The morning times., 1895-08-10
ANCIENT CORONER'S LAW
Six Hundred Years Old and in Force
Right Here.
Its Defects Evident-No One at an In
quest TO Interpret the Statute
TO the Jury.

The unfortunate Flager-Green shooting
affair has called general attention TO the
chaotic condition OF laws here governing
the holding of coroner's inquests. When
a verdict is rendered by the jury there
should be some one with legal informa
uon to say what the law directs shall be
done with the person doing the killing
in the manner fond by the jury.
The jury cannot be presumed to have
the necessary legal learning; neither can
the coroner. The District attorney should
not be called upon TO act, because he rep
resents the prosecution. Accordingly,
when the jury finds a given state Of
facts and is agreed il has been usual for
il also to interpret the law aud say what
shall be done under the law and the facts.
II is said there is 10 sanction for this
except custom, and that not UNMARRIED.
Furthermore, the jury need not agree;
sometimes cannot. What will be done in
such cases depends upon the coroner and
the lawyers present. In any case, there
is a wide door open for the escape Of any
influential guilty person.
The law under which the coroner inn
panels his jury is the common law. Almost
10 attention is paid TO the provision di-
recting what matters shall be subject OF
coroner's inquiry, as given in Mr.. Aberts
recent compilation Of the laws OF the
District, although there is no other guide.
This is nearly thousand years old, and
applies TO that age, not this Ii is OF
Edward /, A. d. 1876, and makes curious,
sometimes amusing, reading. 1t runs as
follows:
INQUIRIES TO BE MADE.
coroner ought to inquire of these
things, if he be certified by the bailiffs or
other honest men OF the country. First
he shall go 10 the places where any may be
slain, or suddenly dead, or wounded, or
where houses are broken into, or where
treasure is said TO be found, and shall
forthwith command six 10 appear before
him such place; Second, and when they
are come thither the coroner, upon the oath
Of them, shall inquire in this manner, that
is to wit if they know where the person
was slain, whether il were in any house,
field, bed, tavern, or company, and who were
there.
Likewise it is to be inquired who We're
culpable either Of the act, or Of the force,
aud who We're present, either menor women,
aud OF what age soeyer they be or they
can speak or have any discreuouG Third,
aud how many soever be found culpable by
iuquisition in any OF the manners aforesaid,
they shan be taken anc delivered to the
sheriff, aud shall be committed TO the goal
Fourth. aud such as be founder, and be not
culpabIe shall be attached until the coming
Of the justices, and their names shall be
written in rolls
Fifth, II it fortune any such man be
slain which is founder in the fields, or in
the woods, first it is TO be iBquired, whether
he were slain in the same place or not Sixth,
and If he were brought and laid there, they
shall do so much as they can TO follow
their steps that brought the body thither,
whether he We're brought upon a horse or
10 cart;
WHOLE TOWNSHIP RESPONSIBLE.
Seventh, 1t shall be inquired also, if the
dead person were known, or else a stranger,
aud where he lay the night before; Eighth,
and II any be found culpable of the murther,
the coroner shall Immediately go unto his
house and shall inquire what goods he hath,
aud what corn he hath in his grange; and,
if he be freeman, they shall inquire how
much land he hath, and what 1t is worth
yearly, and further what corn he hath upon
the ground
Ninth, and when they have thus inquired
into everything they shall cause all the
land, corn, and goods to be valued IN like
manner as If they should be sold inconti-
nently, and tsereupon they shall be de-
liveTed to the whole township, which shall
be ans werable before the justices for all
Tenth, and like wise of his freehold, how
much it is worth annually over and above
the service due TO the lords Of the fee, and
the land shall remain in the Kings hands
until the lords of the fee shall have made
fine for Ii. Eleventh, and Immediately
upon these things being inquired, the
bodies OF such persons being dead or slain
shall be buried
a coroner ought also TO inquire of treas
ure that is found, who were the finders
and like wise who is suspected thereof,
| and that may be well perceived where one
liveth riotously, haunting taverns, and hath
done sofor long time, whereuponhemay be
attached for this suspicion by four or six
or more pledges If he may be found.
APPEAL OF WOUNDS.
Furthermore, if any be appealed of rape,
he must be attached, if the appeal be fresh.
If the appeal were without cry or without
any manifest sign or token, two pledges
shall be sufficient
Upon appeal of wounds and such like, es-
| pociaily IL the wounds be mortal, the parties
appealed shall be taken Immediately and
kept until it be known perfectly, whether he
that is hurt shall recover or not. Also all
wounds ought TO be viewed, the length,
breadth and deepness, and with what
weapons, and in what part of the body the
wound or hurt is and how many be cul-
pabe, and how many wounds there be, and
who gave the found; all which things must
be enrolled in the roll of the coroners.
Concerning horses, carts, boats, ETC.,
whereby any are slain, that properly are
called deodands, they shall be valued and
| delivered unto the towns, as before is said.
Concerning wrecks of the sea, wheresoever
| TO be found, if any lay hands on it he shall
be attached by sufficient pledges and the
| price of the wreck shall be valued and de.
/ livered to the towns.
Bright Articles,