable
offioe of coroner for the district and island of Portland.

Mr. Richard Limo had mach pismire in seconding
the nomination._

No other gentlemen being proposed, the under-sheriff
declared Mr. Howard duly adoointed.
Mr. Howard begged to thank them one one and all
sincerely for having conferred on him the high and
honourable office of Coroner. Nine years ago he stood
before them as a candi late for the office, bat he refrained
from going to the vote, to spare the island a contest, and
he was pleued Dr. Carruthers had adopted the same
came. He would do his best to five them satisfaction.
He might my there was no pleas in Dorset where there
were no many freeholders as in Portland--eo many
serums in poseeseion of their own freeholds, and this
was a proud day for him (Mr. Howard) in that they had
conferred on him such • high office. He felt the honour
was great, and he would strain every nerve to give
them satisfaction. He bogged again to thank them
heartily and sincerely, and he trusted that In the
exercise of kis office he should never be called upon to
use it upon any one then cement. They moot not
expect a long speech from him that day, as be did not
feel quite equal to it. There wan one thing he should
say, the same friend that had proposed him nine years
ago had been spared again to propose him, and in con-
clusion he would wish them one and all "Long life and
happiness"—(applum4
The oath of offioe having been taken, and other
formularies gone through, Mr. Howard said he should
be wanting in his duty if he did not plume. • vote of
thanks to the under-sheriff, Mr. Coombe, as also to Mr.
Andrews, and the other gentlemen from Dorehester
who had so ably carried out the proceedings —(applause).
Mr. Coombs was pleased the meeting had recognised
I hie services, small though they were; he much preferred
the election going of in loch • quiet manner, to
sitting for eight hours on Wednesday to take the votes,
and he hoped all their future public meetings would
pass off No easily and pleasantly.
' Mr. Andrews briefly responded, hoping that on all
occuions they would be as unanimous as at their
prevent meeting.
This concluded the business of the meeting.