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#Post#: 7545--------------------------------------------------
Justin Herold: Views On The Coronial System In New York ( 1893 )
DIR By: HowBrown1953
Date: October 4, 2026, 5:21 pm
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Full article in the attachment
New York Herald
September 27, 1893
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AN EX-DEPUTY'S VIEWS.
If there is any person who should know the actual value of the
Coroners' office in this city, it is a deputy coroner. Dr. J.
Herold, who served three years as deputy coroner, cheerfully
gave me his views on the subject when I saw him yesterday
evening at his office.
"I don't believe in having Coroners at all," said he with
emphasis. "As for the deputy coroner, there is no such office. A
Coroner has a right to take any physician in the neighborhood
where a sudden or suspicious death has occurred to look at the
body. Under the present system, this work is all given to
deputies chosen by the Coroners. Of course these men are really
selected by politicians.
"The whole work of the Coroners' office could be accomplished by
the police and medical examiners, as is done in Massachusetts.
The city could be divided off into districts, each one of them
having a medical examiner. These examiners should be either
appointed or recommended for appointment by the County Medical
Society of this city. Under the present system, four deputies do
nearly all the work of the Coroners.
"How do they do it? Why, they do not half do it. They cannot do
it properly, for there are not enough of them.
"There ought to be at least fifteen districts in this city, with
a medical examiner in each. They should not be political hacks,
either, but men of ability. Naturally, a Coroner's case would be
reported by the physician in attendance or by the police in a
case of sudden death.
"My plan would be to have, say in five different parts of the
city, buildings for the reception of homicide cases, suspected
poisoning cases, and all other cases coming under a doubtful
heading where autopsies should be made. The bodies could be
removed to these buildings after the medical examiners had
examined them, and autopsies could then be made.
"I would have these buildings in parts of the city where
residents could not object to them—at the foot of certain
streets along the river. They should be fitted out with every
facility, so that the examiner could properly determine the
cause of death.
"Each one of the buildings should have a pathological
laboratory, a post-mortem room and a reception room. There
should be glass jars and everything necessary for the reception
of organs needed for analysis in poisoning cases.
TOO QUICK REMOVAL.
"In homicide cases under the present system, the bodies are
often removed to the Morgue before they have been examined. I
remember in the case of our 'Jack-the-Ripper's' (Frenchy's)
victim one physician swore that the victim's tongue was
protruding when he saw the body. The Deputy Coroner had not seen
the body until it was at the Morgue, and of course he testified
to a different condition of affairs.
"The judicial proceedings held by Coroners are unnecessary. Such
examinations should be held in a police court. When I was Deputy
Coroner I had as high as fifty-four cases to attend to in a day.
I could not attend to them properly. I have performed four
autopsies before breakfast.
"Do I think that crimes are covered up under the present Coroner
system? Certainly I do. It is not the fault of the Coroners,
though, but of the system. I never knew of a verdict that was
paid for in a Coroner's case. I can easily see, though, how a
Coroner's messenger could pick out a jury which would render a
verdict to suit interested parties. The Coroners' office has
been as well managed as it could be, in my opinion, under the
present system.
"If the constitution of this State is ever changed and the
system of medical examiners adopted, I think they should be paid
large salaries. Let them receive compensation which would enable
them to give their entire time to their official duties. These
examiners could have men in their offices at all hours, who
could summon them when they are wanted.
"The Coroners' office costs the city more than $50,000 a year.
If the system of medical examiners should cost more than that I
should still be in favor of its adoption. It would ensure twice
as good service as the people are getting now."
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