The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-10-15
HIDDEN SOURCES OF CRIME.
The Senate Committee Investigating
the Coroners' Office.
OFFICIAL IGNORANCE OF LAW

The examination into the conduct OF the Coroner'a
Office yesterday by the Senate Investigating Committee
revealed some curious things Coroners Eickhof and
Croker tho stand. Coroner Eckhof was
called principally in reference to the of boy In
which IN inquest was purported TO have been held.
while the relatives OF the dead boy testified that the
Coroner only to the house, but did nothing,
called jury and held inquest. Coroner Croker
hauled tho Goals in right lively style by Mr.
Davenport, and was often at q loss to find answers
ABUSES PUBLIC CHARITIES
The first witnesses yesterday were members Of thu
State Charities AID Association, respectable ladies' wh
testified that great evils prevailed in the Randall
Island Nursery, among others that female convicti
were employed as nurses, who were certainly totally
untitled for such positions. The first witness saw
fights in the nursery between the female convcts who
had been sent TO the Island for ntemperance neither
boys nor girls were educated to any trade she thought
there was much overcrowding OF children in the
wards; in the hospital she saw forty sick children in
twenty beds the food was sufficient but not Of the
right kind for patients.
Another lady, whose special department the
Park Hospital testified in regard to the unsafey Of
that place and also in regard to the abuses in the
Charity Hospital. The beds in the latter place were
very poor and the clothing of patients was entirely in
sufficient There was also great want of blankets.
Tho ventilation and sanitary regulations in general
were very bad indeed.
Colonel Hastings OF the Board of Health made q
statement in exoneration Of that body regarding the
charge OF Mrs. Rowland previous Witness that her
boy, when stricken with smallpox not removed
tho hospital for four days The smallpox hospital is
now in charge OF the Board Of Health but the witness
stated that 1t then in charge Of the Commissioners
Of Charities and that the state of affairs their
fault
4 INQUEST.
Coroner EckhoG recalled to testify In regard to
sundry matters of routine. Ho said that sometimes
juries did not view the bodies in order to spare the
feelings OF the relatives but there law for this
omission. In regard to the death of boy named Ess
ler he asserted that he viewed the body every
Mr. Edward Essler testified that his son fell from an
arbor, broke his arm and died Coroner EickhoT
to the house. but made examination summoned
jury and held no inquest whatever.
Mr. Davenport put in evidence the inquest paper in
that case which puports that It had been duly held
cording to law
Coroner Eickhof questioned at length in regard
70 this mysterious case He said in general way that
he had always viewed tho body at every inquest but
70 this case his memory failed him completely. He did
not remember anything about 1t.
PROFESSIONAL JURORS.
Coroner Croker recalled to define at length the
duties OF the office. His attention called TO the
frequent recurrence Of certain names the inquest
papers, but he said that unavoidable owing to the
difficulty of obtaining juries
Mr.. Davenport showed that in thirty-nnc be-
the jurors the same, and he asked the Coroner II
he knew these ubiquitous jurors Coroner Croker only
knew Edward Burke and one White, keeper OF the
Morguc but could not recolcct who these other pro-
tessional jurors we're
Mr.. Davenport then went into the question whether
the jury always heard the testimony
the law prescribed. The Coroner admitted that he
sometimes empanelled juries to view bodies adjourned
the inquest and then just called them again to read to
them the testimony OF the deputy who had made the
examnation-a proceeding wholly illegal Coroner
Croker was asked how many cases he had in the first
OF He sal he no OK
actly the number of his Tho record shows that
he had about 500 which, It Is claimed is far moro than
any other Of tine Coroners had. Mr. Davenport, IL
expected, will endeavor TO show that some OF these
inqucsts were entirely ictitions
In regard to the number or jurors which he subp9ned
He asserted that he called than six Jurors
to serve in an inquest
Mrs. Emma harrington testified in regard to the
death, from fall Of the young boy Essler; the Coro-
mr. Eckhol asked her if she could certify TO his
DEATH the deputy looked at the face Of the boy, and
not at the other portions she too nervous to sign
her name and had given notice ut the Coroner'a
office Of the death-in fact nobody had asked Tor an
inquest she not Of any inquest having boon
held sine frightened ut the appearance of the
Coroner, and did not know what meant the Coroner
did nothing whatever
On examination by Coroner Eckhof the lady i'd
mitted that she herself requested the Coroner
NOT TO CALL
and to hold the inquest as quietly possible.
MI Davenport offered IN evidence the inquest papN
In this case showing the following names signatures
or pretended Jurors-Gustav Schroeder Israel Rungel
mann, Isaac Brccn, Philip Small, Thcodor Striker,
Johannes Gossucr Mrs Harrington sand she did not
KNOW Oh any sucn persons living In the neighbour
hood This case then dropped leaving the impression
that Mr. Davenport DESTROYS of showing that the
jury was never summoned at all He subsequently
marked that all the names written by the same
man. Coroner Croker recalled. He asked OF
what earthly use il was to him call jury in case
OF death from smallpox that OF stillborn child
Coroner Croker said that he wanted to take tho
responsibility OF rendering any verdict upon himself
Mr.. Davcnport-lsnt the reason why you summon
jury that you get IS more than If you did notY
Coroner Crokcr-No, SIR; il is not
Mr.. Davcnport-iave fou any interest In the dis
taI9 mr. cnlla
Coroner Croher-No, sir
The Coroner declared t'at he and the Deputy Cor
always signed the inqtest papers
A JUROR.
Mr.. Davenport showed thaia named Mcdonald
appeared in ninety-elght CASES a juror and that
other '.rcvoversn appeared almost as frequently on
the inquest papers This Mcdonald Coroner Croker
admitted, was the Same man wlo not long ago was
sent 10 prison for committing an outrage corpse
the Morgue.
Mr.. Davenport-Did you ever tel a juror duly en-
panelled, that he never need appear again
Coroner Croker-No, SIR, l never i'd
Mr. Davenport questioned the witness again with TO
gard TO the number of jurors which hewas ia the habit
Of summoning Tor every case. Corona Croker who
had previously testified that he summoned over
six jurors now corrected himself with 4 very embar
raised manner declared that he alw.ss summoned
not more than fifteen nor less than nln as the Law
provides.
Mr.. Davenport-Then you testify that .ou did no,
know the law when you testified beforey
Coroner crokcr-Wcl, If said that must have
Mr.. Davenport-Now, sir did you not tall outside
with Deputy Coroner Cushnan, Mr. Toa Clerl for the
Board Of Coroners, and Coroner Eickho In rvard TO
your testimony and did they not enlghten 20 in ro-
gard to the lawY
Coroner Croker-No, sir; didn't talk with Thorn
about IL
Mr.. Davenport examined the witness shabby,
with the evident intention or showing that he gas
GROSSLY
in this respect and of his duties In general Coronr
Croker in the OF very long and tedious exam.
nation, also admitted, substantially that lie sometime
empaneled jury outside the Morgue, which, wheA thu
adjourned TO the Morguo never put "a an
appearance that he had to call another jury thus
there two jures IN which saw the boly,
but rendered no decision; another rendered the ie
csion, but tho body; the whole proceeding
being violation OF the law which provides that ne
jury AS well as the Coroner must view the body In
every tho keepers or the Morguc and other atem
ants appeared his testimony act as professional
jurors.
The committee will resume Coroner Croker's exaIa-
nation this morning at haf-past ten O'Clock.