Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-01-05
ANNUAL REPORT OF ATTORNEY E
GENERAL SCOTT WILSON
Advocates the Abolition of the Office of Coroner
and the Creation of a Board of State Police :
Resume of the Busines SIS of the Office Transact
ed During the Year.

Hon. Scott Wilson Of Portland, the
attorney general Of Maine, In his an
nual report which was presented to
the Governor and Council Monday, ad
vocated the adjustment Of the office
OF coroner and the creation Of board
Of State police.
Attorney General Wilson in his re-
port says in part:
The Office Of Coroner.
"The first recommendation which we
desire IL make with referance to the
administration Of the criminal law Of
the State IS the adjustment Of the cor
oner system. The origin Of this Office
Is an ancient one. It's duties were
originally associated with the king
Or crown and the preservation of his
rights and property; hence the title.
coroner 1t was brought over to this
country by the early settlers. but most
Of its prerogatires were never recos-
nized. az they had no application TO
conditions here. The principal one that
was preserved was the investigation
Of homicides and the determining of
the cause Of death and the probable
guilty party.
We think practically everyone who
has made 4 study of the administra-
ton Of our criminal laws, particular
~ those relating to hornicides, have
become convinced that we have out
grown this feature and that it is no
longer adapted to our present con-
ditiOns. That it lacked something was
recognized in our own state several
years ago by the enactment of a law
providing for medical examiners. To-
day the prosecuting officials, we think.
would all agree that the most valuable
part Of the Coroner's report is that CT
the medical examiner, and that any
other services which the coroner does
perform could as well be performed
by the medical examiner who per-
formed the autopsy, under the d.
reclion Of the prosecuting officers.
Massachusetts and New Hamps-
hire. recognizing this fact. have abol-
ished the coroner system and provid-
ed o system under which the medical
examiner takes entire charge, makes
an autopsy if necessary and under the
direction Of the prosecuting officers
holds such inquest as may be deemed
advisable.
Our experience in the past two
years has convinced US such a system
should be adopted here in Maine; that
while in some Of the counties coroners
VINO have had long experience handle
the homicide cases properly, in many
of the counties, through lack Of ex-
periencc, and in some instances by
reason of the unfituess of the parties
holding this Office, serious injury to
the state results and the prosecuting
officials are frequently handicapped
in bringing the offenders to justice.
Rivalry exists between the numerous
corcners in some counties, unneces-
sary expenses are sometimes incurred
and we strongly recommend that this
office be abolished and the medical ex
aminers be given the necessary au-
thority to make all Investigations, and
under the direction of the attorney
general or county attorney, hold such
inqucsts as the prosecuting officers
may deem necessary.
Tho attorney general OF New
Hampshire, with whom we have con-
ferred in this matter. advises US that
their law has worked very satisfac-
toriiy in that state, and it seems to
us that with some modification it is
well adapted to our State. An exam
ination of the reports of my prede-
cessors discloses the fact that the
failure of the so-called coroner's in
quest to meet the requirement Of mod
ern conditions in the administration
Of our criminal laws had impressed
itself upon them and its adjustment
recommended at least, as early as
1885.
State Police.
From our experience, during the
past two years, We also recommend
the creation OF board Of State police,
to consist of at least two experienced
criminal investigators. One Of the
greatest lacks in investigating crime
is that Of experienced criminal OIL
GERS. Some Of the counties fortunately
possess such, but in many there are
no officers who have had experience
in such matters and it often hand
leaps the State very much in not hav-
ing a man skilled in such matters who
can Immediately proceed to the scene
Of the crime and make full and COM
plete investigation at once.
There should be at least two exper-
fenced men under the direction of the
attorney general who can be sent to
any part OF the State upon notice Of
a homicide or other serious offence
and who can, under his and the county
attorneys direction, make all inves-
LEGATIONS in connection with the local
officials. Other departments also have
occasion to use investigators, par
ticularly the insurance department.
and these men should also be available
Or any State department which needs
any work Of this character. / doubt. II
the expense to the State and to the
counties. if both are taken together,
would be increased, as it often be-
comes necessary to employ detectives,
whose charges are high and whose
work is not always satisfactory.
"A considerable portion of the time
of this department is taken up in the
collection Of inheritance taxes, as
under the present law all nonresident
fnheitance taxes are assessed and col
1ected through this Office. While the
amount is small compared with the
resident taxes, yet a very large num-
Der OF estates pass through this office
in the course of a year, as no stocks
in Maine corporations can be trans,
ferred from a nonresident estate
without waiver from this Office, nor
can any funds belonging to non.resi-
dent estates be drawn from our saw
ings banks without a similar waiver.