New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-01-31

place exercise the jurisdiction Of the Coroner Inc
duties of the Office. however. now practically con
hncd to holding inquets In case of sudden or vloeh
death.
The Office IS and always has been. elective, even In
England the appointment being made BY The Free
holders Of the county assembled in comfy court
nv the statute of Westminster the First il was ordered
that none but lawful and discreet knights should be
chosen coroners and IN one instance person was
actually removed from Office for nsuiciency OF estate
Lands to the value of eco Per annum the quaihcaoh
for Enighthoodl afterward deemed sufficient 10
sasfy the requirements TO the estate which 0uGlt
to be insisted upon in ease of Coroner. The com
mentaries of Blackstone show the transition OF the
ohce from original dgnifed and honorary character
TO a paid appointment i'll the public service
Now indeed through The culpabe neglect of gentle
Men of property this ONCE has been suffered to fall
into dsrepute and get into low and INDECENT hands :
30 that, although formerly no Coroner would con-
descend to paid for serving his country and, in
indeed they were by the aforesaid statute OF west
minister expressly forbidden to take reward. uuGer
pain Of great forfeiture 10 the King: Yet for many
wears past they have only desired to be chosen for
their perqustes being allowed c for the attendance
by the Statute 3, Henry VII, c. !, which Sir Henry
Coke complains of heavily; though since his time
those fees have been much enlarged
The merCenary character of the once, thns
deprecated by Coke and Blackstone is now firmly
established without. however dt need hardly be- said
aisordng the slightest ground for such reflections as
the foregoing The Coroner is in fact public officer
and like other public officers receives paymen, iOr
his services In England the person appointed is
almost invariably a qualified legal or medical p:act
,oner the duties of the Office being supposed To re-
auire some acquaintance with the learning of both
of these professions. The property qualification for
m.rly insisted upon appears TO be virtually dis
pensed WITH the county being liable for any penalties
that may be incurred by the Coroner
In England the appointment Is held for life, but l.
vacated by the holder being made sheriff. He may
also be removed by the writ de coronaore egoneIandO
fos sufficient assigned for instance. that he
Is engaged In other business, incapacated by old
age or sickness, etc. by % and "a Wet. c. 11G
the Lord Chancellor may remove any Coroner for in
ability misbehavor in his Office
The Coroner is primarily an officer OF the county
elected by the fIeehOders. In certain liberties and
franchises, the appointment is made by the Crown, or
lords holding a charter from the Crown. BIZ the
Municipal Corporations Act. In any borough having
separate quarter sessions the Council may appoint
Coroner In other borOughs the Coroner for the county
has jurisdiction.
The remuneration Of the county Coroner Is now resl
lated by the Act 20 and II Wet. c. l6o, above
mentioned The system Of payment BY fee. esiab-
usbed nv An earlier act of the reign is abolished
md payment Is to be made by salary calculated on the
average amount of fees, mileage, and allowance
usually received BY the Coroner for period oi I'VE
wears and the calculation is 10 be revised every nNe
wears The Home secretary 10 to decide between the
coroner and the justices when they cannot agree
rorousb CoronerS under the Municipal Corp rat o> ACT
are to be paid by fees,
Tho duties of the office aScerained by inc
A Edward L. st. =: a Coroner OF our LORD me
King ought 10 enquire of these things, nrNt' When
Coroners are commanded by the Kings bailii'' or by