The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-11-28
LETTER FROM CHARLES SUMNER.
The Late Suicide OF . Naval Onicer.
TO THE EDITOR or THE HERALD.


You WIN please do me The justice Of correcting OF
the nsstassnen In your report Of The inquest upon tho
body OF IiSut walher consider the stAak Of your
porter rejecting upon my conduct - public odcer
urey unwarrAntAble No disct urtesy was shown him,
Whatever 40 he has alleged; he made acquainted
with a the particulars and though the inquest
tanned IN the possession OF the Coroner the latter had
formed OF bis rcssous have yet TO learn that d In
the province Of any reporter 70 judge when tho papers OF
c; on he contrary believe Is tho duty OF the doro
ner to retain thcn whenever he thinks proper; and
only an =. Of courtesy On h ps,' in sow.. rsp0s.:
reporter states that the inquest was procesded with n
the most private manner" This was not 90; the facts of
In the usual manner, and reporter Vas present during
Tho whole q the Investigation, and took such potss Of
bad socsss besides being informed Of ali The parcuisrs
By my deputy and, In iact his report shows that no
sSs Seportsr Who W., prsseD !, The puues ana nshsr
your reporter his fellow abor would have publish
Cd any more under any csrcuns,snoss Il .ners bad I'D
prcss your reflections would have boon just by
puosans the above you VIII greatly oD,gs ySurs most
respectfully, H. A. HiLLA Coroner.
REPLY or Our REPORTER.
viii be perceived from the sboye letter ihat Coroner
Hills does mot stemp. dcny tho act Of his having
fused tho reporter Of ibis paper the privilege Of sxamn-
Ing The nquest lie ID well aware that Coroner Hills has
the power 10 retain nqucsts In his possession for sixty
days before returning the TO the Office Of the Clerk
Of General sessors but he s not that has
been customary for any 70 take advantage o tha
pTivl<gs for any purpose Whatever On tho contrary.
these gentlemen who preceded Mr.. Hills In Office have
always treated members Of Me press with proper oivy
ard deccrum and have always exhibited their pollseness
and gocd breeding In saordine every facility for Ayiss
before she public all matters Of interest and importance
Coroser Hills says the Inquest not proceeded with IN
private manner, but swas heh n ell respects In the
usual manner" Now, the fact OF his keeping NE evi.
dcnce from the eyes of The public shows very piaisy
that the Inquest not 'held In al respects In the usu
al manner" for Is very unusual Indeed, Cor any covo
to suppren the testimony adduecd inquest In
act do not know OF instance where any covoasr
Of the city and county OF New York acted In the
birry peculiar 70 Mr.. Hills In this Our
porter not supposed to be dependent upon any other
reporter for truth and correctness necessary In the
case Of Lieut. walker He supposed 10 enjoy the
facilities In tho exercise Of his avocaion any other
member ofthe press, and always makes point 10 ap
ply at Official quarters for Of Official nature. In
conclusion he would say Coroner H that n no aos
Of courtesy his part Afford reporters inor
nation where the public directly Interested. A do
cument Of public character 10 mot the property Of ON
caI- the properly OF the public an they claim II "a
their pre,ogstve pcruse the contents thereof through
the agency Of The press.