Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-07-25
THE cRowNER's QUEST.

a Chicago contemporary IS greatly d's-
eusted with tho grewsome scramble OF
| two Illinois coroners over the remains OF
a man who was killed near an undehheu
| boundary line Of two jurisdictions anu
suggests that the antiquated Office should
be abolished. II says that numerous IN
stances have occurred whore these
"gracolsss inquisitors" have quarreIed
and come 10 blows over the managed
remnants of a human form. In the CAST
which has particularly excited our con-
tempoEarv. one OF the coroners secured
tho legs OF the corpse and held an In
opest thereon. while the other we sup
pose held his court over the CHASTITY
residuum.
These Instances arc truly disgusting,
and II the Illinois coroners could be taken
as representatives OF their class, there
might be ample reason for the abolish
ment OF the Office. But it strikes US that
cases Of this sort are certainly rare. AS
suredly we can recall no such incidents
IN Virginia.
The office OF coroner is an exceedingly
ancient one-in fact, IL is as old as tha'
Of the shorthand has stood the test ol
centuries. 1t dates back almost to ING
Norman conquest. and in olden times tne
coronor was n most dignihed function
orv. The name itself Is derived from the
Latin "coronator." and signifies an OH
cjal who represented the crown. Indeed
This etymology IS made manifest by
shakospeare's use Of the word "crown-
crp for coroner. TO this day in England
the Chief Justice Of the Kings Bench IS
the chief coroner, and may execute inc
Office in any part Of the realm III
Cbaucer's description Of the Frankelelh
he alludes to the "coronour." who even
I'm those times appears to have been
man of no little importance.
While the progress in Anglo-Saxon
laws has done no little to deprive coro-
nors Of their former powers, they sun
retain their prime authority-to enquire
into deaths which are supposed to have
been caused by violence, and not by
casualty. Their inquests. though more or
less informal, serve an important pur-
nose. As q general thing. the coroner IS
the first man who looks into suspicious
involving a loss of human
life. 1t IS he who takes the initiative
and crystaIlizes public opinion. The YER
dict OF his jury Is very apt to receive
and where necessary leau
70 other important steps looking toward
the maintenance Of the law. The evil
dence taken by the coroner is Of the Ut
most Importance 1t IS generally given
when all the facts are fresh; betor" the
memories Of witnesses are impaired by
forgetfulness. and before persons under
suspicion can find the time to concoct
falsehoods or escape from public view
The requirement that the inquest shah be
held I'm the presence OF the corpse, or
very near to It. while not always plea
SAINT for those figuring in the investlga-
ton. is nevertheless a good rule. 1t is
another precaution which secures quick
ness OF action, and. as we think, more
accurate information concerning the facts
with the death.
While no one would pretend TO say that
the average coroner is technically as
skuful i'm conducting his court as other
officials with judicial functions, we believe
his methods are best for the purposes he
serves. As a general thing, he IS not
harassed by pestiferous lawyers or by
strict rules Of evidence His latitude al
lows him TO get on the track of the truth,
If not to get the real truth, and by the
jurys verdict, and the evidence support
ing It. the constabulary are materially
assisted Furthermore, the requirement
that the questions and answers shall be
written down makes a useful and accu-
rate record which is often utilized in the
higher courts.
When we allude to the informalitles
prevailing at some inquests, we refer
more particularly 10 the isolated districts,
where the facilities for such examina-
tons are poor, and where the coroner
must adapt himself TO circumstances. In
Richmond we have an official whose long
experience and ability enable him TO con-
duct his courts in the most thorough and
efficient way. Almost every month he
has a case involving homicide. and TO
his skill and care is due great deal OF
the official "unrayelling' which follows
such lamentable affairs. The verdicts OF
his courts are generally the framework
on which hang the subsequent legal pro-
ceedings.