The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1876-03-04
AliiOlani Hale. Honolulu. March Sd. 1870.

TO the Editor Of I'D Pacific Commercial Advertiser 4,
| have been impressed with what I deem tho
4 criminal conduct Of coroners Ia these Islands In neg
lecting to make any scrutiny into sudden deaths.
unless the facts Of foul play are manifest Az may
be implied from an article Ia your editorial column
Of last week, you are fully aware Of the numerous
instances ia which the groveling apathy upon the
part OF the authorities, has shown itself In this
respect.
II really seems that with our coroners. Incentives
more powerful than mere reverence for justice aud
humanity, are necessary 10 move them 10 " view the
dead - and 1t Is often with n scowl and mutterings
against meddIesomsness, that they are actually urged
TO their duty by the protests Of individuals, or by
popular voice.
/ do not pretend to account for the cause Of dis
inclination spoken Of, but merely 10 speak Of the
fact as understanding 10 our Law 40 IL stands, the
coroner shall hold IN inquest upon the dead body Of
any one who 10 " supposed 10 have come 10 such
death by poisoning. violence, or In any suspicious
manner"
4 In all enlightened countries. n sudden death. un-
less known TO have boon preceded by n disease recog-
nized as one liable 10 q sudden fatal termination, IL
always regarded as Suspicious, aud ms such, IL al
ways inquired into by the coroner. IL Is not ocnsi-
dered necessary, as II seems 10 be there. that cause
should first be found against some one oriminally
concerned, before an inquest 10 held, for II 10 too
well known that many deaths unattended with sus-
picion as regards others, and aside from any evidence
which the long buried body il capable Of furnishing,
have, after the lapse Of months and years, proved 10
have been the work Of the murderer.
The value Of O coroner's inquest almost entirely
depends upon the protection TO life that Ia Afforded
by the general knowledge that an inquiry viii be
made into every deatb, the causes Of which are
neither apparent on the surface, nor certified by
respectable and Trustworthy people; and the use OF
inauests is emphatically as a safeguard against the
destrucIon Of lie by secret mesns, such a. might
otherwise escape without detection, and also against
the confounding Of murder with suicide.
II a person supposed 10 be Ia health dies suddenly.
il is the proper business Of the coroner 10 ascertain
hnv he camq IA die. and III A uQrnon In fouuA With
his throat cut, or drowned, Il IL the proper business
Of the coroner 10 determine. Of possible, whether the
deceased destroyed himself, or was destroyed by
others.
An inquest should properly be a medical tribunal
10 investigate only the immediate cause Of death. and
calculated not only to keep poisoners, c~hild-mur-
derers, and such people, in wholesome dread, but
also 10 intervene happily between the police and the
discovery Of mares nests.
Are we 10 be satisfied then, a. the coroner seems
10 be here, that the sudden death Of a person APP
parently in health is not suspicious, unless We can
prove il was caused by violence or poison Certainly
not-and Il 10 not without reason that complaints are
often made ne 10 the laxness Of our officials. who
through sloth, or an utter disregard for individual
human life, pass by the numerous cases OF sudden
death that occur ia our midst, with the comforting
supposition that they " may have been occasioDed BY
aneurism or heart disease which are known TO DO
common among ne. A little vigilance In the FIRST
instance would often prevent, for themselves, their
jurors, and the medical witnesses they sometimes
call, some very offensive work, NJ has more than
once been the case, where bodies far advanced la
decomposition have been exhumed for dissection 10
satisfy the public curiosity where rumor has sug-
gested after burial, the probable effects Of violence
or poison.
But in consequence Of this existing neglect. the
kahunA may. without fear, abort the female Of her
Illicit fetus, and advise the mother 10 her own de-
struction; and the quack doctor, whether licensed or
otherwise, perform the most moDstrous malpractice
without fear Of any rctribution. but what may be
met at the bar Of his God.
I shall not engross any more Of your valuable
space by detailing instances In proof Of what has
been sAid-sufice Il 10 say, there are many which
could readily be brought forward.
But | think IL relevant 70 say, that as the def
cheney Of the law and appropriations for expenditure
on inquests, has been held as an excuse by the au-
thorities, that the government should take the matter
in hand, and draw up n law 10 be presented AZ the
coming session Of the Legislature. that will compel
an investigation into each and every case Of sudden
death that may hereafter occur; and provide Al the
same time q special fund from which all accruing
expenses shall be betrayed.