People's Pilot, Volume 6, Number 33, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 February 1897 — Untitled [ARTICLE]

Simply because the useless office of county coroner exists it is no justification for his exercising the functions of that office unlawfully and putting the county to unnecessary efcpfense as was done last Monday in the case of the sudden death from “paralysis of the brain” of William Clark. Mr. Clark was walking the street when he had the fatal attack and was seen by several parties to fall. There was no mystery about his death, no one asked for an inquest, and the coroner had no more right to assert his authority in the case than he would have to enter a private residence and inquire into the cause of any ordinary death. Mr. Clark was taken sick on the street and a physician was almost instantly at his side. Fortunately for the coroner he was sufficiently sober to discover a fee in the case and he availed himself, not only of the official opportunity but also constituted himself the undertaker, which latter matter he had a right to do if he so pleased and the relatives did not object. What the people of Jasper county object to is the payment of the coroner’s unlawful fees, and it is the duty of the prosecuting attorney to see that it is not allowed. It is well known that at a late instance when there was occasion for a coroner’s inquest, that official was unable to attend to his duty because of intoxication, and as he is all too frequently in that condition, there should be steps taken to remove him from office and place a responsible man in his place.