New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-12-27
KINGS COUNTY INVESTIGATIONS.

IRREGULARITIES IN THE CORONERo OTFICE-ACTI0N
or TIE NEW BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
The irregularities in the Coroners' and
Health offices still attract the attention OF Brooklyn
Residents and additional facts tending TO reveal
abuses In those offices will be brought out 1t thought
at the investigation which is be continued this after
1t has been determined, however, that the pres
ent Committee cannot make exhaustive examination
a. not mnre than session viii be held before
the expiration OF the term Of the Board OF Supervisors
OF the Board, however which will into office
Jan l. 1874. great things expected and many OF
the difficulties with which the present body has to
tend will not embarrass them in making an ihvestga-
ton. Every Of irreguary which is discovered
In a measure charge OF neglect brought against the
Board OF Supervisors who ordered the payment OF the
CoroneTs' bills, and reflects upon the
bers OF tho Finance Committee OF that body.
The intimate relations existing between Coroner White
hill and the Chairman OF the Investigating Committee
supervisor Fletcher render thorough examination of
the charges dtasteul to the latter The Board of
Supervisors which win be composed OF tho members OF
the new Board of Aldermen. will not be hempered by
such peTpexites Sufficient irregularities have already
been discovered by the present Investigating Committee
10 cite the new Board institute thorough exami-
nation Of the whole of the present CorOners 1t
has already shown that 1t the custom OF the
CoroBers dispense with juries in smallpox
Coroner Wheb admits the charge, but shields himself
behind the exigencies Of the which he says
imperative. He claims thatit would subject the Jurors
to the danger OF catching smallpox, and leopard the
health OF the city. One Of the Supervisors replied that
1t was not necessary have jury view tho body, but
that jury must exist. He quoted the following section
rom the Revised Statutes which relates to the holding
OF inQuests:
Whenever Coroner shall receive notice that any per-
son has slan suddenly died. has been daD
gerously wounded has been found dead under such
circumstances TO REQUIRE an inquiston 1t shall be
person shall be ana forthwith 20 summon not less than
six nor moro than fifteen persons qualified by law
appear before such Coroner forthwith, such place
be shall appoint 10 make inQuiston concerning such
death or woundng.
Tho Coroners also urge an excuse for not
ing1urors the following which passed by the Board
OF Supervisors Feb 10, 1871
The Law Committee 10 whom referred the bill Of
respeottnIy report tat they find from EXAMINATION
that tho CoroBers performed certain
permits were granted But the Coroners did not
jurors and the inquesis held were not legal In
quests for tho that they were contagious cases.
Believing that the services were useful and necessary,
although not technically legal nauess. we recommend
the payment Of the bills and submit for adoption the
following r,, the ill in question be referred to tn. Auditor for hi.
setIeste
In opposition to this defense lawyers object, first,
that the Supervisors had right To authorize de-
parture from the requirement OF the statute and, Soc
ondly that the COroners had dispensed with jures In
many cases before the resolution Twas passed by the
Supervisors It has been shown by this investigation
that the same irregularities that exist in Of small
pox have Of Diseases The
which the Coroners paid for holding inQuess
during November and December 1871. were inquired
into by the Committee, and OF the whole number 81
eases (nosty stibrths) could not be found upon the
books of the Health Board. Coroner Whitehill,
this fact came to the rescue. and after
searching for three days in company with Supervisor
Fletcher finally discovered a memorandum OF the miss
ing names on the "stuD-book" or margin from
which the burial permits were cot This showed
that burial permits had been gwen, but no record
OF inquest appears the Health Boards records The
the erson who stated TO have been subscribing
denied that she witness as 70 the death or
that any inQuest held while ono OF the persons
said TO be juryman, denied that be had acted IL that
eApseity The statements contained 10 the list pnb
Isbed in Last Saturdays TRIBUNE have not been salts
facoriiy answered by the Coroners coroner Whitehl
Las en content obtain the statements OF uudertak
ers who say they buried sOme OF the parsons whose
pames appear the tables Supervisor Fletcher states
that out OF the has selected Is which be
poses 10 Investigate thoroughly. He has already
begun the investigation, and cites the case
OF Georee Hafkasen, who was reported by the Cor
opers As hayp died OF smallpox and for whom In
QUESTION was made out " that efecL lie says that lac
made visit 20 the house where II was stated be had
died No $50 Fulton st. and after making most search
ing inquiry among tho persons who had lived there
before and after the time OF his decease he found that
they did not OF such person ever having
bved there He went other places, but Is not pre-
pared give them for publication at the present time
He IA busy now making out subpenas for the summonlnR
OF Witnesses Ia accordance with the health records lie
Intends 10 examine, far pracucaDle the attending
physcian II there any, the uDderLaEers, and su
perineDdehts OF the cemeteries at whch she Oodles
we're buried