ssizes to give
evidence there. The coroner may give an order for the exhumation of a
body if he thinks the evidence warrants a post-mortem examination.

Coroners' inquests are held in all cases of sudden or violent death,
where the cause of death is not clear; in cases of assault, where death
has taken place immediately or some time afterwards; in cases of
homicide or suicide; where the medical attendant refuses to give a
certificate of death; where the attendants on the deceased have been
culpably negligent; or in certain cases of uncertified deaths.

The medical witness should be very careful in giving evidence before a
coroner. Even though the inquest be held in a coach-house or barn, yet
it has to be remembered it is a court of law. If the case goes on for
trial before a superior court, your deposition made to the coroner forms
the basis of your examination. Any misstatements or discrepancies in
your evidence will be carefully inquired into, and you will make a bad
impression on judge and jury if you modify, retract, or explain away
your evidence as given to the coroner. You had your opportunity of
making any amendments on your evidence when the coroner read over to you
your deposition before you signed it as true.

By the Licensing Act of 1902, an inquest may not be held in any premises
licensed for the sale of intoxicating liquor if other suitable premises
have been provided.

The duties of the coroner are based partly on Common Law, and are also
defined by statute, principally by the Coroners Act of 1887 (50 and 51
Vict. c. 71). They have been modified, however, by subsequent
Acts--_e.g._, the Act of 1892, the Coroners (Emergency Provisions) Act,
1917, and the Juries Act of 1918.

The fee payable to a medical witness for giving evidence at an inquest
is one guinea, with an extra guinea for making a post-mortem examination
and report (in the metropolitan area these fees are doubled). The
coroner must sign the order authorizing the payment, and should an
inquest be adjourned to a later day, no further fee is payable. If the
deceased died in a hospital, infirmary, or lunatic asylum, the medical
witness is not paid any fee. Should a medical witness neglect to make
the post-mortem examination after receiving the order to do so, he is
liable to a fine of L5.

In Scotland the Procurator Fiscal fulfils many of the duties of the
coroner, but he cannot hold a public inquiry. He interrogates the
witnesses privately,