The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1846-09-30


And very nice sort of thing it is too, this same
office of coroner, with about $1,000 a-yeer, clear
Of all expenses, and tolerably easy times for most
OF the year; but this is all by the way; we want to
mention much needed reform in the coroner's
department.
Every body knows that he Is the only man in
the county who holds check rein upon the Sheriff.
1t is he who has to all writs upon that officer
The fees connected with this part OF his official
duty are very small, and the inconvenience result
ing from the connection Of this and his more ap
proprate duty of experimenting inquests upon
dead bodies, is sometimes very great. For in
stance, few days ago while Coroner Rawson
was engaged in taking testimony in the case of
Mrs Eliza Russ, who was murdered, is sup
posed, by her husband, some citizen whose rights
were about to be violated, applied TO have pro-
cess served Immediately. The case was urgent,
and the inquest upon which a jury were serving
at the time was grave and vastly important, and
both the inquest and the process required the
coroner's personal attention. This is by no
means a rare occurrence, and now what we pro-
pose is to remedy the evil by providing that this
writ serving upon the sheriff be performed by
some other officer.
The reform is much needed, as any of the ex-
coroners will admit.
There is also another matter connected with the
coroner's office which ought to be put right.
The committee on public offices and repairs, OF
The Board of Aldermen, in their zeal to remedy
the "Dead- House in the Park" nuisance, entire
y overdid the matter, and created a greater nui-
sance than that which they took so much pains to
abate. They abolished the dead-house in the
Park, and had one built at the foot OF Twenty
ninth street, on the East River, very good place
for dead house to be sure, but place, unfortu-
nately, which is never sought, and which has as
yet, we believe, never been unlocked in order to
receive single dead body; and the consequence
is, that the remains Of those who are found
drowned, or who from any cause become pro.
per subjects for an inquest, lie where they
found, sometimes for whole days, until tho
coroner can find time to attend to them. Loud
complaints are made continually about this mat
ter, and it certainly is great shame that such
a state of things should exist Removing the dead
house from the Park was all very well, but es-
tabshing it so high up town as 10Th street was
great humbug. Some place nearer the centre of
the city is much needed, as receptacle for the
dead bodies found, and if properly attended to,
dead house could be kept as inofensive rs any
unseemly as at present do the unprotected corpses
that embellish our docks SO frequently.
We merely mention these things, in order that
some of our public spirited city Legislators may act
upon the hints thrown out, and make to them
selves the name of having done something for the
public good, while at the same time that same
public good is brought about. In short, these
suggestions are made for use, and not addressed
to Buncombe.
THE STATE CoNvENTIoN-This notable body
ofwise men and legislators, collected from all
quarters of the Empire State, and transported to
the capital by the aid of horses and steam en-
gines, on land and water will adjourn on the sixth
day of October next by appointment
We believe 1t is now generally understood that
the result OF their labors will be very much like
that produced by the mountain, which, after heav-
ing and throwing up for three days, at length
brought forth mouse, but the color of which his
tory has not enlightened us about The color of
the mouse about to be brought forth by the con-
veRtion is still in doubt, but we believe it will be
varied, as to defy the detection of any predo-
minating one.
Badinage aside, we believe that great error
was committed at first in limiting this body of
men 10 a certain time within which they should
give new constitution to the Empire State. Our
interests are so varied, the pursuits OF our citizens
so different, the wants ofthe present age are so
many, and the progressive spirit of the age so
pd, that no body of morals could, within the time
allotted to the convention, perform the duties be-
fore them, without first coming to general un-
derstandng among themselves Of the remedies
that the diseases of the body polite require.
This general understanding we believe is now
attained; and the members OF the convention I'M
dersand themselves and each other so well, that
they are only now competent to Commence their
labors. II new constitution should offered
to citizens by the convention, for their con-
firmation ut the next November election, we be-
lieve that it will be rejected by tremendous ma
jority, on account of its imperfectness. 1t will
provide reform in judiciary systematic
greatest burden our people suffered under and
that alone will ensure its rejection.
The convention have been so much divided on
this measure, and the new plans suggested are so
various and so inapplicable, that none whatever
will have been concluded upon by the day of adj
journment
ROBERT OwEN.-We beg to direct the readers
attention to the memorial OF Robert Owen, which
was lately presented by that distinguished philan-
thropist and friend of man, to the House Of Com
mons Of England, which will be found in another
column of this days paper. The majority of our
citizens may, and we believe do disagree with
Mr.. Owen IN his views on the reorganization of
society, but all must admire the candor and dsin-