Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-08-11
WHO SHALL GIVE THE ORDER
or BURIAL
A Question Of JurfsdietiOn tnat
should be settled-The Body OF
the Drowned Boy Jones'

the Drowned Boy Jones'
u yesterdays NEWS mention was mace
Of the recovery Of the body Of the eoloieo
boz Eenry Jones, who vas drowned a. ne
Exchange dock on Monday afternoon NO
inouest was held upon the body, and L was
srloued 70 remain fl the slip from hslf-PAst
four O'Clock Tuesday afternoon Until early
vs..s-ssv morning, when Il was removed
aod inferred
A. I've O'Clock or Tuesday afternoon Pc
Ifc-usn II. h Fnerson reported a. the
police barracks % Lieut. Howard, then On
duty. that the body Of the boy drowned Oh
The 8 was found and che Coroner notified,
but declined 20 hold an Inquest The MISTER
was then reported 70 DR.. AeF zrlAnd. Health
Officer, who addressed note % the Coroner
officially calling his attention 70 the case
and asking that be issue 3 burial ceriinezte
80 that the body could Be - once removed
aud ioterred. To this communication, We
are Informed BY the Health o nicer,
verbal reriv vas received from the Coroner,
stating that there was no necessity Tor an
inquest, aud that be declined % have any
thirg 70 do with the case
Tom receipt Of this information, the
Health Officer addressed the following con-
municati0n 20 the Mayor pro temY and re-
ceiVed The subi0ined repsy
OFFICE HEALTH OFFICER,
EAvAESAH- Ga August 2, ISL,
30 O'Clock p n
H0u. 6. 7. R7nit0a. Hag0T. pro ten:
SIR have the honor % report that there
T. . drowned BODY n one Of the city docks
and that Dr.. B. 2. Sheftsl, Coroner Of
Chstham county, informs ne that s. the
said body came % death By sccident he is
not required b Law 20 give certificate Tor
burial, and consequently viii not order the
removal OF same. I an already satisfied
that IL Il the dutv Of the Coroner 70 dispose
% such cases, and that the Health Oncer OF
Savannah has 10 jurisdiction in the premi-
sss: bit the good o. the community requires
the prompt burial o. al such cases, and Gs
the Coroner refuses % act, most respect
fully AK that be ordered 70 have said body
removed 20 the cemetery and buried without
delay. an sir, your obedient servant,
J. 7. MCFARLAND,
Health Officer.
CHI OF SAVANNAH,
OFFICE CLERK or COUNCIL,
August 9. 1881
Or. J. 7. NeFaryasad, Hsalh otter, S1g7H-
nah. Ga:
DE1E sIE-I am directed y His Honor
the Mayor pro TEN 20 acknowledge the
receipt Of your communication o. this date,
20 remove BODY Of drowned boy Is noted
The Mayor prO ten does Rot consider l.
within his jurisdiction 20 act 10 the matter
% the refusal Of the Coroner 70 give neces-
ssry certificate for burial or removal, but as
The public health demands immediate action
10 the matter, the Mayor pro TEN directs
that you will have the body inferred with
out delay. Very respectfully yours,
FKAEK Z. REBARER,
Clerk Of Council
On this authority Of the Mayor the Health
Officer turned the body over TO Ar. W. ID.
Dixon, the undertaken, for interment, who
proceeded 70 make the necessary arrange
mentE.
As a similar case might arise In the fu-
ture, and with the view Of having the ques-
ton Of jurisdiction definitely settled, the
follOEing communication was addressed by
the Health Officer % the Board Of County
Commissioners, and It is understood
special meeting will be called for it's con-
EiderztiOn:
OFFICE HEALTH OFFICER,
SAVANNAH. August 10, 1881.
t. HgnOTGJle u.s BJard u Commissioners q
Chatham county, Ga:
GKSTLEMKS-I am directed by Hon. S. 2.
Hamilton, Mayor pro TEN, 70 call your at
tentfOu TO the fact that the Coroner Of
Chatham county refused, on August 9th,
1881, to give certificate for burial Of
drowned negro, whose body was exposed In
the city dock, known az the Exchange dock.
By order OF the Mayor, / gave instructions
for the burial Of same. The expose Of such
decomposing bodies being preiudicial TO
the good health Of the community, II be-
comes necessary that same should be
promptly buried, and sm directed further
70 request that your honorable body take
such steps as will 10 the future ensure the
prompt and speedy burial Of all such class
Of cases. ! sm, gentlemen, yours etc,
J. 4. MCFARLAND, NJ D.,
Health Officer.
DR.. Sheftall, the Coroner, states that the
finding d the body was Immediately report
ed % him, and that being satisfied that Il
was not a case for investigation, be declined
70 hold an inquest, aud sent a message 70
the Health Officer u that effect The CorO-
uer says that IN such cases In the city he has
no authority 70 give a certificate. Had the
body been recovered outside the city limits
and the case been The same be would
promptly have given the burial certificate,
and his reason for declining in this case was
that he had no authority in the premises.
As the Health Officer thinks he has no
Jurisdiction 10 is well that the matter is TO
De brought before the County Commission
ers aud definitely settled