The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-11-23
CITY HAS HAD THIRTY
KINDS OF CORONERS
Commissioner Wallstcin's In
spectors Compile Historical
Table of Office Holders.
THREE PUT BEHIND BARS

The sIxtv-two men who have neld the
place Of Coroner in Greater New YORK
since 1897 represented thirty different
walks of life, varying from surgeon
TO n fruit stand owner. according to a
table compiled by inspectors on the stat
of Commissioner of Accounts Wallste'h'
The making M OF this list was sug-
pcsted to Commissioner Wallstein during
the recent testimony OF several Coroners
and Coroners physicians at the inquiry
into the workings OF the Coroners office.
The testimony tended 10 show that the
functions of the Coroners' office call FOR
high degree OF training in pathology,
Ieeel medicine and law. The list shows
how few OF the men who have been Coro-
nere have had this training.
or the sixty-two Coroners the table
shows that sixteen have been physicians,
on. a surgeon. while seven have been
undertal,ers. Manhattan has had eight
Of the physician Coroncrs ana but one
undertaken. The other Coroners In Man.
haitian have been called from many bust
nesees and professions, including real
estate operator. fruit stand owner. wood
carver, fireman. Excise Commissioner.
shoe dealer. banker. plumber. politician
and marble cutter.
One surgeon Is the only Coroner that
The Bronx can claim as having had any
medical knowledge. The others from that
borouqh have been lawyers. real estate
operetor. port warden, tax clerk. auc-
,,one.r. printer and plumber. Brooklyn
has had five physicians and two under
provided a musician and a milk pedler
AZ Cororers besides a real estate oper-
etor and q politician.
Detective ana Butcher.
Queen. borough has elected a brick
rayAr Coroner. detective Coroner. express
man Coroner and Coroncrs from the
ranks of the clerk. carpenter, DENTIST
house painter and physician. Richmond
not to be outdone. several years ago was
rerresentted in the Board of Coroners by
a butcher and at various other times
was represented by four undertakers. real
estate operator. physician. customs In
spector and clerk.
I, is interesting also TO note that or the
ex-Coroners one was killed in the perform
ancc of duty. while three others have been
convicted OF crimes and sent to prison.
In December. 1897, Coroner George ii.
Mason of Brooklyn, an undertakers as
sisiant was indicted for grand larceny.
The indictment was dismissed In january,
1895 A short time later Coroner Edward
r. Coornbs. also of Brooklyn. politician,
was convicted of grand larceny. In jan
nary. 1905. DR. Moses ]. Jackson. Coroner
from Manhattan. was indicted for bribery
and I'm February OF the same year was
convicted.
Tho next cx-coroner 70 be sent 70 Jail
was Samuel 8. Gray. dentist or
Queens. who was sentenced on Oc-
fourteen years and ten months for
manslaughtor In 1912. while In per
rorr1ancc Of his duty, a. +. Schwanrecke.
Coroner from The Bronx from 1906 to
l9io was killed Mr. Schwannecke when
he was Coroner also held place in the
Enc Sc Department.
Under the caption Occupation after ex-
p,ration of term OF office" II is shown in
IN. table that one Coroner in The Bronx
and one from Queens have held no JOBS
since their terms as Coroner. Also during
the term of office Of the s!Nty-two Coro-
ners only twelve OF them devoted their
entire time TO the office, The others d.
vded their time in the Coroners' Office
with some other occupation.
Trained In Brokers' ONCE.
Al the present time Manhattan is repre-
sented by three physicians and business
agent. The Bronx by a printer and plum
ber Brooklyn by a physician and con-
tractor. Queens by painter and clerk
and Richnond's Coroner received his
pathological training in a brokers' office
Tho table further shows that ALL OF
Manhattan's present Coroners are engaged
In other callirgs one OF the two COroners
IN The Bronx devotes his entire time Il
the position. both Coroners from Queens
are concerned in other businesses, while
the Richmond Coroner and one from
Brooklyn have no occupation other thar
Coroner.
Commissioner wallstein n now con
fronted with the proposition OF analyznf
these various positions to see how man,
Of them require the same high degree o.
technical training in pathology. lega
medicine and law that Is necessary e
being good Coroner according to thu
statements OF the several Coroners whC
have testified nj the inquiry.