The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-04-19

body search for the wound or wounds;
notice for powder burns and everything
of Importance. After you have gone
through with this to your satisfaction,
if you can consistently do SO give
your opinion. If you can not give an
opinion be sure to say so in plain,
but respectful manner, to the Coroner
and Jury, and tell them of the neccs-
sity of careful dissection Of the
body. The law does not expect i'm
possibilities Of any one. Also re-
member that it is a very serious mat
ter to give an opinion that will per-
haps let guilty party escape or con
denim an innocent party, and cause
him to suffer for ones incompetency
or carclessncss. Also remember that
there may be many causes to produce
death besides the wounds found on
the body Of the deceased How many
times have we seen our soldiers in the
Confederate army wounded in almost
every part of the body, and left on the
battlefield as beyond all hope from
medical aid, and some Of them arc
living and apparently we'll, even at
this late day. Another point. Re-
member the opinion you give way off
in the country to small but excited
crowd around you, may cause you con-
siderable annoyance when you are
placed on the witness stand at the
session Of the Circuit Court. 1t has
been stated by an eminent authority
that it is very unwise on the part of
a medical man to give his opinion as
to the cause of the death Of party by
violence, or other unnatural cause,
without first making careful dissec-
tion Of every organ Of his body" I
would, therefore, urge upon you to be
careful of giving your opinion of the
cause of the death Of party without
careful dissection of the body. If
the Jury consents to the dissection of
the body, (and [ am sure no reasona-
BILE jury would object,) would make
the following suggestions: After dis
injecting the hands we'll, proceed in
very deliberate manner to make your
dissections. Allow no one to dictate
to you what to do, or when to stop.
Don't allow them to hurry you in your
work. If you need any help select
your own man-some good, level
headed man is easily found in crowd,
and make him obey your orders.
Don't let him lead you. You are the
responsible party, and it is your opin-
ion that will tell the tale. You will
some times find a smart Aleck, or
bulldozer in the crowd who will do
considerable talking, and be as full of
suggestions as an egg is of meat. This
Will sometimes cause you some annoy
ance. Just call the attention Of the
Coroner to the necessity of keeping
order, and the Coroner will readily
come to your relief and make it pleas
ant for you. Be sure to examine the
body until you are fully satisfied. If
there is any doubt on your mind, 90
over every organ again-cven take in
the spinal cord and brain. Of course
if you are satisfied soon after getting
into the body it is all right. Don't
forget, however, you may be asked
about the condition Of every organ in
the body at the Circuit Court. The
lawyer always takes care of the doubts
in favor Of the prisoner. When you
have satisfied yourself ss 20 the cause
of death. and you are through with
the dead body, say nothing. Keep
quiet. After washing your hands ask
for pen, ink and paper, and write out
your opinion in plain and Ineligible
manner. Above all things leave off
your technicalities-they don't count
for anything with the jury, it only
shows you don't understand the Eng
lish language, and have to borrow
from some dead language to express
yourself. Use plain English, nothing
more After writing your opinion
hand it to the Coroner, and let him
swear you. Again answer no ques-
tions, unless by order of the Coroner
or jury, as by so doing you are only
furnishing ammunition for the lawyers
at the next term of the Court. Hav-
ing made the post norton and deliv-
cred your opinion to the jury, keep
your mouth closed until you are order
ed to open it by the proper authorities
at Court.
have hurriedly sketched our duties
at the Coroner's Court in a murder
case. l have not gone into cases of