CORONATION

Are King. CORONER (Lat. cor on at or), is the title of an office established in Saxon times, of which the holder was, as his name indicates, in a peculiar manner the oflScer of the crown, whose private rights of property, whether arising by escheat, wardship, or consisting in demesne, it was his busine to maintain and superintend in the county for which he acted. Connected in some degree with this character is the more important if not the sole function which he now exercises: that of holding inquests on the bodies of such as either die or are supposed to die a violent death. (4 Edw. 1. st. 2.) For which purpose he is empowered to summon jurymen out of the neighbourhood, and witne es. Should violent death be occasioned by any personal chattel, it is forfeited as a deodand to the crown; but juries are now in the habit of a e ing a small sum of money in lieu of the [s. 296]