The Sun.
London, England, 1833-10-03 00:00:00

CORONER'S INQUEST.

Yesterday morning anniquisition was held he-
fat.M.c.—ltichard Carter, coroner for Surrey, and
a respectable jury, at the sign of the William IV.,
Sr. Andrew's-road, Newington, touching the death
of a new-born female child, who was found coneea!ed
in a sewer in one of Horsernoriger-lane-fields, and
supposed to have been murdered.
On a medical gentleman being called upon to
give testimony as to the cause of death, the follow-
ing dialogue took place respecting the non•remune-
ration of medical men in general:—
CORONER—What is your name and profession,
Sir?

The medical witness—➢ly name is Robert Little
Hooper, and I am a surgeon, residing in the Lon-
don-road, Southwark; but, Mr. Coroner, I wish
to know, before I am sworn, to whom or where I
am to look for remuneration—l am now speakimg
on behalf of medical men in general ?
CORONER— I perfectly agree with you, Mr. Hooper,
in opinion that all medical men attending coroners'
inquests ought to be remunerated for their loss of
time, and I sincerely regret that it is not in my
Power to make an order either on the county or
parish for that purpose.
Mr. Hooper—l am well aware, Mr. Carter, you
have no authority for so doing. The medical world
have come to a full determination not to give their
opinions gratuitously at coroners' inquests any longer
as they are not compelled to do so.
CORONER—I am apptchensive the law says
otherwise.

Mr. Hooper—l am bound by the law to give
evidence; that is to say, what I have seen; but I
am not aware that it can enforce my opinion.
CORONER—Are you not the parish surgeon, Sir
Mr. Hooper—[ am surgeon to the parish of
George, Southwark, but not to this.

CORONER—It is really very hard. Why did not
the parish surgeon attend?
Beadle—Mr. Hooper was casually passing at the
time the child was discovered, and examined the
body ; consequently I summoned him.
CORONER—Parish surgeons ought also to be re-
munerated extra in suQh ca,es as the present, but I
am sorry, as I said before, I have no fund for so do-
ing. Every man ought to be paid for his labour.
Mr. Hooper, as long as the law exists it must be
attended to; it is therefore my painful duty to tell
you that you are bound to give every information in
your power; and if you neglect so doing, it is in my
power to commit you to Horsemonger-lane Gaol
until you do.

Mr. Hooper—l cannot apprehend that at all, Mr.
Coroner.
CORONER-1 have a book with me, comprising
the law between coroners and doctors, wbch, if
you peruse, you will find what I have stated to be
correct. In Ireland, I believe the law is, that
the coroners have it in their power to issue an order
for the remuneration of medical men, for any sum
not exceeding 51.
Mr. Hooper—l have only been contending on be-
half of the profession, and if such be the law, I con-
sider it extremely hard.
willCrl
onii
undertake
e
parish to
osffip,e.earks,
tand r
eernnudaeeas
u to.
e :Ro:N aril can do no more ; you will there-
fo
re proceed in your deposition, as our conversation
rvaotprevailElt
will not alter the laws.

After some other lengthened observations, Mr.
Hooper was sworn, and stated that he examined the
deceased infant, and there were no injuries, either
exrernally or internally, to account for death.
By the Jury—The child was about six or seven
months grown, dud evidently born alive, but had not
survived long.
By the CORONER—He was of opinion that the
deceased had been dead upwards of 24, hours.
John Pickford, the next witness, described the
manner in which the child was found.
The Jury, on being briefly addressed by the Co-
roner, and after a short consultation together, re-
turned a verdict—" That the deceased infant was
found dead without any marks of violence ; but to
whom it belonged there was no evidence to prove."

The late storm, which alarmed the farmer for
the safety of his crop, has consigned hundreds to a watery
grave, covered the shores of the ocean with numerous
wrecks, and filled many a family with lamentation and
mourning. This village (13uckbaven) has not escaped, it
has had a full share in the calamity; two boats have been
10,4 the nets of only one of then, being recovered, while
14 children, besides other relatives, are left to lament the.
it stiny that bas deprived them of their natural protectors.
On Saturday week a number of boats left the fidiint;
station at Wick, On their return home, where they had
been very successful and in crossing the Moray Frith
encountered the dreadful gale. The Margaret, belonging
to Mr. Thomas Bonthron, was nearly swamped by a heavy
sea, which washed overboard Hobert Cummins, one of the
crew. Whilst every exertion was made to lighten the
boat of the water, another mountainous biflow again
nearly filled her, and in this emergency the fishermen
began to attach "bows" (bladders) to their bodies, think-
ing by this means to preserve themselves for some tuinutes
longer among the foaming surge. However, encouraged
by a boy, the son of the owner of the boat, who exhorted
them to put their trust in that Almighty being who rules the
raging of the sea, and stills the furious tempest, and not
give themselves up to terror, they threw ballast, mast•, and
every inemobrance overboard, and with that undaunted
little boy at the helm, and the rest of them at the pumps,
they bore away towards Fraserburgh, from which they
were 15 miles distant. About eleven o'clock on Sunday
for. noon they drew near the shore, where thousands were
gazing with intense interest, anxious for their safety.
Driven on by the storm and the dashing waves, the boat
struck on the Beacon rock, and soon went to pieces, but
the crew were happily got safe on shore by means of the
life-boat, and were treated in such a manner as reflects
credit on the syrup ithies of the people of Fraserburgla.
Another boat, the 4ady Emma Wemyss, met with me
still more disastrous fate , she has never been heard °t*
and she is supposed to have foundered on Sunday morning,.
a tout six miles from land. She belonged t., Mr. James
Bonthron, brother of the owner of the Marga.re,f,
arean
en erprising and industrious seaman. The fu110w0z,,,,,
of
the names of the sufferers ;--James B"ft`iii"-°::fe and two
the Lady E Wcmyss,
who
hbaasslieelt a wife and one
Johnstone, wrhrice'd, for the second time,
who was washed ou ~•r_
ehddren ;
child; John Fife, who
was
goingomas ;low
ihnev north,u only fourteen days
the Varyarei has left a wife and six chi
ooar.. -
Scotch Paper.
~t'itbdo,laigasedleift7five
RobertPiidrer:
Cummins,
rid
Ds,