The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-11-20
Coroner Murrer Said to
Have Set the Grand Jury
On to the County
Physician.
o FEW INQUEsTs THE CAUSE,
Gurrer Denies, However, That His
Anger at Conyerse's Refusal to
Send Fees His Way Prompt
ed the Investigation.

Coroners' inquests was amended and so
altered that no inquest could be held
without the direction Of the County Ply
sicinn. The benefit derived from this
change in the law was made manifest
}before it had been in operation three
months The disgraceful fights among
fcoroners over who should "have the
lorpse." when one was found. had disap-
fpeared. and the columns Of the newspa-
pers were not filled with details Of the
disgraceful efforts OF rival Coroners 70
hold .sinqnests. The law then was that
the first Coroner on the spot "owned the
corpse. and daily the racing to scenes of
death took place.
To enable them to get news early aud
often the Coroners had their agents in the
police department, and they paid liber-
ally for the tip OF where q fresh corpse
could be found. They could afford 10 do
this, for tie fees in the inquests which
were held daily were enormous. Fraud
ulently great. As a matter OF course, the
greater portion Of the inquests weas over
victims OF the railroads; in fact, nine
tenths OF the cases were these, and at
least ninety-five per cent. OF these cases
required no Coroner's inquest, the evi-
dence of the accidental death being clear
TO all. The Coroners thought differently.
and in every case an expensive inquest
us
Coroners as Johnny Mahan. better known
as Steve Taylor, the prize fighter If any
one desires TO obtain points on inquests
he should read up Coroner Mahan's ex-
perience IN office.
The new law that appointed County
Physician at a salary, to personally ex-
anime every case Of death reported to
him, and IL in his opinion there was a
Sufficient reason for holding an inquest,
10 direct coroner TO hold IL, proved
i blessing to taxpayers. Immediately the
Office Of coroner ceased to be one of the
fattest in the county and became poorly
paid one. In this county, where the
scandals attached to inquests had been
the greatest and the most money had been
made the coroners became thunderstruck
at the reaction and since then the Office
has gone a begging election times. No
one, unless an undertaken. cared for It,
for there was no money In it except to an
undertaken. The old ex-coroners and the
ones In Office all over the State have re-
peatedly endeavored to have the law re-
pealed, that in Its wise provisions pre-
vents continuation of the extravagant
ami disgracefui inquests or the past. but
no Legislature has been reckless enough
yet to repeal the law. Another effort
will be made this year, and yesterday the
first wedge was inserted TO pave the way.
A CORONER a GRAND JUROR.
When Bob DAVIS in his conceit and
Jury he will ever draw. Coroner James
Murrer, he knew he placed there an
avowed enemy of the present good and
economical law regulating inquests.
Coroner Murrer has held Office two
years, and the number Of inquests he has
held could be enumerated on one hand.
The few inQuests-that is few as com
pared to the golden days of yore, that have
been held, have been divided between
Coroner Brackner and Coroner O'Hara-
This has made Coroner Murrer sad 1t
hurt his pride, and inasmuch as all three
Coroners are undertakers. the business OF
directing pauper funerals has fourished
in the Brackner and O'Hara establish
ments with much greater luxuri0usness
than suited the peace OF mind and happl-
ness of Coroner Murrer.
Three weeks ago ne met County Physi-
clan Converse, ano In an insolent manner
demanded that the County Physician or
der an inquest over the remains of a man
killed at Harrison by railroad accident.
DR.. Converse told him he did not think
the case warranted the expense of an in
guest, particularly as the man had been
buried about eight days. Coroner Muir
rer insisted, and the County Physician
said he would consider the matter. DR..
Converse then sought Prosecutor Win
field and related the facts to HIM and
asked his advice. The Prosecutor agreed
that an inquest was useless
"A 4.
During the past few days about forty
subD9nas were issued by the Grand Jury
to witnesses. They included Coroners,
ex-Coroners, the County Physician, the
Clerk of the Board of Health and Vital
Statistics. and the heads Of the Police
Department. Few, If any. knew why
they had been subpCenaed and when they
arrived at the Court House yesterday the
corridor was filed with men who were
wondering what was required OF them.
The mystery was soon explained and In
dignantly discussed.
The Grand Jury was making an inves-
tigatton into the number of deaths from
railroad causes in this county and the
number of inquests held. 1t was said
that this was being done at the instiga-
tion OF Coroner Murrer with view of
making presentment to the court
charging County Physician Converse
with neglect of duty, and that he and
other officials were under pay of the rail-
road corporations to conceal deaths and
causes OF death when connected with the
railroads.
What takes place in a grand jury room
Is secret This rumor could not be veri-
fed officially. but when Or. Converse was
spoken TO about The matter he was very
indignant He had been before the grand
jury and had answered their questions.
WHAT DIR. CONVERSE SAID.
''You are at perfect liberty to use this
uidltcEt n<tlQ Liz QOclbl, Will tln0llDus
: have nothing to conceal in my official
career and this is the first time that ever
any one impugned my actions. The grand
jury accuses me aud other officials of
being paid to conceal deaths tnat
are due to the railroads This was
told me to my face" exclaimed the in
dignant physician. "told me that was
paid to do this. But / know its origin. 1t
comes from Coroner Murrer, who is a
member of the Grand Jury ana who has
often declared that he would give me
trouble. he threatened to do 1t short
time ago and has kept his word The in
vestigation can do me no harm, for l
have done no wrong"
doctor, what do you suppose the real
object OF this Investigation isr'
at is to have inquests held on all rail-
road cases." l suppose
Clerk Of the Health Board Con Rooney
was also subpmnaed TO go before theGrapd
Juryto give that bodystatistics concerning
deaths on railroads. Whether the Grand
Jury VIII find enough evidence to war
rapt presentment to the Court remains
To be seen-
DID NOT PROMPT IT.
,roner Aurrer was found at his Office
hi5 morning and he told me that he had
Lot been instrumental iu bringing about
lie Grand Jury investtgatio n
IL seems 70 be the impression OF DR..
YAK Hou1xx' CCcoA-Pnrc. Soluble, Econonl-