Coroner

An officer whose principal duty it is to hold an inquisition, with the assistance of a jury, over the body of any person who may have come to a violent death, or who has died in prison. It is his duty also, in case of the death of the sheriff, or his incapacity, or when a vacancy occurs in that office, to serve all the writs and processes which the sheriff is usually bound to serve.

20 Ga. 336; 11 Tex. 284; 14 Ala. (N. S.) 326; 10 Humph. (Tenn.) 346; 1 Sharswood, Bl. Comm. 349.

The chief justice of the king's bench is the sovereign or chief coroner of all England, though it is not to be understood that he performs the active duties of that office in any one county.

4 Coke, 57b; Bac. Abr.; 3 Comyn, Dig. 242; 5 Comyn, Dig. 212.

It is also his duty to inquire concerning shipwreck, and to find who has possession of the goods; concerning treasure trove, who are the finders, and where the property is.

1 Sharswood, Bl. Comm. 349.

The office has lost much of the honor which formerly appertained to it, but the duties are of great consequence to society, both for bringing murderers to punishment, and protecting innocent persons from accusation. It may often happen that the imperfections of the early examination enable one who is undoubtedly a criminal to escape. It is proper, in most cases of homicide, to procure the examination to be made by a physician, and in many cases it is his duty.

4 Car. & P. 571.