Page:Devon and Cornwall Queries Vol 9 1917.djvu/248

192 Devon and Cornwall Notes and Queries. part a man seene in the lawes of the realme. I take it that this name commeth because that the death of euery subject by violence is accounted to touch the Crowne of the prince, and to be a detriment unto it." The Coroner in Saxon times collected the Crown revenues, then took charge of the Crown pleas, and it is easy to understand his being designated the " Crowner," who later attended to " crown " bodies of persons which had met violent or suspicious deaths. Then there is of course the Latin word "corona," the crown, to support this. The historical origin of Coroners is one of greatest interest. I ventured to deal with it as fully as possible in my History of the Martin Family (pp. 36-38). ^ip.i^^ W. G. Willis Watson. [We also have to thank T. N. Briggs, K. M. C, W. Charnell, R. Pearse Chope, " Curioso II," " Devon," " Exeter," F. E. R. S., R. G. D., R. H. C, Oswald J. Reichel, "Tartar," H. A. Colthurst Tomkins, E. Lega-Weekes, W. S. B. H., and " Ygrec," for replies to this query, which has created much interest. The term appears to be fairly well-known and is still in daily use in some districts, but can hardly be said to be common. Mr. Charnell, writing from Blackawton, which is only about nine miles from Kingsbridge, says : " I do not remember having met [in his district] with this use of the word." Miss Lega-Weekes draws our attention to Risdon, who in his Survey says : " If any man die ... in the Forest, the coroner of Lidford shall croivn him." Mr. H. A. Colthurst Tomkins says : " The official is still called ' the Crowner ' in some parts." Mr. Pearse Chope quotes Mrs. Hewett's Peasant Speech of Devon : " They've a'crowned Joey Tapp, who hanged 'isszell yisterday." Mr. Chope expresses regret that the word is not in general use, for, as he says, there is no other English word which expresses " hold a Coroner's inquest on," and it seems much to be preferred to " sit on " or " sit upon." We regret that want of space prevents the publication of these replies in full ; also that we are again compelled, for the same reason, to hold over other contributions. We trust that at no distant date an influx of subscribers will permit the issue of additional pages, which could be easily filled with interesting communications. — Eds.]