CORONER, an ancient officer of this kingdom, so called because he is wholly employed for the king and crown. The office of coroners especially concerns the pleas of the crown ; and they are conser vators of the peace in the county where elected, being usually two for each coun ty. Their authority isjudicial and minis terial : judicial where a person comes to a violent death ; to take and enter appeals of murder, pronounce judgment on out lawries, &c and to enquire into the lands, goods, and escape of murderers, treasure trove, wreck of the sea, deodands, &c. The ministerial power is when coroners execute the king's writs, on exception taken to the sheriff, as being party in a suit, of kin to either of the parties, or on the default of the sheriff, &c. The au thority of the coroner does not terminate on the demise of the king. On default of sheriffs, coroners are to impannel juries, and to return issues on juries not appear ing, &c.
The coroner shall have for his fee, upon every inquisition taken upon the view of the body slain, 13s, 4d. of the goods and chattels of him that is the slayer and murderer, if he have any goods; and if he have no goods, of such amercement, as any township should happen to be amer ced for the escape of the murderer. 3.
Hen. VB. But as the said fee of 13s. 4d.
is not an adequate reward for the gene ral execution of the said office, therefore, for every inquisition not taken upon view of a body dying in gaol, the coroner shall have 20s. and also 9d. for every mile he shall be compelled to travel from his usual place of abode to take such inquisi tion; to be paid by order of the justices in sessions, out of the county rates. 25 Geo. II. c. 29. s. 1.