The Hawaiian gazette., 1884-02-06

animation by experts, was all wrong and
could not have taken place had the actors
in the scene known their duties; the first
turnkey, Malaihi, ought to have known
better and should have acted otherwise
To what purpose is it that a jury visit the
scene of a fatal accident, and find that
broken glass has been cleared away, win
dow sill cleaned and the ground carefully
raked over, and why was the holding of an
inquest and second examination of the
body an afterthought. If the finding of
the jury resuls only in from some cause
unknown" the evidence all goes to show a
most discreditable state of indiscipline.
From early in the evening till o'clock in
the morning, the Governor of the jail goes
to and fro between the prison he is in
charge of, and a friends house. Then
hear this ''Chief turnkey" Il went" he
says, ''to the feast between II and L
O'Clock pm, stopped few minutes and
returned to the jail Paahana "a guard"
says ''the guards do as they like about re
lieving one another We do not obey the
regulations. We can go around outside,
and ledre our place Of match" Nobody gave
me permission to 60 on watch at o'clock,
gave the other guard permission to CO."
Did not see Buckle go out" neither did
Kaehi on guard at the upper gate from
| to 6 a. m. but he saw Buckle come back
after 4 a. m. Tesla saw the deceased at
the feast between $50 and 8 p. m, again
between 1.30 and 2 a. m. the next morning,
and left him there at 4. This is revela-
ton of the interior economy of prison
OF the female prisoners, Mary says "the
first heard was of Buckles death-went
into Malaihi's room to fix it up-there was
blood on the sill and some dirt-cleaned
it off, from whom did she hear of the acct
dent, and by whose direction did she fix
the room and clean the window sill?
The evidence of Maria Rose is more
startling, but was not corroborated, and
she is a felon.
However the whole enquiry such as il
was, showed degree of incompetence and
Indifference to duty almost incredible.
The authorities outside the jail make NJ
better appearance than those within. The
funeral is announced to take place thirty
six hours after the accident The juror:
were not called together or sworn til
about twenty eight hours after death, anC
then adjourned till the following after
noon.
The jurors were duly sworn in the pres
ence of the remains, but did not visit the
scene of the accident until the Afternoon
of the 10Th, two and half days after tn,
occurrence and the day after the funeral
In all cases of violent death promptitud
of action is imperatiyely necessary if an.
satisfactory result is intended or sough
for.
If the coming election gives US Hous
of Representatives it is to be hoped tina
the method of appointment of corone
may be reconsidered and the instruction
of the officer remodeled.
In the United States and in Great Bri
tain coroners are elected, in England 70
life Opinions differ as to whether mem
Der of the legal or of the medical profes
sion be the more suitable, probably com
bination of the two in the person of
properly qualified medical man who ha
made special study of medical jurispru
dence would be the best
As the matter stands here now it need
alteration and cannot well be altered bu
for the better.