New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-01-09

latter. low many cquahJ l"'"i"H""D
have any confidence in the findings or tue cor
oner nowadays7 There is this marked dliier-
once between the two jurles. We careIuIly
select the one which is to pass upon the HE Oh
an accused person from among those who upon
searching inquiry prove to be wholly ignorant
Of the fncls and the law whereas, while cor
oner's Jury may be occasionally composed or
experts educated to determine the cause of
DEATH we take pains, under our system or Sc
lection, to see that the coroner himself silail
know hing whatever about it. The learned
Judge in the orc case is required to instruct the
ignorant jury as to the complicated law III
single short lesson. The unlearned coroner III
the other case is called upon to guide experts
in reaching decision upon subject he is essen
italy ignorant of. The ends of justice IN
ninety-ninc ont OF every hundred cases womb
be more securely reached by submitting inc
facts to the Judge without reference to the jury
or to any one of the cOrOners selected experts
without the interference of the coroner. Inc
result of the system of selection in tins county
every resident of it knows TO have been simply
absurd as well as extremely expensive Our
coroners for thirty years past have been De-
meath criticism and contempt. The rcnecVlon
that one must be sat upon by such oiilclals mas
added new horror to sudden death. Ana the
selections will always be as ridiculous as long
as the system of selection by popular vote from
among professional politicians is continued.
A worse feature still of tie system and the
law is that which fails to coniine inquiry to the
facts aud cause of death There is no iIXed
limit to the inquiry. Suppose the case 10
be one involving crime resulting In death; hot
only are the time, place, circumstances anu
cause of death determined upon, but the nature
and degree Of the crime and the identity OF the
criminal are passed upon. The findings as TO
rho degree of crime and the identity of the nc
cuscd have no force IN law, and the verdict can
oulv create prejudice against the accused when
lc comes before another tribunal. Suppose the
Investigation has tn do with death from iirc' eX-
r.losion or other accident; the coroner ana jury
of incxperts not only find as to the facts ana
immediate cause of death, but, assuming the
duties of Police Detectives, Bulldlng DEPART
n,cnt Inspeetors, and Fire Marshal pronounce
unon the cnilt or cArcessncSs which led to the
fltal result ana determine the responsibility OF
housc-owncI, landlord, agent engineer, or
whoever may be remotely connected with the
matter. Confusion follows rs matter OF
coursr. and conflicting reports Of Coroner, Fire
Marshal and Commissioner of Buildings null
tiply loophocS by which the really guilty escape.
This system I,QuiIcS i'll ;hs county not only
the election If three cOrOEcrs To perform the
duties. but the appointment Of three deputies
who show item how to perform them. he
woik could hc m'cIligcntly done 10y three medl-
cal experts without the aid of deputies or jurlrS
for a quarter OF the round sum of 100000
which is now annually expended Moreover, the
absurd and often shocking scenes ut inqlcsls
aud the conflicting findings OF juilrs might be
avoided by such an Amendment rs the last
statement suggests.