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

quest. The testimony Of such physician and that OF
Any other witne>se, that til" Coroner may deem ncccs
,ary, ccnstu an inquest
Four Coroners ar. elected In the CITY and County
OF New York in the same manner and al the same
general election as sherns hold their oces for the
same term and are removable in the same manner.
Each Coroner OF said city shall. on assuming Office.
appoint qualified physician who shall be resident
in said city. and shall lie known as "coroner'S
ply ,c'an.7 Any vacancy In tie Office Of Coroner 5
physcinn shall be filed by the Board OF Coroners.
Tie Board Of Coroners. for cause. may remove the
physicians appointed by them.
should the Coroner deem it necessary. he may call
Il Jury 10 assist him in this investigation. or shonld a
citizen demand that jury should be called he shall
proceed directed by Part ". Title :. Article !. OF
the Revised statutes. Any citizen OF this state, not
OYER seventy years Old ana being the time resi-
dent Of the county, may he summoned 10 serve rs n
Juror npon COiOncr's inquest and any person who
,ba wilfullv neglect >or refuse 70 serve such
Juror when duly summon'd shall. upon conviction, he
adjudged guilty Of mi-demcanor and shall be pun
i,hed by imprisonment in tho county prison not cN-
ccsdng one year, by fine not exceeding $500 or
'y both such fine and Imprisonment.
Il shall be the duty Of any citizen who may be
come aware Of the death of person who shall have
died in the manner stated ia the last section but one
TO report such death Forthwith to one Of the Cooner'.
or to any police officer and such officer shall with
any person who shall wfully neglect refuse to
report such death 10 the Coroner shall upon con
| v.cton be ad Judged guilty % msdencanor. and
| sail be punished hy imprisonment In the county
p!son, not exceeding year, or by fine not ex-
cceding $500 or b. both such fine and Imprisonment.
Any person except the Coroner, who shall wlliuly
ouch remove or disturb the body Of any one WIN
shall have died in the manner described In the last
| section bat two Or who shall wfuly touch. remove
| or disturb the clthing, any article upon or nG,.
such body, without an order from The Coroner shall
| upon conviction, bc adjudged guilty Of misdemcanOr
and shall be punished by Imprisonment in the county
| Prison not exceeding one year. or 10y fine not OK
cccdng 500, b. bGth SUCH Inc and Imprisonment.
| II all the Coroners be absent, OF be unable fOI
any to attend, their duties. far they relate
to holding inqucsto and their action consequent
tlereupon, may be performed by police justice, bu
by other officer, with the same authority, and sub
cct to the Obligations and penalties as apply Il
/ The Coroners.
| II will lily be that the Office OF Coroner is
| only ancient and honorable one, but in grea
| city like New York a most important II is hi
province TO follow up any clcv. examine any witness
and take step necessary to establish the crime
| discover, If possible the criminal.
| ~ magistrate the Coroner discharge a sus
pccted person upon the verdict Of a Jury sustaining
such action by their belief in the innocence OF som,
suspected person 1t is usual for TIA Coroner to hold
the accused to await the action OF the Grand Jury
vet there is doubt Of the CorOncrs right dis
charge person accused OF homicide Jf1er the vcrdc
| OF the jur, Acquiring Inc accused man.
The question has been frequently suggested as {,
some change in the manner OF holding lnlu-sts upoi
| persons coming 10 unnatural dcatiis-that The boar
| Of Health the Police departments have jurisdiction
| In such matters. such sueee siiOn> would seem i'm
pTac cablc fOr many chiefly that depart
m-nts sufficiently burdcncd with business ar-ad
| assigned 10 them by tie LEGISLATURE without under
| taking 10 di,chargc new and difficult duties Will,
every other department OF the city government Ia:
been increased the roners Office remains a. n wa
over twenty years age.
The Oilcc Of Coroner has existed Tor age, and thu
| far different method has been devised better II
perform the duties Of investigating into Tie nnt,er
unnatural deaths. The better plan would be by leg
atiyc cnactm to strengthen the Office and bet r
equip II for its important work. The authority Of IN
Coroner in cases Of suspicious takngs on should b
| increased. and the efficiency OF the department
| strengthened.
As n matter If fact. the expense OF running IN
COrOncr's Office today Is about what IL was when IN
| city Of New-iork contained only half million O
people. There has been increase In the number ,