The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1885-07-28
THE DUTY OF CORONER.

We are inclined to agree generally
with contemporary that the func-
tions of Coroner are not as closely
performed as they might or should
be. Although a suspicion of foul
play may not exist in cases of death,
the public mind is always satisfied
when an official declaration to that
effect is made, after sufficient investi-
CATION and inquiry. There may be
defects i'm the law which renders
lOoseness in the performance of the
Coroner's functions more the fault of
the system than eff the official, but if
that be the case the next Legislature
should remove these defects. IF, how
ever, the law is sufficient for all use
full purposes, then it should be seen
to that the work devolving upon the
Coroner is faithfully and intelligentIy
performed.
We have in mind specially, how
ever, the necessity for dealing with
cases in which death results, not
from pure accident, but from mall
treatment, and particularly among
the native people. Somehow there is
cuIpable negligence on their part in
reporting suspicious deaths, and no
notice is taken by them of cases in
which, through the interference of
native "doctOrs with legitimate
practitioners, deatE so often ensues
A case of this kind recently occurred
in Honolulu, in which prompt and
Intelligent action by the Coroner
might have led to the establishing of
proofs upon which indictments could
have been framed, and the person or
persons causing the death in question
held on charge of mansIaughter.
But no such action was taken, and
prosecution for the unlawful practice
f medicine that followed, fell inn
neasurably short of what the nature
the case required. A wholesome
enlistment would act as a deterrent;
lt the imposition of trifling fine
las no deterrent influence.
A correspondent in to-day's AID
'ERTISER mentions a more aggra-
'ated case at Grove Ranch, East
haui, by which a native child lost its
life; yet nothing has been done to
prosecute those who participated in
he act, for crime it was whether pre-
neditated or not. 1t appears that
the child had been badly scalded, but
was recovering rapidly under medi-
cal treatment, when a native APP
peared and persuaded the parents to
adopt his remedy. Accordingly
piece Of plank or board was heated
to burning and applied to the scalded
portions of the child's body to 'tdraw
out the fire." This torture resulted |
in the child's death. No action
whatever has been taken in this case,
if there were Coroner in |
the district, or any officer charged |
with the performance of the Coro- |
ner's duties in his absence, an in
quest should have been held and the
parties implicated proceeded against
This is a case in which
IN example might be made of the
AOSO SSA0DSAJ anu we nope
md trust that our statement of the
acts may yet lead to action being
AIKEN in the matter.
These are only samples of cases
hat are constantly occurring. Where
become accessories, and
ender themselves liable to prosecu-
ion, they should not be spared any
more than the principals. 1t is very
Iifticult, We recognize, to induce the
natives TO forego their ancient
Methods of treating disease and acct
entail hurts, but for own welfare and |
God this must be done. If default be
nadein this particular oureducational
ystem goes for very little, because
he natural bent of the native mind /
to superstitious observances, and
ne influence of school training will {
OF long survive hourly contact with q
thought and ancient asso- G
atiOns. S