New-York tribune., 1908-02-21
V's' half-Begum; in short an interesting speci-
'ieh OF the semi-oriental Englishwoman.'
KING EDWARDS OWN CORONER

KING EDWARDS OWN CORONER
hihs Edward has his own particular coroner. who
constitutes part and parcel OF the royal household
is onlcial title Of his Office, which is of great an
uquity. dating back TO the reign of King Edward l.
being Coroner of the Verge" It is his duty to
pTtsloe at the inquests OF all people who may meet
'EeT death within the precincts or grounds of the
foNa palaces in such fashion to call for
JUDICIAL investigation Nowadays deaths OF this
AH'd occur but rarely; but formerly, when the
pc'gnard. the rapier and poison played a far more
important role in everyday life than they do in
uhtse modern times. the services of the -'Crowner
OF the Verge were in constant demand. The pres
ent occupant of the office. Arthur ". Mills, was
caiied upon 10 hold inquest fortnight ago
upon the body of a position of one of the heavy
steel sheathed vans in which the superb gold and
silver plate, valued some $I5.oooOoo. belonging
10 the Crown and used at state 'banquets is con-
veyed when needed TO Buckingham Palace from
the immense vaults where 1t is preserved at Wind
sor Castle The mans horse had slipped while en-
teTing the gateway of Buckingham Palace, and
before 1t was possible 10 raise the position one OF
the wheels OF the had passed over his body,
killing him instantly The jury, required by
law, was composed of twelve members of the royal
household, usual OF the upper servant class, who
returned a verdict Of accidental DEATH
There have been times when this royal right OF
holding inQuests in this fashion instead OF by or
dinary coroners and by common coroners' juries.
has been severely condemned and assailed. though
without success. This notably the case on
the occasion OF the mysterious murder in St
James's Palace of Senis. the confidential Swiss
valet of that Duke of Cumberland who a
younger son Of George III became King of Hanover
the accession of his niece, Queen Victoria, to
the throne of Great Britain in 1887. Sens was
found pierced through and through with sword
which belonged 10 his master. at the end Of a
corridor into which the dukes bedroom and dress
ing-roOm opened Had the murder been investi-
gated by ordinary coroner and jury there is no
doubt that the extreme unpopularity OF the Duke
Of Cumberland at the time would have led to
verdict charging him with the crime But, fortu-
uately for him, the matter conffded the
Kings Coroner Of the Verge. and jury composed
of members Of the royal household. in accordance
with his directions. rendered a verdict Of murder
against "a party or parties unknown
Some years later the Duke of Cumberland. while
strollins down St James's street toward his resi-
dence in St. James's Palace was suddenly assailed
with d torrent Of invective by an oddly dressed
turned 10 be the peasant mother of Senlis.
She insisted that it the duke who
sponsible for the death Of her only SON. declined
any monetary assistance OF compensation, but
called down the most fearful curses from heaven.
not only upon the duke, but also upon his de
scendants IN the third and fourth generation And
there are some superstItiOus people who believe
that the persistent i'll luck which has dogged the
steps OF the descendants the duke is the result
Of this curse The dukes the blind King
Of Hanover. who lost his throne in the Of
1856 His son, the present Duke Of Cumberland.
has in the same way forfeited the throne OF the
Duchy Of Brunswick. which belongs TO him by
right OF Inheritance, while the dukes eldest son,
in turn. VINO was Il most promising lad has be-
come invalid for life through blood poisoning.
MARQCISE DE FONTENOY.