Section 308 of the New York Penal Code, Subdivision 3, As Amended

by chapter 500, Laws 1889, enacts that whenever and so far as the husband, wife, or next of kin of the deceased, being charged by law with the duty of burial, may authorize dissection for the purpose of ascertaining the cause of death and no further, the right exists to dissect the dead human body. The same statute also provides that whenever any district attorney of that State, in the discharge of his official duties, shall deem it necessary, he may exhume, take possession of, and remove the body of a deceased person, or any portion thereof, and submit the same to a proper physical or chemical examination or analysis, to ascertain the cause of death, which examination or analysis will be made on the order of a justice of the Supreme Court of the State, or the county judge of the county in which the dead bodies shall be, granted on the application of the district attorney, with or without notice to the relatives of the deceased person, or to any person or corporation having the legal charge of such body, as the court may direct. The district attorney shall also have power to direct the sheriff, constable, or other peace officer, and employ such person or persons as he may deem necessary to assist him, in exhuming, removing, obtaining possession of, and examining physically or chemically such dead body, or any portion thereof; the expense thereof to be a county charge paid by the county treasurer on the certificate of the district attorney.

The matter of ordering autopsies and dissections of dead bodies, or exhuming the same for that purpose or other purposes, is a matter of so much public importance that it has been regulated in nearly all of the United States by statutory enactments, which together with the other statutes relating to the subject-matter of this article are hereunto appended.

The author of this article is greatly indebted for assistance in preparing the same, and in compiling these statutes, to Mr. Amasa J. Parker, Jr., of the Albany, N.Y., bar.

APPENDIX.

Statutory Regulations Concerning Dead Bodies.

The coroner has power to hold inquest and direct autopsy,

Ala., Code, sec. 4,801 et seq. Ariz., Pen. Code, sec. 2,309 et seq. Ark., R. S., sec. 692. Cal., Pen. Code; sec. 1,510. Col., Mill’s Stat., sec. 870. Conn., Gen. Stat., secs. 2,005, 2,008. Del., R. S., ch. 33. Fla., R. S., secs. 3,011, 3,019. Ga., Code, secs. 590, 591, 4,101 et seq. Idaho, R. S., sec. 8,377. Ill., S. & C. Am. Stat., v. 1, 606. Ind., R. S., secs. 5,878, 5,879. Iowa, McCl. Am. Code, sec. 487. Kan., Gen. Stat., secs. 1,780, 1,784. Ky., Gen. Stat., ch. 25, secs. 3, 11. La., Voorh. Rev. L., sec. 653. Me., R. S., ch. 139, sec. 1. Md., Code, art. 22, secs. 3, 4. Minn., Gen. Stat., sec. 1,011 et seq. Miss., Am. Code, sec. 816. Mo., R. L., sec. 2,438 et seq. Mont., Crim. L., secs. 869, 883. Neb., Consol. Stat., sec. 3,144. N. H., Pub. Stat., ch. 262, sec. 1 et seq. N. J., Rev. Stat., p. 170 et seq. N. C., Code, sec. 657. N. Dak., Comp. Laws, sec. 664 et seq. Ohio, R. L., sec. 1,221 et seq. Oklahoma, Stat., sec. 1,745 et seq. Ore., Crim. Code, sec. 453 et seq. Pa., Bright Pen. Digest, 1536, sec. 37. R. I., Pub. Laws, 1884, ch. 420, sec. 17. S. C., R. S., secs. 711, 2,664 et seq. Tenn., Code, sec. 6,139 et seq. Va., Code, sec. 2,928 et seq. Wash., Hill’s Am. Stat., v. 1, sec. 245 et seq. W. Va., Code, ch. 154. Wis., S. & B. Am. Stat., ch. 200. Wyo., R. S., sec. 1,879 et seq.

Medical examiner shall hold inquest and direct autopsy.

Mass., Pub. Stat., ch. 26, secs. 10, 11. R. I., Pub. Laws, 1884, ch. 420.

Justice of the peace shall hold inquest and direct autopsy.

Mich., How. Am. Stat., v. 2, sec. 9,583 et seq. Nev., Gen. Stat., sec. 225 et seq. N. M., Comp. L., sec. 443 et seq. Texas, Code Crim. P., art. 988 et seq. Vt., Rev. L., sec. 3,934 et seq. Wis., S. & B. Am. Stat., ch. 200.

And may order a body to be disinterred for the purpose of holding such inquisition.

Ark., R. L., sec. 718. Cal., Pen. Code, sec. 1,510. Del., R. L., ch. 33. Ga., Code, secs. 590, 591, 410 et seq. Idaho, R. L., sec. 8,377. S. C., R. S., sec. 2,687. Texas, Code Crim. P., art. 989.

And when not claimed by friends and relatives, to bury the body decently, and when the property of deceased is not sufficient to defray expenses, this may be done at public expense.

Cal., Pen. Code, sec. 3,094. Col., Mill’s Stat., sec. 882. Conn., Gen. Stat., sec. 2,015. Idaho, R. L., sec. 2,081. Ill., S. & C. Am. Stat., v. 1, 606. Iowa, McCl. Am. Code, sec. 501. Kan., Gen. Stat., sec. 1,792. Ky., Gen. Stat., ch. 25, sec. 6. La., Voorh. Rev. L., sec. 660. Me., R. S., ch. 139, sec. 11. Md., Code, art. 22, sec. 7. Mass., Laws, 1887, ch. 310. Mich., How. Am. Stat., v. 3, sec. 9,593. Minn., Gen. Stat., sec. 1,021. Miss., Am. Code, secs. 3,145, 3,146. Mo., R. L., sec. 2,456. Mont., Gen. Laws, sec. 881. Neb., Consol. Stat., sec. 3,144. Nev., Gen. Stat., sec. 2,269. N. H., Pub. Stat., ch. 262, sec. 16. N. J., Rev. Stat., p. 170, sec. 5. N. M., Comp. Laws, sec. 447. N. Dak., Comp. Laws, sec. 676. Ohio, R. L., sec. 1,227. Oklahoma, Stat., sec. 1,759. Ore., Crim. Code, sec. 462. R. I., Pub. Laws, 1884, ch. 420, sec. 24. Tenn., Code, sec. 6,150. Va., Code, sec. 3,946. Wash., Hill’s Am. Stat., v. 1, sec. 257. W. Va., Code, ch. 154, sec. 8. Wis., S. & B. Am. Stat., ch. 200. Wyo., R. S., sec. 1,886.

Removal or disinterment of a dead body without authority of law or consent of relatives, for the purpose of selling such body or for dissection or for mere wantonness, is—

(a) A felony.

Cal., Pen. Code, sec. 290. Ga., Laws, 1882, v. 2, p. 87. Ill., S. & C. Am. Stat., v. 1, p. 794. Ind., R. S., sec. 2,166. Mo., R. S., secs. 3,842, 3,845. Mont., Laws, 1889, p. 114. N. C., Laws, 1885, ch. 90.

(b) A misdemeanor.

Ark., R. S., secs. 1,902, 1,903. Del., Laws, 1883, ch. 234. Kan., Gen. Stat., sec. 2,372 et seq. Md., Code, art. 27, secs. 133, 134. Pa., Bright Pen. Digest, 229, sec. 11. Tenn., Code, secs. 5,659, 5,660.

(c) Is punishable by various sentences.

Ala., Code, secs. 4,023, 4,028. Ariz., Pen. Code, sec. 491. Col., Mill’s Stat., sec. 1,367. Conn., Gen. Stat., sec. 1,880. Fla., R. L., sec. 2,625. Iowa, McCl. Am. Code, sec. 5,328. Ky., Gen. Stat., ch. 29, art. 17, sec. 16. Me., R. S., ch. 124, sec. 27. Mass., Pub. Stat., ch. 207, secs. 47, 48. Mich., How. Stat., v. 2, sec. 9,297. Miss., Am. Code, secs. 1,023, 1,024. Neb., Consol. Stat., sec. 5,847. N. H., Pub. Stat., ch. 266, sec. 7. N Dak., Comp. Laws, sec. 6,559. Ohio, R. L., sec. 7,034. Oklahoma, Stat., sec. 2,198. Ore., Crim. Code, sec. 656. Texas, Pen. Code, art. 345. Vt., Rev. L., secs. 4,194, 4,196. Va., Code, sec. 208. W. Va., Code, ch. 149, sec. 13. Wis., S. & B. Am. Stat., sec. 4,592. Wyo., R. L., sec. 1,029.

(d) A high misdemeanor.

N. J., Rev. Stat., p. 249, sec. 122.

Bodies of criminals executed under sentence, and those dying in jail, poor-house, etc., when to be delivered over for dissection.

Ark., R. S., sec. 2,552. Cal., Pen. Code, sec. 3,094. Col., Mill’s Stat., secs. 1,547, 1,548, 1,204. Conn., Gen. Stat., secs. 1,729, 1,732. Ga., Laws, 1887, v. 2, p. 87. Ill., S. & C. Am. Stat., v. 1, 869. Ill., Crim. Code, sec. 503. Ill., S. & C. Am. Stat., v. 3, p. 867. Ind., R. L., sec. 4,258 et seq. Iowa, McCl. Am Code, sec. 5,329. Kan., Gen. Stat., sec. 3,758. Me., R. S., ch. 13, sec. 2. Me., Laws, 1893, ch. 254. Mass., Laws, 1891, ch. 185. Mass., Pub. Stat., ch. 202, sec. 8. Mich., How. Stat., v. 3, sec. 2,284. Minn., Gen. Stat., sec. 678. Mo., R. S., sec. 6,883. Neb., Consol. Stat., secs. 3,299, 3,301, 5,848. N. H., Pub. Stat., ch. 136. N. J., Rev. Stat., p. 239, sec. 69. N. C., Laws, 1891, ch. 129. N. Dak., Laws, 1890, ch. 92. Ohio, R. S., sec. 3,763. Ore., Hill’s Am. Laws, sec. 3,730 et seq. Pa., Bright Pen. Dig., p. 94, sec. 1 et seq. Vt., Laws, 1884, ch. 85. Va., Code, ch. 80. Wash., Hill’s Am. Stat., v. 1, sec. 2,428 et seq. Wash., S. & B. Am. Stat., sec. 1,437.

Duty of burial, etc.

Ariz., Pen. Code, sec. 493. Cal., Pen. Code, sec. 292. Minn., Gen. Stat., sec. 6,221. N. Dak., Comp. Laws, secs. 6,550, 6,556. Oklahoma, Stat., sec. 2,189.

Concealing birth of child which, if born alive, would be a bastard, is punishable.

Col., Mill’s Stat., sec. 1,195. Fla., R. L., sec. 2,393. Mass., Pub. Stat., ch. 207, sec. 11. Mich., How. Am. Stat., sec. 9,284. Mont., Crim. L., sec. 41. Neb., Consol. Stat., sec. 5,582. Nev., Gen. Stat., sec. 4,597. N. H., Pub. Stat., ch. 278, sec. 14. N. Dak., Comp. L., sec. 6,947. Oklahoma, Stat., sec. 2,179. Ore., Crim. Code, sec. 649. Pa., Bright Pen. Digest, 431, sec. 158. R. I., Pub. Stat., ch. 244, sec. 8. Wis., S. & B. Am. Stat., sec. 4,585.

Is a misdemeanor.

Minn., Gen. Stat., sec. 6,210. N. J., Rev. Stat., p. 241, sec. 83.

Is a felony.

Mo., R. S., sec. 3,479 (whether born dead or alive)

ALABAMA.

Removal of body wantonly for dissection or sale, purchase of a body unlawfully disinterred, violating grave with intent to steal body, etc., or wantonly mutilating body, is punishable by fine or imprisonment (Code, secs. 4,023, 4,028).

Coroner, or in his absence justice of the peace, to hold inquest and direct examination of body by surgeon, etc. (Code, sec. 4,801 et seq.).

ARIZONA.

Mutilation, etc., of dead body is a felony (Pen. Code, sec. 491).

Removal of a part of body unlawfully is punishable (Pen. Code, sec. 492).

Duty of burying body is, if a married woman, on husband; if not a married woman, on nearest of kin who is an adult possessed of sufficient means. If deceased has no relatives, on coroner holding inquest or overseers, etc., of poor (Pen. Code, sec. 493).

Refusal of one on whom duty of burial is imposed by law, is punishable (Pen. Code, sec. 494).

Arrest or attachment of a dead body is a misdemeanor (Pen. Code, sec. 496 et seq.).

Coroner to hold inquest and direct autopsy (Pen. Code, sec. 2,309 et seq.).

Person whose duty it is to bury is entitled to custody except where coroner holds it until inquest is completed (Pen. Code, sec. 495).

ARKANSAS.

Bodies of persons dying in alms-house, prison, house of correction, or jail shall be surrendered to a physician for dissection, etc., unless the deceased request to be buried or the body is claimed by relatives, or unless deceased died suddenly and unknown; and after such use for dissection it shall be decently buried (R. S., sec. 2,552).

Removal of dead body for the purpose of dissection, or stealing, or from wantonness, or receiving same knowing it to have been unlawfully disinterred, is a misdemeanor (R. S., secs. 1,902, 1,903).

Dead body can be transported out of county in which death occurred on permit of State board of health (R. S., sec. 480).

Coroner to hold inquest and direct autopsy, etc. (R. S., sec. 692).

And may order a body to be disinterred for inquisition (R. S., sec. 718).

CALIFORNIA.

Removal, mutilation, or disinterment of dead body without authority of law is a felony (Pen. Code, sec. 290).

Removal of part of body for sale, dissection maliciously or wantonly is punishable (Pen. Code, sec. 291).

Duty of Burial.—Of married woman, on husband; not a married woman, nearest of kin who is an adult with sufficient means; where no relatives, on coroner who held the inquest or overseers, etc., of poor (Pen. Code, sec. 292).

Refusal to bury by person on whom duty rests by law to bury, is a misdemeanor and he is liable for treble the expenses (Pen. Code, sec. 293).

Custody of body is on him on whom duty to bury is imposed by law, except where coroner detains remains for inquest (Pen. Code, sec. 294).

Arrest or attachment of dead body for any debt or demand is a misdemeanor (Pen. Code, sec. 295).

One who disinters or exhumes a body without permit of board of health, health officer, or mayor, or transports such exhumed remains through streets of town, city, etc., except in a sealed coffin, guilty of a misdemeanor (Laws, 1878, ch. 673).

A sheriff, coroner, or keeper of county poor-house, public hospital, county jail, or State prison, etc., must surrender bodies of those who are to be buried at public expense, to any physician or surgeon for dissection, etc., unless deceased during his last sickness requested to be buried or body is claimed by relatives, etc., or deceased was a stranger or traveller, died suddenly (Pen. Code, sec. 3,094).

Coroner to bury body when no other person takes charge of same (Pen. Code, sec. 4,286).

Coroner to hold inquest, direct autopsy, and may exhume (Pen. Code, see. 1,510).

COLORADO.

Concealment of death of issue which, if born alive, would be a bastard, is punishable (Mill’s Stat., sec. 1,195).

Body of criminal executed for capital offence shall be delivered to a physician or surgeon unless claimed by relative or friend (Mill’s Stat., sec. 1,204).

Board of health, mayor, etc., or officer, etc., having control of any alms-house, prison, hospital, jail, etc., shall surrender bodies to be buried at public expense to any physician or surgeon for dissection, etc., unless deceased during last illness requested to be buried, or body is claimed by relatives or friends, or deceased was a stranger or traveller who died unknown (Mill’s Stat., secs. 1,547, 1,548).

Non-resident poor person to be decently buried (Mill’s Stat., sec. 3,391).

Coroner to hold inquest, etc., or, if none, bury it decently at expense of county (Mill’s Stat., secs. 870-882).

Removal of body unlawfully for sale, dissection, etc., punishable (Mill’s Stat., sec. 1,367).

Board of health may direct removal of dead bodies from cemetery within a city (Laws, 1893, ch. 113, sec. 54).

CONNECTICUT.

No body shall be buried or disinterred or removed beyond limits of any town unless a permit is obtained, and where deceased died of an infectious disease body shall be in a hermetically sealed case (Gen. Stat., secs. 106, 108, 113).

Custody of remains is in husband or wife or next of kin (Gen. Stat., sec. 536).

Coroner to hold inquest, etc. (Gen. Stat., secs. 2,005, 2,008). And deliver body to friends or, if none, to town authorities for burial (Gen. Stat., sec. 2,015).

Mayor, etc., may deliver bodies of those not buried within twenty-four hours after death to medical college for dissection, etc., unless relatives or friends do not consent, or deceased requested to be buried, or was a stranger or traveller (Gen. Stat., sec. 1,729).

Bodies of convicts dying in State prison and not having any known relatives, shall be delivered to medical institution of Yale College (Gen. Stat., sec. 1,732).

Body of one dying in a hospital shall not be examined unless father, etc., consent, or if none, within forty-eight hours after death (Gen. Stat., sec. 1,735).

Removal of body from grave unlawfully, or receiving, secreting, or dissecting same, is punishable (Gen. Stat., 1880).

Body of executed criminal shall be buried by sheriff (Gen. Stat., sec. 1,640).

DELAWARE.

Coroner to hold inquest, etc., or may cause body to be disinterred (R. L., ch. 33).

Removal of body from grave unlawfully, a misdemeanor (Laws, 1883, ch. 204).

FLORIDA.

Buying, selling, or having possession for purpose of buying or selling, a dead body is punishable (R. L., sec. 2,625).

Concealing birth of issue which, if born alive, would be a bastard, is punishable (R. L., sec. 2,393).

Coroner to hold inquest, etc. (R. L., secs. 3,011, 3,019).

GEORGIA.

Coroner to hold inquest or to disinter same for inquisition (Code, secs. 590, 591, 410 et seq.).

Public officers and their assistants, and their deputies of every county, city, town, or other municipality, or of every prison, chain gang, penitentiary, county morgue, public hospital, having control of dead body to be buried at public expense (not dying of infectious disease) shall deliver same to medical college for dissection, etc., unless claimed by friends or relatives or such friends or relatives request same to be buried, or unless deceased was a stranger or traveller (Laws, 1887, vol. 2, p. 77).

Removal of body from grave, etc., unlawfully for dissection or sale is felony, or receiving or purchasing it knowing it to have been so taken, or trafficking in dead bodies, or having them conveyed without the State for sale, etc., is a felony (Laws, 1882, vol. 2, p. 87).

IDAHO.

Coroner to hold inquest, etc., and may exhume it for that purpose (R. L., sec. 8,377).

Coroner to bury body decently when not claimed by relatives, etc., and if necessary, at expense of county (R. L., sec. 2,081).

ILLINOIS.

Removal of body unlawfully or aiding in such removal is punishable as a felony—one to ten years (S. & C. Am. Stat., vol. 1, p. 794).

Coroner to hold inquest, etc. (S. & C. Am. Stat., vol. 1, p. 606).

And to deliver body to friends or bury decently if no friends claim it, if necessary at county expense (S. & C. Am. Stat., vol. 1, p. 606).

Body of executed criminals may be delivered to any physician or surgeon for dissection unless friends object (S. & C. Am. Stat., vol. 1, p. 869; Crim. Code, sec. 503).

In cities and counties where population exceeds one hundred thousand, superintendents of penitentiaries, wardens of poor-houses, coroner, city undertaker, having body required to be buried at public expense, may deliver remains to medical college or any physician or surgeon for dissection, unless claimed by relatives (S. & C. Am. Stat., vol. 3, p. 867).

INDIANA.

Removal of dead body or part of same unlawfully is a felony (R. L., sec. 2,165).

Concealment of body or part thereof, which has been unlawfully used for dissection, is a felony (R. L., sec. 2,167).

Receiving or buying a body knowing it to have been unlawfully disinterred is a felony (R. L., sec. 2,168).

Dead body of one dying in a State, city, or county prison or jail, or county asylum or infirmary or public hospital, or dead body of an executed criminal, or dead body of a vagrant, or one killed while committing a felony or escaping from prison or officers, may be delivered to the faculty of a medical college in State for dissection, etc., unless deceased requested to be buried or body is claimed by next of kin (R. L., sec. 4,258 et seq.).

Dissecting or possessing body for dissection except as prescribed by law is a felony (R. L., sec. 4,271).

Coroner to hold inquest, etc. (R. L, secs., 5,878, 5,879).

IOWA.

Coroner to hold inquest, etc. (McCl. Am. Code, sec. 487).

To bury body decently at expense of county, if necessary, or deliver it to relatives (McCl. Am. Code, sec. 501).

Removal, etc., of dead body unlawfully, or aiding such removal or knowingly receiving body so removed, etc., is punishable (McCl. Am. Code, sec. 5,328).

Coroner, undertaker, superintendent of public asylum, hospital, poor-house, or penitentiary, may deliver body to medical college or physician for dissection, etc., unless relatives, etc., refuse or deceased desired to be buried (McCl. Am. Code, sec. 5,329).

Bodies of those executed, or dying in hospitals or prisons under sentence for crime, shall be delivered to medical college or association or any physician or surgeon for dissection, etc., unless relatives or friends do not consent, or body shall have been interred, or is not claimed by relatives, or deceased expressed a wish to be buried, and after such use the remains shall be interred (Gen. Stat., sec. 3,758).

State board of health shall issue permits for transportation of bodies beyond county where death occurred (Gen. Stat., sec. 6,030).

KANSAS.

Coroner to hold inquest, etc. (Gen. Stat., secs. 1,780, 1,794).

To bury body if not claimed by friends, etc., and at public expense, if necessary (Gen. Stat., sec. 1,792).

Removal of a body unlawfully for dissection or wantonly, or receiving body knowing it to have been so removed, is a misdemeanor (Gen. Stat., sec. 2,372 et seq.).

KENTUCKY.

Coroner to hold inquest, etc. (Gen. Stat., ch. 25, secs. 3, 11).

To bury the body or deliver to friends (Gen. Stat., ch. 25, sec. 6).

Body of one dying on a steamboat, or other craft, if not claimed by friends, shall be buried by master or officer in command on shore, at least four feet deep (Gen. Stat., ch. 29, art. 17, sec. 15).

Removal of body unlawfully from grave is punishable (Gen. Stat., ch. 29, art. 17, sec. 16).

LOUISIANA.

Coroner shall hold inquest, etc., and bury body when not claimed by friends (Voorh. Rev. L., secs. 653, 660).

MAINE.

Coroner to hold inquest, etc. (R. L., ch. 139, sec. 1).

To bury the body at State or town expense (R. L., ch. 139, sec. 11).

Seizure of body on execution, punishable (R. L., ch. 124, sec. 26).

Removal, etc., of body unlawfully, or receiving it knowingly, or exposing, etc., body, is punishable (R. L., ch. 124, sec. 27).

Bodies may be buried and the expense recovered from the town (R. L., ch. 24, sec. 34).

If any resident request or consent that his body be delivered to a physician or surgeon for dissection, it may be so delivered, unless kindred or family connection objects (R. L., ch. 13, sec. 1).

Body of criminal dying in State prison or jail, or who was executed, may be delivered to medical college or physician, etc., for dissection, unless deceased or kindred request to be buried (R. L., ch. 13, sec. 2).

Body of person dying in the State, which is not claimed by relatives, notice having been given, shall be delivered to medical school unless ten voters of the town object to such disposition in writing (Laws, 1893, ch. 254).

MARYLAND.

Coroner to hold inquest, etc. (Md. Code, art. 22, secs. 3, 4).

Shall bury the body when necessary at public expense (Md. Code, art. 22, sec. 7).

Removal, etc., from graveyard, etc. (except potter’s field), of a body is a misdemeanor (Md. Code, art. 27, secs. 133, 134).

MASSACHUSETTS.

Medical examiners shall hold inquest, etc. (Pub. Stat., ch. 26, secs. 10, 11).

And shall deliver it to relatives or friends, or if no one claims it, to overseer of poor etc., for burial (Laws, 1887, ch. 310).

Body shall not be buried in city or town or removed therefrom without a permit (Laws, 1888, ch. 306).

Body of one dying of infectious disease shall not be transported without permit, and only in a sealed case (Laws, 1883, ch. 124, sec. 2).

Body shall not be cremated without permit and inquest by medical examiner, or within forty-eight hours after death, unless death was occasioned by contagious disease (Laws, 1885, ch. 265, sec. 4).

Overseers of poor, mayor and alderman of city, or superintendent of State alms-house, may deliver body of person required to be buried at public expense, to any physician or surgeon or medical college unless deceased requested to be buried, or relative request burial or claim it, or deceased was a stranger or traveller (Laws, 1891, ch. 185).

Body of criminal executed shall be delivered for dissection to a medical college if requested; if not, to friends or relatives, or, if none, to any physician or surgeon (Pub. Stat., ch. 202, sec. 8).

Removal of body unlawfully from grave is punishable, or buying, selling, or possessing for such purpose, is punishable (Pub. Stat., ch. 207, secs. 47, 48).

Concealing birth of child which, if born alive, would be a bastard, is punishable (Pub. Stat., ch. 207, sec. 11).

Seizing dead body on execution is punishable (Pub. Stat., ch. 207, sec. 46).

Body of a prisoner shall be buried by sheriff at town expense if not claimed by relatives or friends (Pub. Stat., ch. 220, sec. 31).

MICHIGAN.

Justice of the peace to hold inquest, etc. (How. Am. Stat., vol. 2, sec. 9,583 et seq.).

And shall bury the body at the State or town expense (How. Am. Stat., vol. 3, sec. 9,593).

Woman concealing death of issue which, if born alive, would be a bastard, is punishable (How. Am. Stat., vol. 3, sec. 9,284).

Board of health, officers, sheriff, etc., of any prison, etc., poor-house, alms-house, having body required to be buried at public expense, shall, if not claimed by relatives, or if it have died of any infectious disease, deliver it to University of Michigan, etc., for dissection, etc. (How. Am. Stat., vol. 3, sec. 2,284).

Body shall not be shipped out of State nor used in State for any purpose but anatomical study (How. Am. Stat., vol. 3, sec. 2,286).

Removal of body unlawfully is punishable (How. Stat., vol. 2, sec. 9,297).

MINNESOTA.

Gen. Stat., secs. 6,220, 6,230, same as N. Y. P. C., secs. 305-315.

Concealing birth of child which died before or after birth is a misdemeanor (Gen. Stat., sec. 6,210).

Coroner to hold inquest, etc. (Gen. Stat., sec. 1,011 et seq.).

And cause body to be buried at expense of county (Gen. Stat., sec. 1,021).