Whenever any person shall wilfully disturb or impede the proceedings of a jury of inquest while inquiring into the cause of any death or shall offer any contempt to the person or authority of the coroner while so engaged the coroner may commit such person to the common jail of the county for a time not exceeding twenty-four hours.
Any person who shall have been at any time duly summoned to attend and serve upon a coroner's jury who shall neglect or refuse to so attend and serve without proper excuse shall be liable to be punished for contempt and the coroner may punish such contempt by fine not exceeding twenty dollars or imprisonment not more than twenty-four hours, or both, at his discretion.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 17-109; 1952 Code Section 17-109; 1942 Code Section 1095; 1932 Code Section 1095; Cr. P. '22 Section 182; Cr. C. '12 Section 1025; Cr. C. '02 Section 727; G. S. 711; R. S. 606; 1839 (11) 78; 1874 (15) 529.