The morning call., 1894-04-20
AROUND THE CORRIDORS.

SIT Is surprising how people will cling to be-
liefs and opinions formed in bygone days, and
which are founded upon nothing more tangible
than superstition" said Attorney o. NJ. Collins
of Providence, R. l., yesterday. This fact Is
strklngly eXempifed In the almost universal
belief throughout the country that under no
circumstances must the dead body OF person
found under suspicious circumstances be
touched until the legal authorities are sum-
moned Rhode Island still lives under the old
English laws and customs to very great extent,
and II is patent in consequence that these old
methods have been superseded by the demands
of these latter days. Now, know nothing as
to the laws OF California upon the subject have
mentioned, but l will venture the prediction
that the belief on the subject have stated as
prevailing elsewhere also obtains here. In my
State there Is, Notwithstanding this belief, 10
law which forbids the removal of person
killed by accident or otherwise from the SPOT
in which 1t was found before the body has been
viewed by a medical examiner There is no
doubt but hat there are cases IN which discre-
ton in such transfer may well be used, but that
the course OF police or individuals Is
regulated by statute Is Misrepresentation
and productive Of much that is too often shock
ing and nhuman. 1t Is evident that the belief
prevails, owing to the existence 10 number OF
States some years ago Of a law which provided
that body must be examined by Coroner and
jury upon the exact spot upon which 1t was
found before 1t could be removed. This law
explicitly stated that upon being notified Cor
oner must at once summon jury. repair to the
place OF the accident or murder, as The case
might be, swear the jury In 10 full view OF the
inanimate form, and then and there declare
what the cause OF death was, the manner In
which II occurred and say impartially whetner
1t was by accident, by self-inficted injury or by
wounds received from other sources. This
bungling course was far too ancient and q
change was in common-sense essential. How
everthe impressionsstil obtains as an heirloom
coming down from generation to generation
until the belief has grown universal, making IL
appear that the law still remained prohibiting
the removal of a body"
at Is only question OF time. in my belief,
when the deadly trolley-wire will be thing OF
the past" said A. G. Benham OF Pittsburg yes
terday, land a number OF Pennsyvanlans who
are deeply interested In this matter think they
have secured an invention that will accomplish
this much-desired object. They claim that the
matter is not stock iobbing scheme. thar they
are not going to form any company and that
they will ask nobody for money. Their efforts
in this direction have been inspired by the offer
made some time ago by the Metropolitan Trac-
tion Company of New York OF $4,000 for the
best system that would DO away with troleys
and cable-slots and all things which now make
travel dangerous and the condition OF the streets
a nuisance. This stimulated lots Of people 10
try and invent such process. OF those already
known that of Buda- Pesth has been regarded as
the best. and would have been adopted gener.
ally but for the fact that while IL is all right In
a straight line 1t is not practicable for cars run
ming al right angles. What Is desired to OBJ
tain Is a system which will make cars just
as Independent as when they are drawn by
horses, so that they may be lifted off the
rails, 90 around curves. cross tracks at grades
and be so thoroughly reliable In all respects
that thy may be depended upon 10 complete
their journey and at the same time obvate the
overhead wires and cable-slots. The gentle
men ] refer to claim to have secured an in
vention of such character by which there
will be no necessity for trolley wires, for IN.
derground conduits with wires opening into
the streets. No wires will be visible aud 1t
viii be impossible for any one to touch the
current. II Is claimed for the new system that
Is can be placed upon any OF the existing lines
within forty-eight hours without tearing up the
present tracks, and all that delays the initial
steps is the necessity for awaiting the issuance
of patents Ii is said that the new system
VIII not require the reconstruction OF any Of
the cars at present in use and no change of
power plant. and that 1t is so simple that
when electricians see 1t they will wonder why
the idea did not occur to them"
IA strange mechanical invention seems to
possess more interest to the minds OF the aver
age Philadelphia than circus to small
boy" said S. F. Simpson OF that city yesterday.
"Our people took kindly to the fatuous Keely
motor, and put good deal Of their hard money
into the invention. but q new candidate for
fame has appeared 10 the promise of an inven.