Page 213 - Annuaire Statistique Québec - 1918

E.-conONER8 (1).

The Coroner is an officer of justice appoin ted by the Quebec Govern-
ment. His dutY consi~ts in inquiring into the circumstances that have
preceded or accompanied the death of a person when he has good reason
to believe that death is not due to a natural or purely accidentaI cause,
but has occurred under circumstances which mav lead to suspicion that
there has been criminaI neglect or deed. The Coroner is empowered to swear
persons who, in his opinion, are in a position to enIighten him in his
inquiry. If the Coroner deems it advisable, he may summon a jury
to hold an inquest regarding the circumstances that have accompanied
or preceded such death. \Vith the assent of the Attorney-General,
he may appoint one or more persons to replace him in case of absence
or illness. Their duties are the same as the Coroner's.
The Attorney-General may also, when he thinks proper. order the
Coroner to hold an inquest with a jury. Inquests are open to the public
unless the Coroner judges otherwise in the interest of justice or public
morality. When the taking of the evidence is finished, the Coroner
sums it up and the jury give theil' verdict which must be signed by the
Coroner and the jurors. The verdict is afterwards sent to the At-
torney-General and to the Clerk of the Crown for the district where
the death occurred. When the Coroner does not deem it necessary to
summon a jury to hold an inquest, he has power to give a permit
for the burial of the corpse. The jury is composed of six persons.
Owing to the great extent of the territory of sorne judicial districts,
there are sometimes as rnany as five Coroners per district.
In 1926, the Coroners wel'e called upon to pronounce upon 2,982
cases of death. Out of this number 1,037 persans died of heart bilure;
257 from congestion of the brain; 116 from congestion of the lungs; 212
from drowning; 85 from suffocation by smoke, gas, etc.; 298 from
accidents; 65 by suicide; 33 by murder, and 879 from sundry causes.

63~oroner's Inquesl.9.

Nationality of deceasod C"use of dcath
Number ~umbeT of
YEAn.S of pcrooo -------- -- _
inqunst.s cl ~d 1 1
hulu Canaclian. Others Aeciden (.. Other.
(2)
-----_ _--.- --- ---- --·-~-I·------ ---
1112 .. 2.0S~ 2.982 2.170 812 51l, 2,:J87
1112'.5. 2,~ï 2,H62 2,777 ~5 4.~);") :l.;J67
HI~ 2,707 2,707 2/)67 140 r.sa 21">·1
1~)23:: : : : : :: : : :: : : : :: :: : : : .. 2.809 2,800 2,634 175 ;'31 Ù78
1922.................. 2.ô70 1,';78 2,'JïG 201 rl:\R 2,040
11121.... ................... 2,496 2.510 2,340 170 4f,ti 2,OM
1920... .......... ........... 2,700 2, 21 2,682 139 521 2,300
1010............. 2,2~B ~.:]- 2,080 178 461 1.707
1918 .......... .............. 2,70'\ i;l.rU-l 2,!)30 231 601
1017... 2,88-S ",8S8 2,708 180 569 2,163
2,319
(1) R. S. P. Q Ur,l5, Vol. Ir, ch. J.'.:l.
. {2} lllcJuding. tlUtt009 .wllosft. death was (,:.f.Ll1.!200 by cirowntng r .'l.3phyrif\., l).ntOOlobitc nnd railwE\Y
OCCidents, e.)ect.roC1.llOn or BCcldent~ 10 Ul:\OUracturm,g and indus.hial '·~Ho.oJi..,hmenr.s.