State Ex Rel. Sowers v. Olwell

May an attorney refuse to produce, at a coroner’s inquest, material evidence of a crime by asserting the attorney-client privilege or by claiming the privilege against self-incrimination on behalf of his client? These are the issues raised in this appeal.

September 18, 1962, a coroner’s inquest was held for the purpose of investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of John W. Warren. Several days prior to the date of the inquest, appellant was served with a subpoena duces tecum, which said, in part:

“ . . . bring with you all knives in your possession and under your control relating…