CORONER'S HOBBY

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 33, 2 November 1937, Page 13

CORONER'S HOBBY

Specialised in "Magic" EUTHANASIA ADVOCATE The outspoken and original-minded coroner in London has died. He was Dr. Edwin Smith, of West London. He was 66 years of age. He was the only coroner who made conjuring his hobby and who won the applause of "magicians" of the Magic Circle, the conjurers' association of whieh he was a member. Also he was a humanitarian, and advocated euthanasia for people suffering from incurable diseases. "This man," he said at one inquest on a suicide, "did for himself what any man would have done for a dog." Discussing the possibility of legally ending ihe lives of such people, he said: "After all the terrible suffering that I have seen prolonged when all hope has gone, I am more than ever convinced that eventually we must be compelled' to see how great a case can be made out for the use, when necessary, of the lethal chamber." He was often severely critical of his own profess'ion, and his attack a few years ago on the home treatment of panel patients aroused ' much opposition. Members of the Medical Fractitioners* Union protested at his statements to the Prime Minis'ter, the Lord Chancellor and the Coroners* Society. "Suicide," Dr. Smith once said, "is the only enterprise where, if you succeed, you are called insane. If you fail, you are supposed to' be sane. "When people try to take their lives and fail, they are charged with the offence and nobody hears of the word 'insanity.* " He was also an advocate' of "safer roads." Pedestrians, he thought, should wear lomething white, and it should be made an offence to walk carelessly. There should be specially designedtraffic lights for colour-blind people. He was born at Melton Mowbray and flrst stndied medicine, When only 25 he received his M.D, at London University. ' Later he stndied law, and in 1908 wai called to the Bar. His recreations, ha said, were. "amsifli magic and motoring."