No inquest shall be held by the coroner or any court of general sessions over the dead body of any person until an affidavit, in writing, is made and signed by two (2) or more reliable persons, averring the death of the person and that there is good reason to believe that the person died by unlawful violence at the hands of some other person; and without the affidavit, in writing, the coroner or court shall have no jurisdiction to hold an inquest over the dead body of any person, and all proceedings without the affidavit shall be utterly void and useless. Unless this section is literally, rigidly, and strictly complied with, and the affidavit filed with the papers, the coroner or court shall receive no fees or compensation for holding the inquest.
Structure 2021 Tennessee Code
Title 38 - Prevention and Detection of Crime
§ 38-5-101. Affidavit Required to Hold Inquest
§ 38-5-102. False Affidavit — Perjury
§ 38-5-103. Courts of General Sessions May Hold Inquests as Coroners
§ 38-5-105. Subpoenas for Witnesses
§ 38-5-106. Who Shall Be Summoned as Witnesses
§ 38-5-107. Surgeon or Physician as Witness
§ 38-5-108. Employment of Chemist
§ 38-5-109. Allowances to Physicians and Chemists Limited
§ 38-5-110. Service of Process
§ 38-5-112. Form of Inquisition
§ 38-5-113. Return of Inquisition
§ 38-5-114. Witnesses May Be Bound Over
§ 38-5-115. Arrest of Person if Present
§ 38-5-116. Warrant for Arrest if Person Not Present
§ 38-5-117. Effect of Coroner's Warrant
§ 38-5-118. Disposition of Body of Decedent
§ 38-5-119. Disposition of Effects Found on Body
§ 38-5-120. Duty of County Trustee as to Effects Found on Body
§ 38-5-121. Delivery of Property or Payment of Money to Legal Representatives of Deceased