The herald., 1896-01-30
AS TO THE CORONER

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"
| The HERALD stated some weeks ag(
that the perjury indictments of the
grand jury against the coroner, DIR
George w. Campbell, would fall to The
ground. The coroner had collected
from the county a So fee for sixty
/ three alleged inquests which were no'
inquests. But he has done 30 upon the
advice of the district attorney and his
predecessor had also done the same
This being the case, Dr.. Campbell could
not be convicted Of perjury by any
jury, although he had sworn to an
illegal charge against the county. So,
as predicted, DR.. Campbell, the coro-
ner, is cleared of the perjury charge.
Now that the doctor is out of that
scrape we suggest that he cover back
into tne county treasury every dollar
that be has illegally distracted. II the
doctor has not the high sense Of honor
that would dictate such action on his
part then the district attorney should
step in.
The district attorney, Major J. A.
Donne!l, told HERALD representative
that when the perjury indictments
against the coroner were disposed CT
he would then proceed against that
official to recover any money he had
obtained on illegal charges. Judge
Smith has decided that the S. fee
charged by Campbell was illegal. and
that there can be no inquest unless a
jury is summoned. Now is the time
for the district attorney to get from
DIR. Campbell the money that the doc
treasury and that he had no right to
draw out Of the peoples depository. The
sooner the major gets it the better the
taxpayer will like it.
There is one point further to which
The HERALD desires to direct the atten-
ton of the coroner. The law under
which he operates is section 1910 of
the penal code. which reads as follows:
"Wnen the coroner is informed that a
person has been killed or has committed
suicide, or has suddenly died under such
circumstances as to afford a reasonable
ground to suspect that his death has been
occasioned by the act of another by
criminal means, he must go to the place
where The bouy is and cause it 10 be
exhumed if it has been inferred and
summon no. less than nine or more than
fifteen persons, qualified by law to serve
as jurors, to appear before him forthwith
at the place where the body of the
deceased is, to inquire into the cause of
DEATH
This section does not contemplate
any action by the coroner except as
stated. Yet DR.. Campbell has been
holding inquests at rate which in
point CT fees makes the office the most
remunerative in Southern California
He has plainly indicated TO the people
that he is out to gobble all he can get
regardless of law or anything else. In
ten months he held pit inquests. In
nearly half the cases no possible OK
cUse ever existed for an inquest. But
the coroner wanted his fee, and SO the
inquest had to be held.
This is no time for trifling DR..
Campbell has escaped the penitentiery
and his experience should be lesson
to him. He must change his system in
discharging his public duties, abide by
the law Of the state, pay back into the
county treasury the money he has
taken that he was not entitled to, and
then, when his term OF office expires,
retire to private life, where he will be
better understood and more thoroughly
appreciated.