The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-19
oUrrn rNouEsrs Iy snooK1HM.
Charges Of Irregular Practices 1nvelvins Corr
oners and Undertakern.

Charges affecting tho Coroners' Office in
| Brooklyn wcro made yesterday by the Brooklyn
Eagle. In n report published In that paper 1t is
declared that an examination OF tho death cor
tiGcates on file in the Health Department and
tho books In tho Comptroller's Office shows that
alleged inquests have been held In cases OF death
from natural causes, as certified to by reputable
physicians, aud that the usual fec Of $3.50 which
comes out Of the pockets OF the taxpayers has
been paid TO the Coroner. Infants, 1t is said.
afford the most fertile field for thcso alleged
sham inqucsts, and 1t is also intimatod that some
undertakers are in tho habit Of suppresslng tho
certificates OF the physicians so as to swell tho
Coronor's fees.
Tho Eagle backs up its charges with two
forciblc illustrations. Florence Fuller. the g.
months.old daughter Of Letter Carrier Thomas
r. Fuller, died on July "a ut her home, 1913
Bridge street. Or. J. j. Colgan, who had been
in attendance over three days, made out a GER
tilcate stating that cholera infantum was the
cause Of death. Tho certificate was givon to
Undertaken Thomas ]. Donnelly Of "a Hud-
son avenue. and tho funeral took place
without the slightest knowledge on the
part of the parents that any action had
ever been taken by the Coroner. The rec
ords Of the Comptroller's office, however.
show that Coroner Edward II, Coombs was paid
$3.50 by the city for holding an inquest on the
BODY OF the lttle tuller Rlrl. hJ Inc hloFkue oh
July 25, the day following her death. The pa;
rents were amazed yesterday when they learned
of the developments. Mr.. Fuller said that the
body was taken directly from the house to the
cemetery and ha0 never boon taken to the
MorRue, nor did Coroner Coombs, or any repre-
sentative Of his office ever call at the house.
DR.. Colgan. the attendant physician, was also
dumfounded, as he would naturally have been
the principal witness If an inquest was thought
thing as an inquest was never thought OF. 1t
was simply an ordinary case OF cholera IN
Undertaken Donnelly's explanation. is that,
the Health Office, he notified Coroner Coombs
and procured one, so as to hurry up the funeral.
Coroner Coounbs admitted that there seemed
to be something peculiar about this particular
case. and promised to make an investigation.
He also admitted that II might happen that he
would hold i~nquests without tho knowledge Of
the relatives. 1t was necessary, however, that
he should view the body.
that l should walk in,unsnnounced and. without
explaining my mission. to any one, ask a few
questions and 20 away"
The case of the infant son of w. II. Nc
Calmont of 247 Plymouth street, who died at
up. The hospital authorities gave a certificate
OF death from marasmus. in which no inquest Is
required. The records show. however,, that an
INQUEST was held the same day, and that q YER
returned. There was. of course. the usual $500
fec for Coroner Coombs in this case. In this case.
as In the Fuller case, Thomas J. Donnelly was
the officiating undertaken. Both Superintendent
dead infant said that SO far as they had any
knowledge no inquest had ever been held. They
were positive that none was necessary. the
undertaken having received the certificate at
An official investigation will probably follow
those developments.