New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-07-14
Local Intelligence.

THE BURIAL OF RENE GABRIEL By COR
oNER GREEN OF ST. BERNARD.-June Is
butcher named Rene Gabriel was killed at
the Slaughterhouse by Michel C!averie, who
stabbed him. Coroner Green directed the
body to be buried without holding an au'
topsy Indeed, he refused to permit post
norton examination.
This conduct has caused some excitement
in the minds of portion of the Inhabitants
of St. Bernard. Having general idea that
violent death subjects the body OF man
to dissection, they addressed the following
letter to Judge Braughn, who turned 1t
over to Judge Dibble:
New ORLEANS, July 10. 1876.
DEAR SIR-We beg leave to call your At
tentiOn to the fact that in the case OF the
murder committed at the Slaughterhouse.
some three weeks ago. no autopsy was
made on the body of the man murdered.
The corOner's attention was called to the
same, but he most peremptorly refused
either to make or allow it to be made:
In the name of the residents OF the par
ish of St. Bernard, as we'll as for the fur'
therance of Justice, we now call upon you
Va
ish-one Green, q colored man, command
ing him to have the body of the murdered
man exhumed, and to proceed, assisted by
two physicians, to the autopsy OF said body
according to law.
Hoping that you will give your earliest
attention to this matter, we remain,
Very respectfully,
j. LEINBARD
And others.
IT. J,,Jr nvo Aaets At$nrpav (yaDerSl.
Mr.. Green may be colored man, but he
evidently has q clearer idea of his duties
than these compliments. Before Mr.. Lein-
bard asks for q process according to law"
it would be well to consult the statutes
There is no law which commands the cut
ting up mans boly, dead or alive. Laws
are made to prevent such things.
The Revised Statutes, section 653, re-
auires the coroner to view the body and
deliver it to the friends, "if he shall be
satisfied that no person has been guilty OF
causing or procuring the DEATH" but does
not compel him to hold An inquest. Black
stone II. 348, NJ says he must see the body.
and Nv. 274, NJ that the finding of the
jury, super yisuna corporis is equivalent to
the finding of grand jury, provided all
the Jurors have subscribed it. But he has
nothing to say of an autopsy. The coroner
Revised Statutes, 655) can only hold an
inquest when he "has reason to suspect" a
violent death, and (660) lit shall be the
duty of the coroner, if adjudged necessary
either by himself or by majority Of the
Jury, in order to ascertain the cause of
death to order q post-mortem examina-
ton" But nowhere is it stated that it is
his duty if other people deem it necessary
He and the jury of FIVE determine that.
Mr.. Lombard does not seem to have made
out case. From his statement it appears
the coroner did not deem post mortem
necessary. He does not allege the jury
asked for it. He does not tell who did it.
He does not allege it was necessary ITO as
certain the cause of DEATH" His request to
have Mr. Gabriel exhumed three weeks
after his death is, therefore, rather pre-
posterous.
The fact is. coroners are rather too prone
to cause the cutting up of bodies and letting
physicians earn fees therefor, than is agree
able to those who believe repose should
come after death. Many communities have
been Mortified at learning of the secret ways
dissecting rooms were furnished with sub
iects. The necessity for them led to the
horrible deeds that gave a new crime and
added a new name to the calendar
Burking. There are laws that give the
bodies of malefactors to science, but
these are all so. guarded as te
allow the friends privilege of claiming
them. Even the body Of the worst crimi
nal is so guarded, and it should seem thai
the body of one who has been sinned
against should have even more protection
It is not often that an autopsy is neces
sary, and therefore coroners are given dis
erection in the matter. If there is dead
body, murderer in custody, the weapon
q witness who saw the blow, or circum
stantial evidence that make the chain com
plete, the law is satisfied, and it rests with
the iurv to assist in the 'furtherance Of
Justice"