People v. Fitzgerald , 50 N.Y. Sup. Ct. 35 ( 1887 )

Hardin, P. J.

(dissenting):

General Irvine died in the city of San Francisco, on the night of November 12, 1882, suddenly, having during the day been out gunning, returning to his home in the evening, after partaking of a light repast, consisting of tea, eggs, cold meat and bread and butter, prepared by his wife Phoebe, who, with their daughter, Mrs. Merlde, were occupying apartments together. Soon after partaking of the refreshments, he became distressed and made complaints of internal pains. The daughter left for a physician, and upon returning they found' that death had taken place. The remains were taken that night to the rooms of an undertaker, and they were subsequently embalmed, and on the 4th of December were conveyed by the widow and daughter to the city of Elmira, where they were interred in Woodlawn cemetery.

About a year after the death, inquiry was instituted as to the cause thereof, and tiie defendant employed a detective named Nealson, who visited the city of Elmira and returned to San Erancisco and made a report to the defendant, who then applied to the undertaker who embalmed the body, and to Dr. Wooster, the deceased’s intimate friend and physician, who had viewed the body, and they gave affidttvits of certain facts within their knowledge.

In the affidavit of Dr. Wooster, subscribed March 11, 1885, in connection with the statement of facts, he adds: “ In my opinion, he was first poisoned in his food or drink, and then, when in agony from the effects of the dose, he was struck on the head to stop his contortions and groans.”

Porter, the undertaker, stated in the affidavit subscribed by him, the condition of the remains when he received them, and that sundry persons viewed the remains, “among others Dr. Wooster, who remarked that to him it looked as having been poisoned.”

With these papers in her possession, the defendant visited the city of Elmira, where she met the detective Nealson. She sought legal counsel as to the method to be pursued in order to investigate whether General Irvine died a natural or unnatural death. She consulted an attorney, who advised her that the coroner of the county of Chemung had jurisdiction to hold an inquest over the remains, and that the “papers, upon their face, authorized him, the coroner, or were sufficient upon which he might exercise his discretion in the matter.”

The defendant and Nealson visited the office of Dr. Reilly, the coroner of the county 'of Chemung, and held a conversation in regard to the circumstances attending the death of the deceased. The affidavits of Porter and Dr. Wooster were presented to the coroner, and the defendant asked Dr. Reilly “ to do his duty as a coroner — to examine and see if the proofs were sufficient to authorize him in proceeding,” and “ that she wished the body to be taken up and the stomach, or some part of it, to be analyzed, to see if there was any trace of poison there.” She made the request that the evidence should be produced if it was there.

After that interview, Coroner Reilly determined to proceed in the premises. He visited Nathan Baker, superintendent of Wood-lawn cemetery, at his house, and said to him, viz. “ That he had evidence to. satisfy him that a wrong had been perpetrated, or sufficient to warrant him in making an examination of the body of General Irvine; that he had sufficient grounds of acting, and he asked Baker, the superintendent, to act,” showing him one of the affidavits and stating that he had others. Thereupon the superintendent determined to act in the premises and facilitate the proceedings in behalf of the coroner. Thereupon directions were given Abbott, the sexton, to open the grave and remove the remains to the vault in the cemetery, for the purpose of an examination.

Reilly, the coroner, also applied to Dr. Wey to become one of two physicians to make the examination, and on the evening of the 8th of April, Reilly visited the office of Wey, with Nealson, avowing that he had full authority in the premises “ to conduct an examinaton and have an examination made by the physicians.” The hour was fixed for an examination at ten the next morning, and Reilly informed Wey that he would “notify Dr. Squires, and we might expect to meet at the receiving vault in Wooodlawn cemetery” at ten the next morning. Accordingly they met the next morming at the receiving vault in Woodlawn cemetery, where the physicians found Coroner Reilly and Nealson and Baker and Abbott. The body was found lying in a coffin or casket on .the floor of the receiving vault. The coroner made a minute of the nature of the covering of the coffin and its handles and the plates, and the descriptions of every- other matter connected therewith. Drs. Wey and Squires raised the head and shoulders of the body, and after carefully scrutinizing the face, and the coroner making a minute thereof, a careful examination was made of the head, and the stomach and duodenum and certain other parts ot the body were removed and delivered to Dr. Reilly, who placed them in a vessel he had prepared for that purpose. After the examination, the coroner went over to the house of Abbott, the sexton, in the cemetery grounds, where Baker suggested the propriety of having a coroner’s jury, and Wey replied, “It is too late for such a proceeding.”

Baker testified that he was present at the request of the coroner, to identify the remains, and that lie did so identify them, and that he was sworn upon that point by the coroner; that while at the vault he had a conversation with Dr. Reilly, the coroner, and he adds, viz : “ Dr. Reilly and myself conversed for a few minutes about having a jury, and I said to Dr. Reilly there was enough within the bounds of the cemetery to make up a jury, and he asked if I would have them all come to the house, and I so ordered and they came. I think there were five men that came off the cemetery; I think there were nine men there then. When I had sent for the men, I went back to the house and did not go into the vault again. About that time Dr. Wey came'over to the house.”

He also testifies that he held a conversation with Dr. Wey and stated as follows, viz.: “ Dr. Reilly has seemed to think it advisable to have a jury. There are men enough here to have a jury without delaying, and there are men enough. They are already here, and Dr. Wey said it was of no use; that if there was anything found to show that this man died from any causes other than natural causes, the whole procedure would have to go to California, and this jury would never be heard of again. I stepped out of doors and Reilly was coming over from the vault and he had not yet come in the house, and I said Dr. Wey thinks it is entirely useless to have a jury, and I don’t wish to urge this matter one way or the other, doctor, and Dr. Wey came out and he repeated to Dr. Reilly what he had said to me in the house, that it was no use to have a jury, and he gave his reasons as I have stated'”

No jury was, in fact, sworn to hold an inquest. The remains were recoffined and returned to the grave, except the part removed therefrom as already stated.

Powers and duties of a coroner are conferred by statute. Section T73 of the Code of Criminal Procedure provides, viz.: “ When a coroner is informed that a person has been killed or dangerously wounded by another, or has suddenly died under sucn circumstances as to afford a reasonable ground to suspect that his death has been occasioned by the act of another, by criminal means, or has committed suicide, he must go to the place where the person is, and forthwith summon not less than nine or more than fifteen persons, qualified by law to serve as jurors, to appear before him forthwith, at a specified place to inquire into the cause of the death or wound.”

Section 774 provides that “ when six or more of the jurors appear, they must be sworn by the coroner to inquire who the person was, and when, where and by what means he came to his death, or was wounded, as the case may be, and into the circumstances attending the death or wounding, and to render a true verdict thereon, according to the evidence offered to them or arising from the inspection of the body.”

Section 775 authorizes a coroner to issue subpoenas for witnesses returnable forthwith, or at such time and place as he ,may appoint. He must summon and examine as witnesses every person who, in his opinion, or that of the jury, has any knowledge of the facts. It also prescribes “ he must summon as a witness a surgeon or physician,' who must, in the preseuce of the jury, inspect the body and give a professional opinion as to the cause of the death or wounding.”

These sections of the law are substantially a re-enactment of the provisions of the Revised Statutes in respect to coroners’ inquests. (2 R. S., 743.) We aré of the opinion that the affidavits and information lodged with the coroner were sufficient to justify his exercise of his discretion to proceed in the premises.

The expression in section 773 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, to wit: “ When a coroner is informed that a person has been killed or dangerously wounded,” etc., seems to warrant the conclusion that affidavits, or information even not sworn to, may be acted upon by a coroner in determining whether it is his duty to proceed in a given case. When such information produces in the mind of the coroner “ a reasonable ground to suspect that a death has been occasioned by the act of another by criminal means ” he must go to the place where the person is.

We find no exception or exclusive words in the statute which restrict or limit the duty of a coroner in case such information shall be given to him so as to exclude the examination of the body found within his jurisdiction, although the death may have been occasioned or produced in another jurisdiction. The coroner is “ a very ancient office at the common law.” (1 Black. Com., 347.)

The lord chief justice of the King’s Bench is the principal coroner in the kingdom, and may, if he please, exercise the jurisdiction of a coroner in any part of the realm. The office is of equal antiquity with the sheriff. There the coroner was chosen for life, and his office and power were, like those of the sheriff, either judicial or ministerial. (1 Black., 348.) The coroner’s court was one of record. (4 Black., 247.) Ilis proceedings being in a court of record might be reviewed by certiorari. While certain of the powers and duties which devolve upon a coroner and his court in England have been devolved upon a coroner by statute in this country, it has uniforiríally been held that a coroner does not hold a court of record and that he has only such powers as are conferred upon him by the statute. (People v. Budge, 4 Park. Crim. R., 522 ; Crocker on Sheriffs, 907.)

In England the finding of a coroner’s jury is equivalent to a bill of indictment. Not so in this country. (People v. Budge, supra.)

In Regina v. Ellis (2 C. & K., 470) it was held that in a case of manslaughter where the cause of the death and the death occurred in a county, and the body after death was removed to a city, and the coroner of the city held the inquest, and he was tried for the manslaughter on the inquisition, that the inquest was properly held, under 6 and 7 Victoria (chap. 12).

We think it was properly held, at the trial, that the coroner of Chemung had jurisdiction to pi’oceed, under the statute, to inquire into the cause of the death. For that purpose he was authorized to employ a surgeon or physician to makeaywi mortem examination. (Code of Crim. Pro., § 775.)

Necessarily, in the discharge of the duties of a coroner, he must exercise some discretion as to the order of events. In the case in hand, before a surgeon or physician could examine the body, it was necessary that it should be removed from the grave, and proper that it should be placed, as it was, in the vault, a suitable place for making the examination by the surgeons or physicians, and, also, for the purpose of being viewed by a jury.

It seems that in England, where the duty of the coroner is judi cial, he can only take an inquest super visum corporis, and that an inquest not thus taken is void. King v. Ferrand, 3 Barn. & Ald., 261.) In the case last cited it was said: “ If a body be interred before he come, he must dig it up.” “This he may do lawfully within any convenient time, as within fourteen days.” If the coroner had summoned a jury and had them sworn in the presence of the body in the vault, undoubtedly his inquest would have been valid. In the ordinary discharge of his duty such jury should have been sworn, viewed the remains and certified to their inquest.

Though it be conceded that no valid inquest was held, we are to inquire whether the acts of the coroner, and those inducing him to act and aiding him in the performance of his duty, are criminal, because, forsooth, the coroner improperly omitted to complete a valid inquest.

It must be assumed that the coroner had jurisdiction and was, therefore, warranted in causing the body to be removed from the grave for the purpose of enabling him to hold an inquest thereon, and that he had authority to employ a physician to aid in a postmortem examination of the remains.

Section 308 of the Penal Code provides, viz.: “The right to dissect the dead body of a human being exists in the following cases: First. In cases prescribed by special statutes. Second. Whenever a coroner is authorized by law to hold an inquest upon the body, so far as such coroner authorizes dissection for the purposes of the inquest, and no further. Third. Whenever and so far as the husband, wife or next of kin of the deceased, being charged by law with the duty of burial, may authorize dissection for the purpose of ascertaining the cause of death and no further.

It must be assumed that there was no unlawful dissection authorized or carried forward by the coroner (Rhodes v. Brant, 21 Hun, 1), and that the coroner had a discretion “ to determine whether any persons, and what persons, may be present besides the surgeons.” (Crisfield v. Perine, 15 Hun, 202; S. C. affirmed, 81 N. Y., 622.) In that case it was said: “Not even the jurors have a right to witness the examination. They are to be informed of what it discloses by the testimony of the surgeons.” We do not understand that the trial judge indicated that there had been any unlawful dissection of tlie body of tlie deceased. Assuming, pursuant to section 29 of tlie Penal Code, that the defendant was a principal, or, as the law stood before the adoption of that section, an accessory before the fact, it is claimed that she was guilty of the crime of body stealing, in that she induced or procured the coroner to commit that crime.

Section 311 of the Penal Code provides who shall be liable for that crime in the following language, viz.: “A person who removes the dead body of a human being, or any part thereof, from a grave, vault or other place where the same has been buried, or from a place where the same has been deposited while awaiting burial, without authority of law, with intent to sell the same, or for the purpose of dissection, or for the purpose, of procuring a reward for the return of the same, or from malice or wantonness, is punishable by imprisonment for not more than five years or by a,fine not exceeding one thousand dollars, or both.”

In order to constitute the crime under this statute there must be a removal of “ the dead body of a human being from a grave, vault or other place where the same has been buried without authority of law.'” If such removal is made with the authority of law no crime can be predicated of the act, and where the removal trikes place without any warrant of law it must also be found, as a fact, that it was made with intent to sell the body or for the purpose of dissection or for the purpose of procuring a reward for the return of the same, or from malice or wantonness.

It is not claimed upon the evidence before us that the body was removed with any intent to sell the same, nor was it held at the trial, nor do we think upon the evidence given at the trial it could justly have been held that it was removed for the purpose of dissection. Nor do we think upon the evidence given upon the trial that a finding that the removal from the grave was for the purpose of procuring a reward for the return of the body was authorized.

But it is claimed that the removal Avas made from malice or wantonness. The physical, actual removal, was made by Abbott, the sexton. Surely the evidence does not warrant a finding that he AAas actuated by malice or wantonness, nor does the evidence indicate or warrant the conclusion that Baker, the superintendent of the cemetery, in giving directions to open the grave and make a fransfer of the remains to the vault preparatory to an examination by a physician and an inspection by a jury, was actuated by malice or wantonness. Apparently he believed it was his duty to yield to the requests made by Reilly, the coroner, in that regard. Nor is there any evidence which satisfies the judgment that Reilly, the coroner, entered upon the discharge of his duty in the premises, collusively, maliciously or wantonly. On the contrary the evidence seemed to warrant the conclusion that he entered upon the discharge of his duty and the exercise of his powers in the premises as a public officer charged with the performance of difficult and delicate duties. Nor do we think the evidence warrants the conclusion that when he commenced the discharge of his duty in the premises he had formed a determination or conclusion not to summons a jury, or not to fully and properly execute his duty in the premises. It seems more reasonable to suppose that he entered upon the performance of his duty with reasonable and proper motives. It is but reasonable to presume that he, as a sworn public officer, fully intended to exercise the duties and functions cf his office when he requested the superintendent to direct to be removed the remains to the vault for the purpose of being inspected by a surgeon.

The case was exceptional and unusual. A death had occurred in California. And if the.death was unnatural or caused by criminal agencies the coroner may have supposed that the finding of the jury in a formal inquest would not be effective in aid of the execution of the criminal laws in the State of California.

There is evidence in the ease tending to show that he entertained the idea of having a jury sworn and an inquest formally found immediately after the examination of the body had been had by the physicians at the house of Abbott, the sexton. It is not unreasonable to suppose that he was dissuaded from completing the inquest by the discussion had in respect thereto at the time.

"While it is not important to determine on this occasion at precisely what period of time the coroner abandoned the'ideaof'imp'anneling a jury, it is important to give some consideration thereto in determining the questions which were made in respect to the defendant’s knowledge thereof. We have found nothing, however, in the evidence which leads us to the conclusion that there was any preconceived design on the part of the coroner to omit to summon a jury. ¥e are inclined to the opinion that he suddenly fell into an error, in regard to his duty, at the house of the sexton, perhaps in the innocent supposition that the ends of justice would not be sub-served by further continuance of the proceedings incident to an inquest. If the coroner, when be entertained the application of .the defendant and received the affidavits and information in respect •to thé circumstances of the death of Irvine, came to the conclusion that it was his duty to act in the premises, and entered upon the discharge of the duty in the manner detailed by the evidence without collusion, or malice or wantonness,'fully intending to do his duty in the premises, and took the several steps in performance thereof down to the period of time when it was possible for him to have impanneled a jury in the presence of the remains, after the examination by the physicians, and then and there came to the conclusion, improperly, that the further continuation of the proceedings of the inquest would be useless, though he was mistaken in such conclusion, we are of the opinion that he had not violated the statute against body stealing. But it is claimed the defendant is guilty of a violation-, of that statute, “ if she knew that the coroner was not to hold an inquest, or do whan he did, with a coroner’s jury.” Indeed, such, in effect, is the tenor of the charge delivered to the jury.

The counsel for the defendant requested the court to charge, as a proposition of law, viz.: “ That the fact- that no coroner’s jury was •called or sworn does not constitute the crime of body stealing.” To that request the court replied, “That is technically correct. The fact that no coroner’s jury was called does not steal the body.” Thereupon the defendant’s counsel requested of the court to charge as follows: “ If the jury believe that the defendant requested the ■coroner simply to do his duty she is not responsible for'any violation of law.” To that the court replied: “ If she knew that the •coroner was not to hold an inquest, or to do what he did without a coroner’s jury, she is responsible; and if she was attempting to use legal forms as a cover to accomplish the ulterior purpose of getting possession of the stomach of General, Irvine to coerce a settlement of her claims, and with malice and wantonness, she is responsible.” The defendant’s counsel then asked the court if there was a refusal ■to charge the request and the court replied: “Yes, sir; further or other than I have already charged.” An exception was taken by the defendant and a further request made, viz.: “ I ask your honor to say to this jury that there is no evidence in this case that this defendant knew, or had cause to know, that coroner Reilly would not call a jury.” To that request the court replied, viz.: “ There is no evidence, of which I am aware, further than or other than the fact that she had instruction from Mr. Collin of the necessity of a coroner’s jury, and there is no evidence that she asked to have a coroner’s jury, and that Mr. Nealson, her detective, wdio was here under her employ, as I understand, for a per diem compensation, was present at the time without the suggesting of a coroner’s jury, and that there was no suggestion from any quarter, except from Mr. Baker, that a coroner’s jury was necessary; and under all the circumstances of the crse I think it is for the jury to say whether there was a purpose on the part of coroner Reilly to call a jury, and whether she knew it.” To that refusal there was an exception, and also to the qualification. Thereupon the defendant’s counsel asked the court to charge that if it was not necessary for this defendant, when she requested coroner Reilly to make an examination, to ask him also that he should call a jury. To that request the court replied: “ That would be so if there was no knowledge on her part that he did not intend to call a jury.” The counsel for the defendant excepted.

The witness, Baker, testified while at the vault he held a conversation with Dr. Reilly “ abofit having a jury, and I said to Dr. Reilly there was enough within the bounds of the cemetery to make up a jury, and he asked if I would have them all come to the house, and I so ordered and they came; I think there were five men that came off the cemetery; I think there were nine men there then; when I had sent for the men I went back to the house and did not go in the vault again, and the men came, and about that time Dr. Wey came over to the house, and Dr. Wey said it was of no irse, that if there was anything found to say that this man died from any causes other than natural causes the whole procedure would have to go to California and this jury would never be heard of again.”

Dr. Wey is called later in the trial and testified that he did not say to Reilly on that occasion “ that the calling of a jury was all flummery; * * * that the drawing of a coroner’s jury was a. piece of flummery, or all flummery.” In other respects, however, he does not contradict the testimony given by Baker, tending to show that up to that time the coroner entertained an intention and commenced the execution of that intention by summoning jurors, and that he then and there fell into the error of omitting further to consummate the proceedings by a completed inquest.

We think the court fell into an error in refusing to yield to the requests which we have already quoted, and that the defendant was entitled to have the jury instructed in accordance with the tenor of said requests. We are not able to say that the jury would have reached the same conclusion had they been told that it was not necessary for her, “ when she requested Coroner Beilly to make an examination,” to ash him, also, that he should call a jury. It does appear by the evidence that in an interview she held with the coroner at the time the affidavits were presented and the information communicated which led him to act, that she demanded of him that he discharge his duty in the premises. As we have alre'ady seen, a part of that duty was the impanneling of a jury and returning and filing a formal inquest.

The foregoing views lead to the conclusion that the conviction and judgment should be reversed and a new trial ordered.

Judgment affirmed.