New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-11-19
SAY CORONERS ARE USELESS.
MANY PHYSICIANS AND LAWYERS WOULD
APPROVE ABoLIsHING THE OFFICE.

MANY PHYSICIANS AND LAWYERS WOULD
APPROVE ABoLIsHING THE OFFICE.
The action taken on Monday night by the
New York State Medical Association. appointing
a committee to cooperate with other bodies in
seeking legislation to abolish the Board of Coro-
ners was commended yesterday by many physi-
clans and lawyers of this city as a step in the
right direction. There appears TO be wide
spread and growing sentiment in the city in
favor of such legislation. Well informed citi-
zens have come to regard the COroners as use
less officials. The annual expense of maintain
ing the Board of Coroners is regarded as a waste
of public money. The scandals which are con-
nected with the coroner's Office from time to
time have increased the feeling that the sooner
the office is abolished the better it will be the
interests of the city.
In almost every important criminal trial there
comes to light something to show that the
officials In the cOrOner's office are useless The
application for trial for Albert T. Patrick
has disclosed that two cOroners' physicians,
drawing salaries from the city, received large
sums for testifying in the murder trial. of
them demanding two and half times the
amount of his salary for year for services in
helping the prosecution work up it's case. This
is regarded by some as sufficient proof that the
Investigations of the COrOneTs of no value
unless the officials receive extra pay from the
District Attorney.
Legislation to abolish the corOners will have
the support of most lawyers and physicians
as we'll as the support of most we'll informed
business men and taxpayers of the city. Dis
trict Attorney Jerome has been advocating such
legislation ever since he took office Asked by
a Tribune reporter yesterday to give some of
his views on the subject. Mr. Jerome said:
In the place of the cOroners l would have medical
examiners appointed by the Board of Health.
Half a dozen such examiners would easily do all
the work required of them in the investigation of
sudden suspicious deaths in the city. They
would take the place of the corOners the corOners'
physicians and the cOrOnerS clerks. and the neceS-
of maintaining the costly rooms and machinery
of the corOnerS would be at an end That would
mean the saving of many thousands of dollars
nuay to the city and better service for the city in
the bargain.
The proper system would be one in which all
suspiciOus and sudden deaths would be reported
both to the police and 10 the Board of
Ceant could begin the investigation of o.
gether II il found to be a in which
there TO believe that crime had
been committed, the medical examiner could give
the police sergeant would be all the record neces-
sary The medical examiner could perform an
autOpsy without delay, if that were necessary to
deterniine the cause Of death In a case where
Committed, assistant from the District At
torney's office could be summoned to aid in the in
vestigatiOn. Police detectives could be called in
Experts could be sent TO give assistance in the
prisoners could be taken before magistrate All
the machinery of justice could be started in a
proper and effective way, without the bungIine,
Interference of coroners-