The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-12-26
HELD OUT ON HIM.
Justices of the Peace Got
the Perquisites.
THEY ABSORBED THE FEES.
Tricks of Country Magistrates to Make
Money i'm Cases That Belonged
to Alameda'S Coroner.

els Coroner Evers In ?" asked a tall,
ruRge6-complexioned young man as he
strobe into the Oakland MoIgue yesterday.
Being informed that the Coroner was
absent the visitor looked rather diSap-
pointed and promised to call again in a few
hours. BE refused to state his name or
business.
"I'll bet to know who he Is and
what he is AFTER" said an attache of the
Morgue to CALL reporter after the visitor
departed. Although / never saw him be-
fore. know he is a new country Justice Of
the Peace, and is here to inquire about his
fees. You see Cinnamon was found dead
in a cabin near San Leandro yesterday.
1t would not pay us TO 20 after the body
and bring 1t all the way TO Oakland, SO
telephoned to San Leandro that Justice of
the Peace could take charge of the remains
and hold an inquest. Well, that man was
tho Justice, and he Is here already to file
his bill"
Ever had any trouble or rivalry with
country Justices?" was asked.
Trouble! That's no name for IT, Let
me first explain that the Coroner of Alameda
County receives no salary, and fees are his
only compensation. He is allowed $40 for
an inquest. mileage of % cents mile and
and % cents for each witness subpenaed.
Here in Oakland we ere allowed IS for
every body removed 10 the Morgue in the
dead wagon
so you see in big case like murder or
an accident " here several people lose their
lives the fees amount 10 considerable. Now
for the tricks Of country Justices. One
could scarcely imagine all the ruses they
have resorted to in order to keep control Of
cases.
Alameda County covers big territory,
and at times cases are reported from places
that require days drive TO reach from
Oakland. Therefore for an ordinary case OF
death from natural causes IL would hardly
pay US to go on two days journey after the
body.
I'm many cases we have never been In
formed OF violent deaths until after an
inquest had been held by Justice OF the
Peace. You can bet they keep posted on
timetables, and many times they have
withheld the report of case for the
Coroner until it was too late to take train
that day. On several occasions upon ar
irving st the scene of death we have dis
covered that an inquest had been held and
the remains inferred. 1t was then too late
TO interfere. and we would have to return to
Oakland without having earned any fees,
satisfaction or anything else.
ut Is only few months ago that three
persons were drowned near Irvington. Do
you suppose that we were Informed in
time to hold an inquest? Not much. The
fees in such a case were too fat for q
country Justice to overlook. The FIRST in
timation we had OF the drowning was when
we read the news ia the papers the next
day.
''But that lie not all. / might cite dozens
of other cases in which the Coroner of
Alameda County was deprived of his just
fees. The powers of these Justices of the
Peace appeared unlimited until the Coroner
called them up with a round turn.
Now the laws and rules have been so
amended that Justices cannot hold an in
quest without first receiving instructions
from the Coroner. More than this, the
Coroner has appointed deputies In all the
principal towns in the county. These
deputies take charge OF case when /. is
reported TO them, summon witnesses and
have everything 10 readiness for holding
an inquest when the Coroner arrives. So,
you see, Justice cannot hold an inquest
now without the knowledge and consent Of
the Coroner" and the Deputy Coroner
laughed pleasantly as he concluded his
narrative.