Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-10-13

Coroner Woodward Reports on the Bill
Concerning It
He Proposes . New Measure RstablisA.
ing the once of Medical Examine
Lawyers and Doctors.
Senate bill lois. authorizing the Judges Of
the Court of Appeals OF the District OF
Columbia to appoint q coroner. came be-
lore the Commissioners several days ago
Tor an expression OF their views.
The blu. Nv will be recalled. provides that
the judges shall appoint q coroner upon the
Recommendation Of the attorney for the
United States for the District OF Columbia,
who shall be an attorney-at-law. familiar
with criminal practice and medical juris-
prudence for a term Of four years. 1t also
provides for the appointment OF q medical
examiner and a deputy coroner. The bill
was referred to Coroner Woodward for his
views before the Commissioners took any
action.
His report was submitted today and u
While I do not advocate the passage
OF Senate bill No. lM5 desire TO call at
tention to several points about tt that
would. In event Of its passage. embarrass
desired.
Sec. l. An attorney -at-iaw. acting ~
coroner. would become cognizant Of facts
OF which he might make use In Defending
criminal suits or in the defense or prosecu-
ton OF civil suits. 1 would suggest there
fore. that he be forbidden by law from
acting In any capacity. or from counseling
or advising. In any case where the facts
involved have come or may come under his
"As the coroner is to be PAID out OF the
District appropriation <see sec. lS1, and a.
the actual court work attached TO the once
forms such a small part OF the entire
ner should not be appointed by the pasytct
Commissioners. II. however, the appoint
ment is to be left TO the judges OF the Court
OF Appeals. who need not lie and At present
are not residents OF this District the once
ttfef should be by law secured 20 q resident
of this District and to a citizen Of the UNI
ted States. The same In true Of the appoint
ment OF medical examiner.
Sec. II. The coroner should be givea
power to administer oaths- This section
states: In no case shah any person be kept
under arrest by an order from the coroner
for a longer period than twenty-four hours
after the finding Of a verdict by . Jury or
after the finding by the coroner In such In
quest What Is TO become OF such pf1sones
at the expiration OF the twenty-four hours
II the finding Is adverse to himf
Sec. II. This section should specify who
the proper officer In. The Judgment OF
the coroner and Of any officer might difbsa
as to whether that particular officer va
proper" IN any particular case.
Sec. IA The medical examiner fs not ap-
pointed by the coroner. ] see no reason
why the deputy medical examiner should Be
whom he represents. as Ii the case with the
deputy coroner.
Sec. L. The method Of paying the expenses
pointed by the Court Of Appeals, but the
expenses Of his once are to be paid by the
District Commissioners. Moreover. the
coroner Ii liable TO incur expenses that the
sonable and the coroner has NO redress II
they refuse TO pay such expenses There u
no provision made for the payment OF
jurors. There Is no appropriation to carry
the provisions Of this law into effect
TT this bill should become q law IN IA
present form the duties Of the coroner
could not be properly performed. because
Il would suggest that the coroner or med
teal examiner be forbidden by law from
acting In any case in which he may be d.
rectly or indirectly interested. either By 70
vision be made for some one not appolnts1
by them to act IN such cases"
Law Recommended.
Another report from him says:
IT have carefully examined Senate boz
No. l0l5 authorizing the Judges OF the Court
Of Appeals to appoint q coroner. and IN
compliance with your request of the 9oth
ultimo beg to submit the following: n
The proposed law resembles IN Its gen
eral features the coroner law enacted In
Connecticut in 1857 Referring 70 this law
DR. NJ. c. White, medical examiner Tor
New Haven. states that Its operation n
fourths OF all the sudden, violent or un-
timely deaths are disposed Of by the med
fcai examiners. reported and recorded. but
require no legal Investigation. since there
is no suspicion OF crime" Journal Of the
American Medical Association. XVII. zu)
This fact of itself demonstrates the So
periortty Of the MASSACHUSETTS, law enacted
in 1887. II IL this law, I think. that Should
with necessary notifications and certain
improvements be enacted for this District
IL new legislation on this subject 10 70 be
the once Of coroner seems 70 have been
usually due TO the fact that the coroner
has not been a physician end that proper
medical examination Of bodies has besa
A brief statement OF the law suggested n
as follows: THE Office Of coroner n abolish-
medical examiner to which Is attached 8
fixed salary. The medical examiner has
supervision of all deaths due to other than
into the attendant circumstances ana
II necessary examines the body and
performs an autopsy. II he finds
that death at H. was Ess,. or may have been due
he reports the facts at once to the major ~
police and files with the Clerk OF the Grim.
inal Court or with the district attorney a
report OF his Investigation. The police IN
vestigate the case under the direction ~
the coroner and Of the major of police q IA
summon witnesses to appear In the Police
Court, where the inquest in held by the
Judge ana where q representative on Tia
district attorney has an opportunttv .o
eross,examine them The inquest "a NOT
held super vfsum corporis' nv,
This is an outline of what seems IN x,.
70 De the legislation best suited to the
needs or this District. am al present
examining into the subject of coronsrss
auues and laws and shall not hesitate 10
recommend any legislation that think win
Lurther the ends of Justice. After a care
rni examination Of the bill proposed I am
sausned mat : does not represent the moet
desirable legislation for the regulation ~
,ne cmce OF coroner In this District and he
iieve that Its passage will delay the enact.
ment OF better law. I believe that sho,,ld
this bill become a law Il win not In anv
way increase the effectiveness of the ofscs
OF coroner" As
| The Indian as a Soldier.