The Sun.
London, England, 1818-09-21 00:00:00

CORONERS.

On Thursday last en inquest was held at the
White Lion Inn. Barton-upon-Humber, by MAR-
MADUKE DIXON, Gent. Coroner, of Castor, on
the body of Ann Jubb, widow of that place, aged
83, who was found dead in her home the pre-
ceding day. From the evidence produced, added
to tke testimony of Mr. Hays, surgeon, the Jolty,
without hesitation, returned their verdict—Died,
by the visitation of God, of apoplexy. After the
verdict had been recorded, one of the Jurors in-
treated the professional advice of the Coroner on
the subject of Inquests. He observed, " a very
general opinion prevailed that it was a palpable
absurdity in sending for the Coroner on the present
occasion, more especially as the deceased was far
advanced in years, and it was so decidedly appa-
rent to her relatives, and many of the inhabitants
also, by what means she came to her death. Some
of the assembled Jury questioned the propriety of
what had been clone, and the discussion- which
had taken place thereon subjected the person
with whom the present inquest originated to
much severe animadversion. It was also ima-
gined, and the supposition had been acted on at •
Barton, that a person dying suddenly in the pre-
sence of friends, associates, or other respectable
witnesses, rendered a coroner's inquest- equally
unnecessary. Under such circumstances, there-
fore, it was of importance to him as Coroner
and his deelaratir of the law relative to such
cases became extremely desirable information for \
the forme government of his .brother Jurors, and
the public in general."—Mr. Dixon 'immediately
replied as follows—" Gentlemen, I ant glad that
this opportunity is afforded toe to deliver my sen-
timents on the subject, because I find erroneous
opinions are entertained concerning inquests, and
without my explanation might probably hereafter
produce very unpleasant consequences. In re-
ference to the present misfortune, the person who
took the trouble of sending for me I am greatly
obliged to ; he is justly deserving of my thanks,
for having, as 'h. appears, fearlessly taken-the re-
sponsibility on himself. In so . doing, I beg dis-
tinctly to state before you, that he has performed
a necessary and imperious &lily. I boldly assert,
without the fear of contradiction, and it cannot
be too generally known, that in all cases of sud-
den death, whether happening when the person is
alone at the time, or expires before a hundred
witnesses, the Coroner is to be acquainted there-
with, that he may have the opportunity of in-
quiring and ascertaining by a jury in the ordinary
way, how, when, and by what means such
death is occasioned. Placed at a distance, as
I generally am, from such fatal occurrences,
I must be supposed a stranger to the particulars
relating thereto, and I beg to inform you, that
by neglecting to comply with this specific regula-
tion of the act of Parliament, should it come to
my knowledge, I possess the power of demanding
the disinterment of the corpse, and of holding an

inquest thereon : the parish is also liable to an in-
dictment and severe penalty. Gentlemen, the law
is peremptory, and by virtue of my oath as Co-
roner, and as a matter of conscience, I am bound
to do my duty. You will consequently under-
stand, in reference to the cases which have been
very properly stated to me, that an inquest on all
such occasions is indispensible. I have not given
you garbled extracts in fortii-eranee of any sinister
views ; the:small emolument derived from my Of-
fice renders it no temptation to exercise my pri•
vilege arbitrarily., was I so disposed. I trust,
therefore, Gentlemen, you will all be inclined to
obey the explication I have given, and join with
me in adopting the maxim, that the obligations
of-duty are, and ought to be, paramount to every
pecuniary consideration."—(Doncaster, Nutting-
ham, -and'Lincola Gazette, Sept. 18.)