The New York herald., 1875-11-21
The Engineer Of the Dock Department Charged
with Bribe Taking
Who Gets the Fees Of the
Marine Court /?
More Light on the Working Of the
CoronerS.

quiry. At the opening OF their session letter was
read from Justice Kbreh, denying that he had sat IN
judgment any disordcrly house at Washington
Place Police Court and asking that publicity be given
to tho fact
Coroner EickhoG the first witness called, testified
that he was present at the inquest Charles thinner
man in Ludlow Street Jail; the body found
'jammedn into iron bedstead; jury was sworn
and The body and locality viewed the inquest held
few days after the verdict that deceased came TO
his death by sranguation by having his head jammed
between the wires Of iron bedstead while laboring
under delirium tremens.
Witness said in regard to the Ryan case referred TO
few days ago by ex Coroner Young that he held the
inquest alter the expiration Of Coroner Youngs term
OF Office; he had fault End with the action OF the
police; he has always found them efficient; the
coroners have else TO rely on; outside inquiries
can also be instituted by the Witness atten
tenton was next called TO the provision Of the law
giving coroners the discretion TO proceed without
jury; for every jury the Coroner receives $5;
witness always empanels jury; witness thought 1t
impossible observe the provision OF the law, which
forbds tho touching OF persons until the Coroners
arrival and cited instances, such the killing OF
person on railroad track and the discovery Of floating
bodies in the river; in the former instance bodies
taken to police station and the latter the floating
body is secured; dictates such course;
the attention Of the Superintendent Of Police called
to this provision Of the law time ago. and since
then more care has been exercised in the moving OF
bodies.
In regard to the employment Of experts, provided by
the last Legislature the District Attorney judge OF
the Supreme Court could be the necessities
OF the Coroners Office but the difficulty would be In
convincing Comptroller Green OF the necessity Of
ploying experts.
ZIMMERMAN INQUEST.
Deputy Coroner Marsh testified TO the examination
OF the body OF Zimmerman, at Ludlow Street Jail
Witness heard that the night before his death deceased
was going about the room like crazy man; he was
found dead in the morning, and when found nearly
everything in the room broken he had been in
prison only a few days; never knew case where de-
rum tremens was not developed inside Of three days.
deceased might have drank heavily before going in
and might have had something 70 drink until the at
Matthew Westbrook, of No 101 Charles street. testi-
fed that he was IN Ludlow Street Jail when thinner
man died, IN July last remembers the case; saw de-
ceased prior 70 bis DEATH he was large porty man
and was intoxicated when shown to his room the even
ing before his death when the rest Of the inmates re-
tired 10 their rooms they heard fight in Zmmermans
cell his fellow prisoner called for assistance and was
removed Zimmerman being left alone; he soon com
menced 10 smash everything 10 his room and TO kick
the doors; witness did not think any went TO the
cell give any attention 10 his case; he shrieked and
howcd like wild man, continuing uninterruptedly
which gradually died away and ceased altogether when
witness ell asleep; witness would have known If any
attention was given to Zimmerman and believes none
was gwen; when an attendant named "Macn opened
the door IN the morning Zimmerman was dead. West
brook not examined at the inquest
Coroner Eckhon recalled said he did not know what
the jury the Zimmerman case based the finding upon
that deceased .'aborng under derium tremens;" !"
il appears from the inquest papers that testimony
whatever bearing on this question was aken Il was,
he said OF the queer verdicts often given by ures;
he did not seem TO think he had any right to question
such Haueer verdcta
henry Alden also confined in Ludlow Street Jail at
the time in the cell next To Zimmerman, testified that
he noticed deceased for two days before his death he
had been drinking and acted peculiarly; he was drunk
the night before his death when gong his CELL then
there was a quarrel IN his cell and keeper came to
take out Zimmerman's fellow lodger; the noise
tinued until about two O'Clock in the morning, when
we heard a fall then grOans and hard breathing which
grew and less until they ceased called FOR keeper
but no one came; about four O'Clock A. witness fell
asleep witness not examined at the inquest; he
spoke TO the keeper Mac" about the case aud got
insulting reply
James Fitzpatrick Of No l35 Canal street. called
to describe the dIsreputable house nuisance IN tho
Tenth ward Some Of those places, be sad have been
sspulledn from seven TO ten times; ono case he re-
membered that was taken before Justice Morgan, in
July; the Judge ordered the Police Captain Van
dusen) keep the house closed, but II continued
open; witness complained q second time and the house
was 'spulledn again. but witness did not appear the
second time and Immediately after Il opened again;
the owners name then procured and left At the
District Attorneys Office; evidence OF tho disordery
the houses are still kept OPEN
Police Captain vandusen, Of the Fifteenth precinct,
said the principal obstacle in breaking up these places
was the difficulty in procuring evidence against tho
offending partes most OF the cases were taken before
Justices wandel and Bixby; some were fined $40 and
some held 10 bail in $500; then the people went
back TO their dsOrderly places again. about dozen
have been broken up; there were some tno ago sixty
houses and parts OF houses assigned TO ewd purposes
and low there are forty three such houses the pre-
cinct; house he recollected having pulled" in
West Third street, four times three times the same
.nA NlnFa fnr ITO na Nyaz
obliged send officers in citizens dress TO obtain
evidence
member or the committee asked II the class Of
people visiting those places were not mostly crimnalss
The witness shook bia head and sad:-''Oh, no; a
good many ane looking old gentlemen often visit
them Witness thought Police justices could be
little more severe; II they would send those people to
the Island for months il would do to break up
the business than ines
was then taken.
Coroner Kesser was the first witness called after re-
Has held nquests in about COO during bis
term now It's third year; did not recollect having
held inquests on bodies that been removed; has
now under investigation the case Of John Insee, who
died last August, the inquest being then commenced
and adjourned from time 10 time 70 give the police
chance 70 arrest person named big Nike"
supposed to DO implicated In n1ictng injuries
which lod to Mr. Inslee's death. Witness
was asked to say 4 any advantageous changes could
be made the administration Of affairs IN the Coroners
office and answered that no thought IL should DO
salaricd Office In great many cases inquests
hold which could be avoided If coroners we're physcans
and were paid salary. III bad never held inquest
without jury. The only assistants allowed 70 coroners
are physicians and clerks All others they must pay
themselves About $4,000 per year would cover all
expenses Of the Office CorOners have had Of late to
sue The city every year for their pay they always win,
and the city always taxed with the additional
penses OF suits Outside ''ees' have frequently been
offered 70 witness in connection with different cases.
but have invariably been refused. He thinks no IN
quests should be held where there arc suspicious
circumstances surrounding the death but where the
Coroner s called IN merely because no certificate Of
death has been given 1.-THE Coroner Is physician all
VlYas routd ta chH ha tura NJ
death. IN a verdict unsustalned by evidence a in
Zlmmerman's case, presented 70 him no should
order reconsideration Of IT.
Mrs Monahan, OF No, 81 West Third street, the
next witness tho house mentioned; also No. 223
Greene street bad received letter from the District
Attorneys Office relative TO tho character OF her tenants
At the last named place but had done nothing TO ascer
tain whether they were good Or bad.
Katherina Wuntz, No As Chrystie street. described
the annoyances of dsordery houses IN Chryste street,
she complained before Judge Morgan, and the houses
were 'pulled" twice; could not tell what was done
with the occupants bat the houses opposite and others
are still kept open has a family OF five children.
Charles Apman residing also in the same neighbor-