The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1893-08-29
This Man Should Be Squelched.

Two weeks ago we commented upon
the payment of physicians bill which
the Board of Freeholders refused to pay
Coroner Kelly took this as personal mat.
ter and replied. There was response to
his card, hut all the facts in his case have
never been ventilated, and there are many
of his official acts that will not be very
creditable to him If shown up.
The latest is his action in the case OF
Joseph c. Stillwell, who died suddenly on
Friday. Mr.. Stillwell, about ten months
ago, had stroke of paralysis, which par
TALLY disabled him. On Friday he drove
into Bordentown on business. and on his
way home, before he left town, he began
to act SO strangely as to attract the atten-
ton of gentleman who went to him and
asked if he could be of any assistance.
Mr. Stillwell said he guessed he could
get along, but the gentleman insisted on
getting in the carriage, and going home
with him. When they arrived at the
latter place, Mr.. Stillwell was found to be
suffering greatly and a boy was dispatched
for a physician. Dr. Tebo was the family
practitioner, and Mr.. Stillwell had, while
in town, summoned him TO attend to
another member of the family, hence he
was soon on the spot. He stayed with
the sick man for nearly four hours, at the
end of which time Mr.. Stillwell died, and
DR.. Tebo pronounced the cause of death
paralysis.
In short time after, Coroner Kelly
drove up to the house of mourning, and
demanded to see the body. His request
was granted and he made an examination
and finally announced that the case de-
manded investigation as there was lump
on the dead mans head. Miss Stillwell,
sister. explained that the lump was a
wen; she had two on her head, and her
mother also had similar marks.
Then the coroner decided that he must
have postmortem and must have the
"coroner's physician" present. Charles
C. Stillwell, brother of the deceased, here
interfered, and said DR.. Tebo's certificate
was all that was necessary, but Kelly was
determined to have it otherwise.
Finding that he was not going to be
permitted to do just as he pleased, Kelly
tried other tactics, and sent tn DR.. Tebo,
the following;
BoRDENTowN, N. j., s, 26, '9S.
To DIR. TEBo:
Whereas, in case of sudden death, the
law requires the coroner to issue permit
for burial of deceased. this is to give you
notice that if the body of Joseph Z. Still
well is buried before such permit is issued
you will be dealt with according to law.
JOHN ]. KELLY,
Coroner.
similar letter was addressed to John
R. Rogers, undertaken. Matters were
getting in rather an unpleasant shape, SO
Charles c. Stillwell applied to Prosecutor
Budd for advice. That official telegraphed
as follows to Kelly:
MOUNT HOLLY, August 2S, 1893
john J. KELLY, Coroner,
Bordentown, N j.
In case of death of Joseph G. Still
well, there are no circumstances warrant
ing postmortem, nor needing the SER
vices of coroner, as deceased died under
care of regular physician.
ECKARD P. BUDD.
Prosecutor Budd's telegram puts the
whole case in nutshell. when he decides
that there was no need of a coroner even
Kelly is evidently not going to lose any
chance to secure fees for himself and his
chum, "the coroner's physician" which
seems to be his whole aim in this case
Nobody will object to his getting all that
he can legally, but if he persists in un.
lawful acts like this he will find himself
in trouble He had better go slow.