New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-11-25
The DETECTION OF NURDERKRs.



SIR: Navy causes have been assigned by the public
pr,ss for the appalling increase of crime Ia this city
such % tie mistakes of our Judicial system the
weshres OF our Judicial tribunals and mischievou'
election ipaue,ces."
Anhosgh the above are undoubtedly among the
causes wh oh "urderle the catalogue OF our soouad'
irg eriniral,," there are others shich have beef
overlooked or greatly nisunder.tood The speedy de
iectien punishren. Of ciinr ais hiss always been
considered among the most efec,ua representatives. Of
crime but il must be apparent TO every ono that dur
Ing the last five years many OF the most terrible crimes
con mitted 10 this city have gone undeteced or II sas
pcion bss aghted upon any individual the evidence
was totally insufficient 10 secure CONVICTION Iaers
il growing tendency among the public not to convic
those accused Ct crimes 10 which the penalty OF deah
il attached insufficient legal Or medical evldeece'
The history Of TIE trs Of Henderson at Troy Tor oe
murder Of his wife il remarkable instance OF this
fact; for although he was undoubtedly guilty be wac
DC, the sss convicted erroneous medic evicencs,
ard hence reary a. the leaders OF the medical pro'ts
sion united in petition TO the Governor for hs par
don. Nume Gus cases Of similar kind have also o.
CURED il this city, Il therefore beco mes essential Tor
those in suthoity 70 take such prompt measures ss
will furnish conclusive evidence OF the gait OF the a..
cused Many persons recent accused OF the crime ~
homicide have escaped conviction solely from the
want of testimony which, if it had not been for the
gross ignorance criminal neslieerc, Of those 10
tlorlty, could easily have been supplied.
Thus, In the cease CT DR. BuydeD, il WAS the careless
ress with which the post norton examination Of the
body was conducted that led the authorities 10 sup
poee tie tine Of the commission Of the tragedy az
late hour in the evening, whsn, from circu rs ances
which have since bsen discovered, ard which could
have been ply proved by the uncigested conoltl)n
Of TIE contents Of the stomach, the Doctor was IN
doubleday murdered Immediately after dinaer between
Is and o'clock in the eyering In the Lu'ner case,
one of the parties accused Of the crime was permitted
by the officer in charge 20 change her dress ul-
ned lately after her arrest, which according TO her
own confession after her scquittsl. was marked with
spots # blood. And in the Gaze Of NIlsns convicted
of numbering hs wife by poison, in consequence OF
decision OF the Judge trying the case, Improperly ed-
mtrg the dying decaI atoms OF the deceased which
was siterward oVeuued, the accused obtained new
trial; the most important witness shortly after Sard lett
the city ard could not be found and the prisoner for
want Of sufficient evidence wss not tried second
tme and finally discharged.
1t s the duty Of the Coroner to inquire into every
Gaze Of death which hiss m1nifesiy arisen from vio-
lence or unnatural consequences. The office was IN
doubtdy originally formed Tor the express purpose OF
protecting human life, ard putting check to the
crime of uriustifabe homicide; and II is the 6ouoden
duty of the Coroner TO satisfy the public mind in al
such cases TO whether the crime Is tnS resuI OF
Negligence accident or deeign.
The statute in this State authorizes the Coroners 10
proceed forthwith TO the place where any person has
Be slain or has been found
dead under such circumstances as 10 require 40 nqu
etiop. II s bis DUTY TO inquire whether the man was
slain or ourded in the same place he was found, OF
rot and it is also his duty TO summon a competent
pbyeicsn or surgeon TO make an immediate poet NOR
tem examination Of the body. All wounds ought to BE-
yieyed their length breadth and depth, how many,
or in what part Of the bocy, or with what weapon
they were made. Ii will be perceived that me Coro-
pers have ar pie powers delegated to them put tue
history of recert patant cases sufficiently demon
strates how Intellectually their duties have been per-
formed.
Inquests are seldom il ever held upon wounded per-
sors Occasionally the dying declaration Of wounded
10 tab N IA
not worth anything in court oijustce; but the usual
custom is to visit patiently until the unfortunate NC
tim Ct violence has breathed his last when the Ccro
Der eisurely to hold an nqunst on the BODY
During the interval the perpetrators Of the crime Al
tiepatirg the result have sought safety in Hight OF
in some other manner eluded the ends Of islice. II
is not unfreqmrtly the case that many hours eapse
before the Coroner proceeds to hold an inquest OF
view the body In the time, through the infer r
ference of the officers and other, attracted e the spot
al aces Of the crime CELEBRATED and 1t fs impos
eots in The pame position they first discovered.
The COrone howeyer, are not always to be blanca
in such eases, a. the officers frequently remove the
body ard the Coroner Is not notified until some time
sfteIward. Fer instance, about four years since 8
man war found in Hsnnersy street, near the adson
River about O'Clock in the evening" with bi, THROAT
cut from ear to ear and fracture Of the skull evi-
6trty from q blow with hammer. There was
large pool Of blood surrounding the body, and tracks
Of bloc y footsteps were traced to short distance
from the body. The Coroner was not notified unta ne
tolIoscing morning and when be proceeded to exam
blood IRE obi.eiated and the surrounding objscts
changed, 40 that 10 clue waatsver could be oDan'd
of the murderer
II in this instance the Coroner had been immediate
~ summc ned, and had at once proceeded WITH
physician skilled in conducting such examinations 70
view the body, and carefully measure the tracks Of
blood, also investigating everything IN any manner
relating to the case, bsve no doubt fro fae.s OBJ
tanned at ii time that the murderer would have been
detected ard brought to speedy Justice.
1t is not my intention to cast any unjust
upon the Corener officers; they are undoubtedly dis
poted to perform their duty Few persons, however
nderstsId the Importance Of evidence which can only
be furnished by immediate inspection OF the body
in the same place where il found Officers there
fore frequt nIly remove the bocy to the Saton-house
OF sone other place distant from the scene OF the
hon cide, thus destroying all traces by watch the
criminals could be detected. As remedy for these
evils propose that the officers should be notified by
the Superintendent Of Police In every Instance OF hon
eide rot TO remove in any way interfere With the
body; also, that the Coroner should be Immediately
et.d and requested to give instant attention to such
notice. -,
Surgecrr Of Police, thoroughly acquainted with
Neoicsl jurisprudence should also DO appointed TO
every Precinct and be especially detsled ~ take en-.
tire charge Of & cases Of homicide until the arrival
Of the Coroner. II should be his duty to take dra"
ings Of tie body and rom in which the oody vas
found also Of the ding premises. AID, 10 fast
make accurate observ atoms Of everything apperlsn-
ing 10 the case. Upon the arrival OF the Coroner no
.ke uH reign the toto his hands, but be present
A. Dc st.mortsm examination Of the body end also,
under the direction eff the Coroner assist hun sveiy
possible manner. Under the direction OF me Dslnct-
Attorney be should assst in any future investigators
that might be required, and set w. prosecuting WIT
ness at The trai Of the accused. II the above named
reforms ,houd be promptly adopted / feel assured
bat the number Of convictions would De gres9y W.
creased sno the ends OF jlslce ns.ensiy bsnshueo'
DAVID UHL. n D No. Il Esi. Twentieth street
Ee,0 Iak, Nov "a 1857
VERMONT LEGISLATURES.