Jefferson County v. Cook
Supreme Court of Arkansas
Appeal from Jefferson Circuit'Court. John M. Elliott, Judge. N. L. Cook, coroner of Jefferson county, presented to the county court his claim for $10.50 for services performed by him in holding an inquest over the dead body of John Brown. The claim was disallowed by the county court. He appealed to the circuit court, where his claim was allowed. The county has appealed.
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Appeal from Jefferson Circuit'Court. John M. Elliott, Judge. N. L. Cook, coroner of Jefferson county, presented to the county court his claim for $10.50 for services performed by him in holding an inquest over the dead body of John Brown. The claim was disallowed by the county court. He appealed to the circuit court, where his claim was allowed. The county has appealed. The coroner himself gave the following' testimony, which is all the testimony taken in the hearing, and is relied on by both sides: “About the 26th day of January, 1896, I was notified that a man had been killed at the Atkins…
1Opinion of the CourtBattle, J.
Was the coroner of Jefferson county authorized or required by law to hold an inquest over the dead body of John Brown? If he was, the judgment of the circuit court should be affirmed; if not, it should be reversed.
The decision of this question depends upon the statute, which reads as follows: “If the dead body of any person be found, and the circumstances of the death be unknown, information shall immediately be given to the coroner of the county; and if any person die, and the circumstances of his death indicate that he has been foully dealt with, the information shall forthwith be furnished…
2Cited by3 opinions
- Floyd County v. MillerCourt of Appeals of Georgia · 1908
- Clark County v. HarrisSupreme Court of Arkansas · 1916
- Young v. Pulaski CountySupreme Court of Arkansas · 1905