The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1877-05-28
THE GLOBE MONDAY MORNING MAY 2s 1871

the proper authorities. The origin Of the
fire seems to be involved in mystery, but
there is reasonable suspicion that it was
the work of an incendiary. Whether caused
by accident or.design, there would not seem
to be much question that it was caused by
the unlawful presence of some person or
persons in the outbulldings connected with
the house Immediately before the breaking
out of the fire. If the building was de-
signedly fired, the incendiary, under our
laws, is virtually guilty of murder, and the
punishment awarded for the crime is death.
If the fire was the result of carelessness,
then those responsible therefor are undoubt-
edly guilty of the crime of manslaughter-
for the death of these two children resulted
from their carelessness and neglect, and an
alarm given to the family would have saved
these two lives.
Prior to 1856, an inquest would have
been an imperative necessity, both at COM
mon law and under our statutes. The
statute provided that when any justice
should be informed that 'the dead body of
"any person, supposed to have died by
casualty or violence" was found IN the
county, he should forthwith cause a jury
of inquest to be summoned to inquire into
the cause and manner of the death. 1t
was found, however, that in many towns
every sudden death was made pretext for
the holding of inquests, and that large ex-
pense was entailed upon the state thereby,
so that in 1855. the law was amended eav-
ing the matter Of holding inquests discre-
tionary with the selectmen of the several
towns. Under this law, coroners' juries
were abolished, and inquests were directed
to be held by justice of the peace upon
the request of one or more of the select
men if, in the opinion of such selectmen,
the public good should require it.
The law was designed to prevent the in
curing of unnecessary expense upon the
happening of every sudden or accidental
death, but, at the same time, to secure the
holding of inquests in every case where
there was reasonable ground to believe that
unlawful force bad been used. This Car-
endon case is exactly one where the law
contemplates an Inquest. The fire, and
hence the death of these two children, may
have been caused by accident, criminal
carelessness and negligence, or desigu. and
the public good requires that the cause OF
death should be inquired into. If there
ever was a case of death where an Inquest
was necessary this seems to be one. And
yet we are informed that the Clarendon
authorities propose to wait to see "if some
" thing will turn up" before determining
whether to hold one or not. If "some-
thing" does "iurn up" there will be no
necessity for holding an inquest, will therep
The very object of an inquest is to discover
this something" and determine SO far as
possible the cause and manner of the death
so tina. the officers of the law may have
something to act upon. If the fire, and
hence the deaths, was the result of an un-
forseen accident, let it be determined. If
the building was fred by the carelessness or
negligence of tramp, Let it be known. Or
if, as many suppose, the fire was the de-
liberate and malicious act of an iucendiary.
let it be investigated and the guilty person,
if possible, brought TO justice. We trust
tn, authorities of the town Of Clarendon
will think better of the matter, and at
once enter upon an investigation and probe
the matter to the bottom.