Obituary of Mr. Troutbeck

by **Karen** Tue 19 Jul 2011 - 7:58

MR. JOHN TROUTBECK.
WELL-KNOWN CORONER PASSES AWAY.

The death occurred on Thursday morning of Mr. John Troutbeck, Coroner for the City of Westminster and South-West London. Mr. Troutbeck appeared to be in his usual health until this week, when he was attacked with symptoms that made an operation imperative. This was successfully performed on Tuesday, but a relapse occurred on the following day, and he eventually passed away as stated.
Mr. Troutbeck, who was a son of the late Canon Troutbeck, was born at Dacre in 1860, and was educated at Westminster School and Queen's College, Oxford. He was admitted a solicitor in 1884, and in 1888 was appointed Coroner for Westminster, and succeeded the late Mr. Hicks as Coroner for South-West London in 1902. As deputy high bailiff for Westminster Mr. Troutbeck investigated nearly the whole of the compensation cases in connection with the Strand improvement. He leaves a widow and three children (two sons and a daughter). One of the deceased coroner's chief hobbies was music, and he played the viola in the Westminster Abbey orchestra at the Coronations of King Edward VII, and King George.
When appointed to the South-Western district Mr. Troutbeck came into sharp conflict with the medical profession on the subject of independent post-mortem examinations. His employment of a pathologist to the exclusion of the patients' medical advisers gave umbrage to members of the British Medical Association, who were instrumental in obtaining an inquiry held by Mr. Cockerton at Spring Gardens. Mr. Troutbeck's procedure was, however, upheld. On two occasions, when persons of title had committed suicide, and the cases having been omitted from the coroner's list, and inquiries held without any reporters being present. Mr. Troutbeck was somewhat severely criticised. In one instance the subject was raised in Parliament, when Sir William Harcourt, Home Secretary, defended the action of the coroner.

Source: The Shoreditch Observer, Hackney Express, Bethnal Green Chronicle and Finsbury Gazette, March 2, 1912