The hydraulic press., 1860-11-24
CORONERS.

On Tuesday last the body of an unknown
man was found floating in the Sacramento
river. Coroner Murray held an inquest on
the body, which elected no information as
to the deceased's identity, or the cause of
his death. The body was then buried on
the bank of the river, near where it was
found. On Saturday last Coroner Murray
was informed by dispatch, that a Mrs
Daston, OF San francisco, would cali upon
him for information about this man found
drowned, with the expectation that she
might identify the body as that of her hus-
band, who has been missing some weeks. In
pursuance With her request, ]. W. Reeves,
undertaken, accompanied Mrs B. to the spot
where the body had been buried, and disiu-
tered it for examination. Mrs. b., after a
careful inspection, pronounced the body not
that other husband.-Sae. News, of Monday
The perusal of the foregoing item leads us
to offer a-few words of comment upon fact
which we have long observed to exist, viz :
That the law defining the duties of Coroners
in this State is either very defective, or but
feebly enforced. That officer receives infor-
nation that an unknown body has been dis
covered floating in the river, concealed in
the bushes, or exposed on the public high
way. He repairs to the spot, finds a-crowd
of curious people assembled, and proceeds
at once to summon asjury from among them,
using the balance as witnesses, who, in nine
cases out of ten, know nothing at all about
the dead man, or the circumstances attend
ing his decease. A meaningless verdict is
brought in; the body is removed to an
undertakers office, or, as in the present case,
thrust unceremonously into the ground, all
in an hour or two after the performance of
these mock proceedings. This ends the
matter. No description of the body is pre-
served; no measurement of its height, bulk,
weight, or private marks made no clothing
retained nothing noted as to its complexion,
the mold of its features-not even lock of
hair treasured, by which identity could be
established at some subsequent period, by
those in search of father, husband,
brother or friend. But the dead poor,
alas have no friends. Such negligence and
haste are shameful. And yet this recital is
by no means fiction. Even at so'cheap
rate is human life valued in California
1t is manifest, that in all such cases, the
most thorough and minute scrutiny should
be instituted; not only of the body, for
evidences afterwards to be used. but of wit
nesses, whose testimony may assist in the
discovery of the dead mans mysterious fate.
For that purpose, every particle of clothing,
and every article in the pockets or aboHt the
person of deceased, should be sacredly kept.
His features ought to be daguerreotyped, and
his body embalmed. The picture should be
hung up in some public place, and the body
retained above ground until such time as
reasonable means have been exhausted in
the effort to find out who the defunct was,
where he came from, and how his death was
produced.
By the adoption of some such salutary
measures, murder might be traced, and the
murderer brought to justice; legal controTer-
sizes prevented in the settlement of estates !;
and most of all, hearts brimming with affec-
ton, now in repiniug and doubt, convinced,
if lot Immediately alleviated, of the bitter
sorrow which weighs them heavily down.