The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1876-04-08
A CORONER WHO Is A DISGRACE
TO THE COUNTY.
He Finally Gives UP the Effects of the
Unfortunate Mr.. Herdman to his
Friends.

Very great indignation is expressed, by
all classes of our citizens, as we'll as by
citizens of Davenport. at the mercenary
conduct of Coroner Knox in trying to con-
meet his private business (undertaker)
with his Office of coroner. He first refused
to give up the body of the late Mr.. Herd.
man. saying, Il am an undertaken and |
will take care of it, He was finally fore
ed to yield that point, but refused to give
up the effects Of deceased.
This morning, in obedience to telegram
from Hon. J. W. Green, two gentlemen
A. G. Montandon. and A. j. Cormick
(oficers of Gem City Lodge, of Fort Mad
isonl arrived here to take measures
to compel the coroner to give up the effects
of their deceased friend. They were &C
companied by Mr.. Green and several of-
ficers of the Davenport Knights of Pythas.
Arrived here, they called on Mr.. j. S.
Drake, of this paper, and he, with DR.. J.
w. Stark, n G. of this city, accompanied
them to the barn of the coroner. The
gentlemen from Fort Madison were armed
with an order or letter to their lodge writ
ten by deceased some time ago) to take
possess ion of his effects in case anything
should happen to hm. And Mr.. Green
had telegraphic orders from the houses in
New York for which Herdman
was travelling. to take possession
OF the sample trunks. They first asked
for knox's bill as coroner, and offered to
pay it, Nj. Knox did not at first give
/ them the amount of his bill, and he re-
fused to give up deceased's effects. A
wordy discussion ensued, lin which the
Knox family made themselves ridiculously
offensive) and at last the coroner, finding
that he would quickly get himself into legal
troubles, gave up the sample trunks.
but refused to give up the money and
trinkets. Some more discussion convinced
the obdurate officer that it would not be
safe for him to pursue his little mercenary
game any further, and, retaining 81 each
for the IL jurymen, and about 50 for him.
self, he gave up the balance.
In the name of Gem City Lodge, the
gentlemen from Fort Madison then ten
dered to Noble Grand Stark, and to Mr.
Drake, thanks for their kind offices, and
left for Iowa with the Knights of Pythias
from Davenport
Mr.. Knox can be as mean, and penurious
and ungentlemanly as he likes, in his own
private business,-but in his office as cor
oner he should remember that he is the
, representative Of the people, and that the
i people do not desire him to act the clown.
the butfoon, or the bully; they desire that
their hired servants and representatives
shall be gentlemen. and especially that
q strangers shall receive every courtesy and
S attention which civilized and humane
n people are bound to show to the world.
;, Mr.. Knox has not done this, and il moi
r doing it he has brought rep-oach upon al
our people, and upon the office he un
S worthily fills When the refined and pc
y lite people of this county reflect upon tht
a unenviable position in which they have
e beeu placed by their public servant, thei
e indignation at his conduct will rot decreas
y much. They do not believe in MAXIM
their public Offices mere appendage t
any mans business.