The Sun.
London, England, 1835-06-11 00:00:00

COUNTY CORONERS' BILL.

Mr. CR IPPS moved the Order of the Day for the second
reading of the County Coroners' Bill.
Mr. F. MA ULE had no objection to the Bill going to a
second reading ; but he considered that there wero many
clanses which required revising.
Mr. BL A CKB URNE was determined to take the sense of
the House on the second reading of a Bill which went to de-
prive the freeholders of the county possessed of 40s. freeholds
of their right to vote for the office of Coroner, without being
heard in their defence. There was a clause in the Bill which
recited that at such elections there was riot, and confusion,
and great and unnecessary expense. He admitted that there
might be riot and confusion, and great and unnecessary ex-
pense. But because of that was it right to deprive the poor
man of his franchise? But the Bill was a partial Bill, and it
was intended to bring into play the 501. tenants at will. Co-
roners were persons to whom the poor of the land looked up
for protection, and they were to be deprived of this protector,
and all, forsooth, to guard against unnecessary expense. And
how did the Bill guard against unnecessary expense? Why,
by increasing the charge of the Coroner for mileage on his
journey, allowing him Is. 6d. a mile, when before he had only
9d. He considered the operations of the measure to be alto-
gether partial, and calculated for the benefit of the rich and
the violation of the rights of the poor. The Hon. Member
concluded by moving that the Bill be read a second time that
day six months.
Sir G. STRICKLAND, notwithstanding the warmth and
zeal of the Hon. Member who had just sat down, must give his
cordial support to the general and leading principles of so
useful and wise a measure. The objection made by the Hon.
Member for Huddersfield (Mr. Blackburne) might be taken
into consideration in Committee. Besides the Hon. Gentle-
man had not stated the principles of the Bill fairly. He had
omitted to state the abuses of the present system. In the
county of York, in particular, the office of Coroner had be-
come a property, and it was there a saying that a Coroner was
returned by one or two persons. No man would be more
ready than himself to endeavour to avoid the disfranchisement
of those persons alluded to, but he really thought it was a sub-
ject for consideration in Committee.
The SOLICITOR GENERAL said, with regard to the
clause which might be considered harsh in its operation—
namely, that which disfranchised the poorer freehold voters, it
might be easily altered in Committee, and he for one would
concur in such alteration. The present Bill, for the first time,
gave the power to a Coroner of Registration of all those who
came to an untimely end ; to order the opening of a body
when considered necessary ; and authorised the payment of a
medical man for the purpose. The Court of the Coroner was
also to be an open Court, as had been provided by the Bill of
last Session. He trusted the Hon. and Learned Gentleman
would withdraw amendment.

Mr. JERVIS, while he adopted the principle of the Bill,
thought that some amendments might be necessary. He
thought that the office of Coroner should be more open to
competition, and not left, as at present, to be occupied only by