The degree of knighthood, observes “Sewell on the Law of Coroners,” is now no longer an essential qualification for the office of coroner. Yet candidates for that office must it is said, have land sufficient to take upon themselves that degree, whether they be really knighted or not. They must be possessed of an estate in fee, within the county, over which, if elected, their jurisdiction will extend. The statute 14 Edward 3, s. 1 c. 8, enacts, “that no coroner be chosen, unless he have land in fee sufficient in the same county whereof he may answer to all manner of people.” No precise amount of estate is defined by this statute, but the coroner ought to have sufficient property to maintain the dignity of his office, and to answer any fine that may be set upon him for his behaviour. But if having an estate in fee within the county, it be insufficient to answer his fines, that will not operate as a disqualification or be a ground for his removal, if he be of sufficient estate to execute his office, for the county, upon his default, will be liable to the fine as punishment for having elected an insufficient officer. The authority of the coroner is twofold:— 1. Judicial 2. Ministerial In his judicial capacity, he has to enquire when any one comes to his death suddenly or violently; how and by what means such death was caused; to pronounce judgement upon out-lawries; to inquire of lands and goods, and escapes of murderers, treasure trove, wreck of the sea, deodands, &c. Before the statute of Magna Charta, c. 17, (4,) coroners held pleas of the crown, but that power is taken away by a more recent enactment. The Sheriff in his tourne might by the common law, inquire of all felonies, save the death of a man, but it is doubtful whether the coroner can inquire of any felony but the death of a person, and that _super visum corporis_, except in Northumberland, where the coroner may, by custom, inquire of other felonies. In his ministerial capacity, he has to execute the King’s writs, when the Sheriff is a party to the suit, or kin to either of the parties, or on default of the Sheriff, but they are only authorized so to act in the execution of a process directed to them when their acts are void, unless they all join.