The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-11-12

hundred postmortem ~autopsies are made
yearly.
son the advice of the prosecutor
inquired Mr.. Hardin.
''Some Of them."l admitted Mr..
Riker.
The forces controlled by the county
physician, said Mr.. Riker, were three
coroners, any number of deputy county
physicians who might be appointed
and all the police forces.
Colonel Mullikin wanted to know in
apaplified form what Mr.. Riker meant
by control Mr.. Riker said the con-
trpr' was of the body. and the police
departments were placed at the con-
troll of the county physician in practise
He has control also of property found
on the body of the deceased.
Colonel Mullikin inquired IL the
county physician, should not be In the
competitive class. Mr.. Riker said he
should be considered the same as the
head of any other department.
supplements Riker's Side.
Mr. Church, speaking for DR.. Nc
Kenzie,t supplemented the argument OF
Mr.. Riker by calling attention to the
power given the county physician to
make an inventory of the effects of the
deceased. Another point made by Mr..
Church was that %coroners could not
receive compensation for their work
except on an order signed by the
county physician. Mr.. Church quoted
a New York case where the health
officer of Yonkers was declared not in
the civil service
Some difficulty exists by reason of the
fact that no other State has an office
corresponding to county physician. The
nearest to 1t is In Massachusetts, where
there are county examiners"
Mr.. Church later made another point
thai the act creating the county physi-
clan was not a supplement to any
other statute, but an independent act.
Colonel Mullikin wanted to know
what power a county physician would
have TO compel a policeman to carry a
body to another place than where
fo,nd None could be found.
The discussion drifted into a lot of
legal disquisitions hat became techni-
cal.
Mr.. Hardin, for the defendant" as
Colonel Mullikin referred to Dr.. Elliott,
stated for the latter that the informa-
ton regarding The practise of the
county ply sicran, as originally given.
was correct. so far as he knew. He
called DIR: Elliott to give the practise
of the office. -
when | began my first term" isaid
DIR. Elliott, II was instructed by the
court (Chief Justice Depue) that I was
the medical arm of the court, and 1t
was my duty to report all cases OF the
prosecutors office and to make any u
topsies that I might be directed to.
'During my present term Mr.. Young
told me 1t was my duty to report all
suspicious cases and to make autop-
sizes. and IL was my duty to make an
autopsy for the satisfaction of the
prosecutor. He also wanted a man
from his office at all autopsies. In an
other case I was ordered out, of the
State. to make an autopsy. was all
lowed for expenses only what money I
actually spent. / always considered !
was under the direction Of the court"
DIR. Elliott served a little over two
years on his first term as county ply.
stefan. and his present term has been
for nineteen months so far. ID.
MIR. Hardin's View. va =
Mr.. Hardin, during a discussion CT
the legal aspects of the matter, said
The countv nbvsician was a. servant of
thp state in the administration of Jus
tice The Legislature. said Mr.. Hardin,
could have the Governor appoint a
county nhvsician. The office Is purely
statutory and not constitutional. ~
sue Is no more a head of q depart
mont said Mr.. Hardin. sathan the
i,,dpes of the county courts, which are
also maid, bv the f%reeholders. Nobody