The Hawaiian gazette., 1881-02-23

A c1Rcua-srAScE. which has occurred during the
last week only too clearly shows now necessary II
is for our authorities to examine rigidly into all
cases where people die suddenly OF unattended. A
man named LOUIS Young appeared at the Police
Court on the 18th to answer a charge of drunken
ness He had been up several times before, and
had earned an evil reputation with the Police
Justice. Mr.. Bckerton promised that if he ap-
peared again before him he should be treated as
an old offender. viz: that he should have one
months imprisonment That very evening be was
picked up in the street by the police. He was in
sensible and they presumed dead drunk. The next
Gay be was not fit TO be brought before the CourT
and remained in his cell. he complained of great
pain in the s:omach and intense thirst. Dr.. Hutch
inson saw him and suggested some comforts for
him. but In the afternoon while in the act of drink
ing cup of ies the man died. On the suggestion
of Dr.. Hutchinson and Mr.. W. O. Smith. the Deputy
Attoraey-General, post mortem examination was
made. The doctors on viewing the body supposed
that the man had died from apoplexy. brought on
by excessive drinkine-the autopsy however show
ed that the seventh rib had been broken, and that
the bone had pierced the intercostal artery; in
fact that the man had bled internally to death. We
doubt whether any medical skill could have saved
IL AlaA utilA INSTANTLY.
As far as the following remarks are concerned, We
have nothing to do with the calling in of medical
assistance for the man while alive-vhat we wish
to point out is, that unless doctor Hutchinson
and Mr.. Smith had strongly expressed their
opinion. 10 post nortea examination would prob
ably haze been held, and the man would have
been buried as having presumably died from the
effects of drink. Now, it is no 6oabt very re-
prehensible thing we may say, criminal thing to
get drunk, but because man gets drunk, it is no
reason why be should get put out Of this world and
no notice be taken of how he was got nd of. 1t
may be a troublesome matter TO call Coruner's
Jury together, but neither trouble nor expense
should be spared when enquiring into the circum-
stanes of a death from a cause unknown.
The law provi5es that as soon as any Coroner
shall have notice of the death of any person with
in his jurisdiction, supposed to have come 70 such
death by poisoning, violence, in any suspicious
manner be shall call together jury who viii
enquire into "vhen, how and by what means he
came to his death. " Now the death Of Louis Young
certainly took place in suspicious manner,
and as certainly it took place from violence. s.
The circumstances Of the certainly called for
Coroner's inquest; why was not one heid ? The
police authorities have an idea that the man was
knocked down by passing express wagon or car
rage but We believe they have no certain informa-
ton upon the matter We have spoken to the physi-
clans who made the post Herteni and have been
informed that that was a likely enough method
for the blow to have been given, but that it might
have been the result of kick as well. We ask
ourselves several questions about this man, and
We certainly get satisfactory answer. Was he the
victim Of gross careessness in driver: or had he
been iIl-treated by companions with whom he had
been drinking; had he been robbed; was he drunk
at all 1? The police may, by inquiring, find these
things In time, by going here and asking there,
but Coroners jury would have settled the matter
at once. We should have the testimony Of the wit
nesses which could have been Published and the
case would not be III the same obscurity that it at
present is. We know well that at the present time
the police authorities have very great strain put
upon them, We appreciate thoroughly the good
work that Nh. Parke and Mr.. Dayton are doing,
but because there is strain upon their resources
for sanitary purposes, there is just ground for
allowing investigations Of this kind TO fall into
abeyance. However they really have not allowed
them to fail into abeyanoe- they only adhering
TO what has ever been the custom here. and that
is not 70 investigate the cause of death unless il is
accompanied by very suspicious circumstances.
When a woman has her head broken by fat iron
then Coroner's jury Is called. The Law Is clear
cious vhe-e the person has died unattended.