CORONER AND POLICE.

Star (Christchurch), 20 December 1907, Page 1

CORONER AND POLICE.

BREEZE AT AN INQUEST. [From Otjr Correspondent.] AUCKLAND, December 19. Something in the nature of a " brush " between the coroner and 'ho police occurred to-day at the inquest on' the body of the headless infant iecently fonrid on the Ponsonby beach. Dr Ferguson, who had made a post mortem examination by direction of the Coroner, had given >the particulars of this examination, and he then went on to refer to a second examination which, he said, was made two days later by direction of Detective M'Uveney, who was conducting the inquiry on behalf of the police. The " Coroner (Mr Gresham) interposed by saying: I ordered no second examination. Why was I not communicated with? Witness : I understand this wao by order of the Inspector of Police. The Coroner: This is a coroner's inquest, and if a second examination was required I should have been communicated with. v Detective M'llveney : I carried out the instructions of my superior officer. The Coroner : While the matter was in the hands of the Coroner no second examination should be made without his instructions. The police could easily have applied to me, and I should then have ordered a second examination. Detective M'llveney said that the second examination was necessary for the \ purpose of ascertaining whether there was any evidence of poisoning. The Coroner sajd that he should have j been consulted in the matter. He would not have refused a second examination. "I do not propose." he said, "to take any evidence of the second post mortem examination, as it was without my authority or knowledge." A Juror: I don't think the jury can take notice of what happened at the second post mortem examination. The Coroner: I beg them not to do so. Detective M'llveney : As a matter of fact no sign of poison was found. The Coroner: I beg the jury to take no notice of anything said about the 3econd examination of the body. Mr J. A. Pond,_ Government Analyst, ivho had been in attendance, here isked : May I leave, Mr Coroner, although I have your instructions to be present? The Coroner: If you are here in conlection with the second post mortem :hen I don't want you. t The summons : or you to attend is one of a batch [ gave the police to call witnesses, and ybich I assumed would be used in a >roper manner. Mr Pond then withdrew, and the Incident closed.