Coroner Or Justice

WHICH CAN HOLD INQUESTS AT YPSILANTI.

The Lawyers Say Both--The Question Came Up Today in a Case in Our Twin City,

Ypsilanti, Mich., Aug. 1. - (From a staff correspondent). - Coroner B. F. Watts, of Ann Arbor, was called here to view the body of John Ross, who hanged himself this morning in his barn. When Coroner Watts arrived, however Justice Childs had already taken charge of the inquest and the matter has created considerable discussion.

It is maintained that if a coroner can be notified a justice shall not have charge of the inquest in incorporated cities; others claim that the law reads that it only holds when a coroner lives in an incorporated city which is not the case here. Following is section 9,594, Howell's annotated statutes:

That it shall not be competent for justices of the peace, within the incorporated cities of this state in which a county coroner resides, to hold inquests on the view bodies, unless both of the coroners of said county in which they are situate shall be absent, or incapacitated to act, from sickness, or otherwise; but such inquests within said city shall be held by one of the coroners elected for the county in which such cities are severally situate.

City Attorney E. B. Norris says there is no question but what Justice Childs can lawfully hold the inquest. The statute he says covers only those cities where a coroner resides and no coroner resides in Ypsilanti. If a coroner resided in Ypsilanti, said Mr. Norris, no justice could hold an inquest there if the coroner were out of the county, unless Coroner Watts were also out of the county.

Judge Newkirk, T. A. Bogle and M.J. Cavanaugh were also seen and all agreed that the only cities in which the authority of a coroner was paramount to that of a justice was in a city where the coroner lived. If in Ann Arbor the coroner should be absent Coroner Kapp, of Manchester, would have to hold the inquest.