The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-09-30
IT SHOULD BE ABOLISHED.
so sArs THE GRAND JURr OF THE
CORONERS OFFICE.
The Coroners Are Neglected.. and that the
Once In Hun In nm Unbusiuessiike Man
her-Mesrsngers as Makers OF Jurios.

The Coroners Are Neglected.. and that the
Once IN Hun In nm UnbusIuessiike Man.
ner-Messengers Makers OF Juries.
The September Grand Jury completed yes
terday Its work. including the preparation OF
preaentment which 1t made to the court en-
bodying the results OF its inquiry into the
workings Of the Coroners' office. The jury was
discharged Yesterday by Judge Fitzgerald.
1t found that the detail work OF the Coroners'
Office was conducted In an unsystematic and
unbuslnessliko manner. Tho preseutment
says:
Tho Coroner5 themselves apparently have
always left the clerical work Of the Office to tho
chief clerk aud his subordnates: the chief
clerk apparently does not recognize any par
ticular Coroner as his superior officer. but is
intrusted by all OF them unfortunately. the
result OF which must necessarily be that ON
harrassmont In the office work is thereby oc-
casioned. Theae abuses are apparently the
result OF II long existing lack OF system and
habit OF delay on tho part ~ the Coroners and
those subordinate TO them in the business OF
that office"
Its u duty OF tho Coroners. the Grand Jury
men say. to llle with the ceri> in all cases alb
stracts Of tho testimony taken and copies OF
the verdict rendered. These are TO be delv-
cred TO tho Board OF Health. and. in homicide
cases. to the District Attorney. without delay.
These mandatory provisions have been long
ignored by the Coroners. Tho presentnent
says; orou. a.,
neglect to transmit the testimony taken upon
the inquest 10y the toroners upon the ground
that the stenographer. OF the Board OF Coro-
ners Is unable 70 perform the labor necessi.
tated thereby; This stanographer, who holds
s pu n snrs & 5ps
folio for all transcripts furnished for the use
Of the District ATTORNEY by direction Of tho
s As is entitled
transcript, therefrom upon the payment to the
stspWGEFap n, Of six cents per f2o therefor
timony has been the cause OF constant com
plant. the Grand Jury have ascertained that
transcribing. and delivering copies OF his
minutes for the use Of private individuals
The manner OF getting Jurors IS also COM
Instead Of issuing ,summonses for attend;
anse Of person. liable to jury duty selected Ct
purpose. it has been the custom in very many
cases TO furnish these clerks or m essengers
determine what particular individuals should
| compose the desired jury"
moned in loose manner. Blank subpu.nas are
delivered to the police and no Inquiries made
cases C, Where ere Witnesses sf have BEEN som@itted
to the House OF Detention by, magistrates: no
INJURY has been made fer the purpose OF as
learned. IL at all by accident
The Grand Jury's recon mendations and con-
illusions were stated rs follows:
I'VE believe that the long standing malad-
ministration OF the Coroners office In this
county is a cause OF embarrassment to the in
terests OF public justice. and that q more salts
factory means Of discharging the important
functions now involving upon the Coroners'
office. namely. first. Investigation OF sudden
and suspicious deaths. and. secondly.
the examination and commitment Of per-
sons charged with causing. such deaths.
ought to provided for by law. The
latter function could be performed by
the ordinary committing MAGISTRATES. who
now have concurrent jurisdiction with the
Coroners. in homicide cases. and the pre-
liminary inquiry as to the cause OF death
could be satisfactorily conducted by u medical
examiner or other official appointed by appro-
pirate authority.
I'VE earnestly recommend that the subject
we have treated Of DO brought to the attention
Of the Constitutional Convention. now soon to
be convened in order that the Constitution
may be so amended that the office OF Coroner
as it now exists should be abolished. and in it's
place shall be substituted method OF pro-
cedure In accordance with the views above
expressed"