The absurd and injurious practice of electing Coroners was condemned
in the House of Commons on Tuesday by a unani- mous vote. Lord F. Hervey moved that further legislation was desirable in regard to the qualification and appointment of Coroners, and the mode of holding inquests ; and contended that a Coroner should be a trained lawyer of either branch of the profession, should be paid by a salary, and should not have the assistance of a jury. Serjeant Simon and Mr. Read thought the office of Coroner should be abolished, and the work entrusted to stipendiary magistrates ; but the Home Secretary, though heartily accepting the motion, was not prepared for this step. He thought that there should be a Coroner, that he should be a lawyer, that he should be appointed and not elected, and that " Crowners' law" should all be embodied in one intelligible statute. He approved the jury, but thought the jurymen should be taken from the regular panel. He was understood to promise that the Bill for the reform of the office of Coroner should be prepared and brought in as soon as possible, though not, we may presume, this year. This very ancient abuse therefore stands a fair chance of being swept away.
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