The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-11-11

Elisabeth Seylar, residing ct No 100 Second street.
husband sick about ten days and broke out
with botches all over his body she sent for doctor
who came from the Dispensary, and pronounced his
rived which was this morning about o'clock; deponeat
does not know any other cause for death.
ELIZABETH Z sEYLAR
City and County of New York ss-Mina Hosbsch being
duly sworn, says that the ninth day Of August last
she resided at No lo9 Second street. in the Seventeenth
ward; that her husband had been sick. and two phys
clans attended bin that on the eighth day Of August
he died. Of the physicians gave certificate that he
died with small pex (Which think there could be no
mistake about; sent to the Inns House for cofhn
the Coroner nor any jury ever came to the body
there other death in that house in August any
inquest ever held there to my knowledge.
Sworn to before me, this 3lst day Of october 1851.
Gro II. FRANxLN, Alderman Seventeenth ward.
STATE y New York, City and County Of New York
William Thatcher Of said city, deposes and says that
he in the employ Of the Governors Of the New York
Hospital and in their employ for sixteen months
up to March, 1851 that after Seth Geer had first be-
come Coroner, and about two months after entering
upon his duties, he came into the dead house to
died suddenly after holding such inquest he asked
deponsnt what body that was lying at short distance
from where the Coroner and deponent stood deponent
replied that it who had died without friends
and would be sent to Potters Field this dero said
that il was not a Coroner's case, and inquest
was necessary the Coroner said damn it, give him to
me" or I'VE will have him The Coroner then handed
me four shilngs and gave me coroners certificate fsr
the burial of that body setting forth that an inquest
held him at that time and aeponent saith that the
Coroner did not then at any other time hold in
quest the body last named, examine it.
II in any way That frem that time up to about four
five months past the Coroner has been in the constant
habit OF giving certificates where inquess nave not been
held or required and great number of such certificates
have been given That when died at the hospital
they at brought into the dead house by the
and given into deponents charge and deponent
had thereafter the entire and sole control them
that no jury could inspect the same and inquest be
duty then to 90 to the Aims House and get certi
fcae for the burial Of the body but in almost all such
certificate of the Clerk of the Hospital the
his deputy instead Of the Aims House and the Coroner
has given certificate Of burial setting forth that
inquest had been held when none had been held.
DeponeIt also that there has not been actual
inquest held in the hospital for than month past
habit there for the Coroner and AS
stant Coroner to take the evidence of doctor with
out any jury other ceremony then roll up the nqusi
ton and put it in his pocket and 60 away after which
the body disposed Of on his certificate as before men
toned.
That unless the is publicly notorious. likely to
call for criminal prosec ution such as stabbng &c no
jury had and this the usual and almost invariabe
practice
And aepone ,sys that about eight month, ago the
Coroner told deponent that when inquest
he should take the certificate o. the Clerk OF the Hosp
tai to Mr. Bleakley the Assistant Coroner and get it
exchanged for certificate without letting said
Coroner know snythDg about 1t, and it would be all
right.
Deponent further says that he has taken at least ten
of the kind and nature aforementioned to the Coo
when they should be taken TO the Aims House, and
when no nques. should have been held and then and
in such the Coroner has given coroners certd-
cate when no such certificate was necessary or required
bylaw.
And deponent says that he voluntarily gave iuforma-
ton Of the matters herinbefore contained TO Mr. Flor
sntne and Mr. Rome, without any inaucement or men
ton CT same from or to other person or persons
who and that shortly after ward, viz in the
month of March, 1851, this deponent discharged
fr the service Of the Governors Sc, Of the Hospital
because deponent hsd been party to and aided said
in he ma al
whatsoever. WILLIAM THATCHER.
WIN II. SPARKs Commissioner # Deeds.
CIrr IssPEcroR's OFFICE
New York Nov. 10, 1851.
At the request of Alderman Franklin have examined
the book OF the registry Of deaths in this Office aad do
not fud the Of Hans seylar having died in the
month OF August last Of either Catherine Lashrop,
Jane Lrnta or Thomas Flynn a. having d1d 10 ssP'em
Der last sAML A NA.pEkLlP
Clerk In the City Inspectors 0fhce
These are but a small portion Of the many We could
submit; hut deem them sufficient TO Justify your
con uittee in their conclusions.
The facts proved in tbs examination Of the subject
are in the minds Of your committee, these
PrstThat large pre- portion Of the inquess returned
are fraudulent and the names CT the jurymen written
by the that has written the testimony az
sscond-rha there has been collision between the Co
the certificates Ct burial from physicians have been ex
charged for those q the Coroner and the county charged
Tor Le!dng inquests in the cases
Third-That persons not authorized by Law 20 hold
irqr,sts have done so and the Coroner charged and
20 the correctness Of the same and lived pay
therefor
The Office If Coroner one Of the most responsible Of
any in the eity, aud should be filed by an experienced
phyficisn be charged 10 examine all cases Of death by
yioifrce
Wien the inqusiticn contains the subject matter Of
eccwa:ion q any person IL Is equivalent 70 the finding
o: a grand jury. aud such person may be tried AID
convicted on IL and dctment be found for the
sane offence and the defendant be acquitted on the
ote he must be arrsigned on the other 70 which ne
msy however ,aeetuAly plead his formal aequitssl'
ale page q. 80 .
The Coroner cannot take inquisiton but upon the
ysw Of the body, ard " he doth; such linguistic Is
void ard the is because oentimes much Of the
evidence ariseth upon the view, &c Page So.
sCoronsrs ought not In general when party dies By
the visitation Of God from apopsxy the Ike nor N
any unless very doubtful one. unnecessarily In
ruie themselves into private families for the purpose Of
ips.itrtips inquiry - East
The nquiition should show that all the tutors took
the oath also who such Jurors are by name and there
fofr Is insufficient to Acge that u taken by the
oath of the several persons burns Jus
TIE constitution. Of the United Stats aud th, State
declare that "Eo persons shall be kept to answer for
capal or otherwise Infamous crime unless on presenta
tii or Indictment ola Grand jury; and much depend.
upon the action Of the Coroner In capital cases Ia pro
rsrly holding Dquests but IL has been the frequent
sub c Ct plant by District Attorneys Of the care
lees and incorrect manner In which the papers
persons With the commission Of crime have been taken
Before the revision Of the statutes in 1880 the Coroner
vas authorized TO hold views In his discretion and e
call jury in Of doubt or when Il might contain
the subject matter Of accusation of any person and VA
rot, now compelled 10 call jury in all cases
IL may b. proper 10 state that DR. Geer was waited
upon, and that he most firmly denied any knowledge
maprpctee, and that he believed the bill CORE. n
vas informed thsi any sApansnon ne I'D give wOu
/ had none to give. ''' -
a.. ,.,s1x,S .sr committee have had assigned ther
| ~ nas been most psiriu and unpleasant {
feelings; the ofcer whose account you referre
was one for whom entertained much respect and on
relations were most friendly and ntmate but the fact
ss astm proves y the Investigation compel the recon
| r,erdation a the most severe and decided sctioi
and therefore they submit to the board the fono"in
! re- olutions - - r.. a,
Resolved That the bill Of Seth Geer, Coroner for u
| quarter ending September 3oth 1851, be not paid.
! Resolved. That the sfhdsvits and testimony TAKEN
the committee. be transmitted to the Hon Wssning,c
Hunt Governor Of New York for hi, action pursuant
Vol I page 126, Revised statutes
eEo II fRASkLIN,) Committee
EZRA SMITH on
PATRICK KELLY, ] County Offices
Married.,