Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1933-11-19
Violent Deaths Would Be
Probed by Medical Exam
liner Instead.
LEGISLATION DRAWN UP
AT REQUEST OF KING
Senator Is Not Definitely Commit
ted to 1t Pending Study,
He Declares.

The coroner'S inquest system for in
quiring into deaths of violence in
Washington would be abolished and re-
placed by the medical examiner system
II Congress enactS a bill which Chair
man King OF the Senate District Com
mlttee mas had prepared for consider
alton by Corporation Counsel Bride.
Inc medical examiner plan would do
away WIN the coroner'S Jury, which is
calleo IN under existing law to deter
mime the cause of death and to decide
Whether any one should be held for ac-
Iion Oh the grand jury. 1t also would
relleVe the coroner from the task of
passing on legal questions. The nro-
posed medical examiner would investi-
gate all the circumstances s1IrroI1nCing
suspicious or violent deaths, perform
autopsles when necessary and renort
the information thus gathered to the
district attorneys office.
Inns would make a more direct pro-
ceoure, since the district attorneys Of
nee Is always free to make its own in
VeStlgatlon, even under the present
method OF having a preliminary hear
ing before a coroner's jury
Patterned on New York Law.
The measure which has been sinh
nlitteo TO Senator King is fashioned
aIter the New York law. The Senator
mas not had time yet to study the Dro-
posed bill, and, therefore, he said last
night he is not definitely Committed 10
~ he plans, however, to analvze lis
provisions between now and the con-
Venlng OF Congress, January 3.
me Dill would authorize the Copo-
II4SSIoherS TO appoint a chief medical
examiner and two assistant medical
examiners The Office of medical ey-
anlner, the bill provides, would be kent
open every day of the year. with a cIer<
IN attendance at all times during the
day and night.
whenever death occurred from yio-
lence, or by casualty, or by suicide or
suddenly when in apparent health
when unattended by physician. or in
any suspicious or unusual manner. the
medical examiner or one of his assist
ants would be directed by the bill to
investigate the essential facts concern
ing the circumstances of the death.
taxing the names and addresses of ali
witnesses thereto as it may be practi-
cable to obtain, and before leaving the
premises shall reduce all such facts to
writing and file the same in his Office. /"
Empowered to Call Witnesses.
The medical examiner would have
power to summon witnesses and require
them to give evidence.
To the record of each case would be
attached the original report of the
medical examiner and the detailed find
ingS Of the autopsy, if any.
The office shall promptly deliver to
the United States district attorney for
the District of Columbia copies of all
records relating to every death as to
which there is. in the judgment of the
medical examiner, any indication of
crimlnallty," the measure provides.
The medical examiner also would have
to file with the District Commissioners
monthly report. consisting of copies
of the records filed in the office
This is only one of a number of bills
which Senator King expects to receive
from local officials on a variety of mu-
nicipal questions between now and the
converting of Congress.