Mr. Crippsrose in pursuance of the notice he had given to move for leave to bring in a Bill to regulate the elections of Coroners for counties. The expense, the disorder, and the enmity occasioned by the elections of Coroners were more than those occasioned by the elections of Members of Parliament. He thought that all these evils arose from the 417 statutes that had been passed on this subject. These statutes, of which there was a considerable number, extended over a great many years, the earliest of them having been passed so long ago as the 28th of Edward 3rd. The number of the voters was much too considerable, as the present laws placed the standard of qualification at a very low point, and enabled many to vote who could scarcely be supposed capable of judging of the fitness of any man for the office. He proposed by this Bill that the Magistrates in Sessions should be enabled to divide a county into as many districts as there were Coroners for the county, that the right of electing these Coroners should be co-extensive with the right of voting for Members for the county, let that right be what it might; that each Coroner should reside in the district for which he was elected, and that the election of a Coroner for a particular district should take place in that district itself. The hon. Member moved for leave to bring in a Bill to carry these objects into effect.
§ Mr. Littletonseconded the Motion, and observed, that the county which he had the honour to represent, had lately been the scene of a severe contest for the place of Coroner, and he knew it to be the wish of the Magistrates of that county that something of this nature should be submitted to Parliament.
Mr. Humerecommended the hon. Member to make his Bill repeal all the existing Statutes and then consolidate such of their provisions as it was desirable to retain. He suggested also, that some check ought to be put upon the misconduct of Coroners in the discharge of their official duties.
§ Leave given.