The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1915-04-08

a
facts that may be deemed important
in determining the cause of death.
He shall then make an autopsy in the
presence of a physician and one other
| discreet person sufficient in his judg-
ment to disclose such facts as may
be attainable thereby which would
be of assistance in determining the
cause of DEATH He NAV compel the
assistance OF such physician and per,
son, by subpoena, II necessary. and
he shall then and there at the time
of said autopsy reduce or cause to be
reduced to writing every fact and
circumstance disclosed by such au-
topsy tending to show the manner
and cause of death. which record
shall be signed by himself apd the
witnesses who have attended. who
shall in addition to their names CUB
scribe their address and place Of
ing OF such body there be no medical
examiner within the county by rea-
son OF vacancy in the ONCE, incapa-
city or absence from the county. any
county may be notified whose duty Il
shall be to attend and perform all
duties prescribed by this act as
though he were a medical examiner
within the county.
Section S. II upon such views with
personal inquiry or autopsy as Is re-
Quired by the preceding section, the
medical examiner Is of thes opinion
the death OF the person was caused
by violence. criminal or otherwise.
ty attorney and the Attorney Gen.
eral, and file with each q duly at
tested copy 81 the record of the case.
He shall also make a return of the
death of such person to the city or
town clerk as required by law, which
shall be supplemented with per-
sonal description Of the deceased for
Identification
Attorney General may require the
medical examiner to perform an au-
tepsy IL in their Judgment the same
IL advisable, in cases where the med
ical examiner has not deemed 1t nee
essary to do SO. and on receivins the
report of medical examiner OF an
AUTOPSY made by him in pursuance
of the provisions of this act and And
ing some person or persons probably
implicated may, when deemed neces-
to take an inquest upon the view OF
the dead body of the person whose
death Is supposed to have BEEN vcca-
stoned unlawfully. and such medical
appear before him such witnesses as
the county attorney or Attorney
General may direct, who shall be ex
amined under oath by said county
such testimony shall be reduced to
writing by the medical examiner or
under his direction and shall be
signed by the witness and sworn to.
The medical examiner shall preside
at such inquest and shall report In
where and by what means the per-
son came to his death. to the county
attorney or Attorney General. and IL
1t appears to him that II was a case
of homicide, he shall SO state and
may state the name OF the person.
who in his Judgment there is prob
able cause to believe contributed to
such death. il known to him. The
General shall then proceed to execute
the laws of the State governing the
office which they hold and may d.
rect the holdings Of witnesses as
they shall deem necessary.
Section 7. If medical examiner
reports that death was not caused
by violence or unlawful act and the
county attorney or Attorney General
Is of contrary opinion. nothing In
this act shall be construed to pre-
vent either of these officers directing
an inquest in accordance with this act.
Section 8. The medical examiner
with the advice and consent OF the
county attorney or Attorney General.
may II he deems necessary call a
chemist or other expert to aid In the
examination of the body or of sub
stance supposed to have caused or con-
tributed to the death of such person
and such chemist or other expert shall
be entitled to such compensation for
his services as the medical examiner
and the county attorney shall certify
to be just and reasonable. Any per-
son employed to reduce to writing the
results of any of the proceedings pro-
vided for in this act shall be sworn
and shall be allowed reasonable COM
penSation.
upon the completion of his examine
tion. autopsy or inquest shall deliver
the dead body upon their claim there
for, to one or more of the persons
entitled thereto as follows: First. the
husband or wife, as the case may be;
second, the next of kin; third. any
friend of the deceased. But IL the
dead body is unidentified or Is I'M
claimed for . period OF not less than
forty-eight hours following the view
thereof. the medical examiner shall
deliver the body to the overseers OF
the poor in the town or IL in a planta-
ton or unorganized place to the coun-
ty commissioners who shall decently
bury the same. or shall deliver 1t to
the board of distribution as provided
in section three of chapter seventeen
of the revised statutes. The expense
Of burial shall be borne by the mu-
nlcipalty liable for the support of the
deceased. If any within the State, and
if not by the State.
Section TO- In all cases arising I'M
der the provisions of this act the med
zeal examiner shall take charge of any
money or euy other personal effects of
the decc9se found upon or near the
| body and subject to the right of the
State to use the Same as evidence,
shall deliver them to the person or
persons entitled thereto. or If there
is eny doubt regarding to whom they
shall be delivered. this fact shall be
made known to the judge OF Probate
Tor the county. whose directions in
the case shall be followed.
Section II, Every medical examin-