The sun., 1893-06-15
FoRD's THEATRE INQUEST STOPPED.

spoils.
FORD's THEATRE INQUEST STOPPED.
Illegal B-cause II Wa. Conducted by Dep
uty Coroner.
WASHINGTON. June l. In the Supreme Court
OF the District this morning Chief Justice
Bingham dismissed Col. Answorth's petition
for mnndamus on two grounds. First. hold
ing that deputy coroner is not a legal officer.
thus invalidating TIL. inquest as far as held:
and. second. that the right OF person to lie
present at an inquest in person or by counsel
Is discretionary with Coroner. and there
fore not subject for mandamus. Justice
bingham in his decision said that
an examination OF the law only established
what he had never douhted-that the
Coroner in holding an inquest sat as n court.
and was vested with the power and authority
Of judicial officer. 1t was well proven that
In the absence OF express statutory provision
such an official could not delegate his author
ize the transfer Of such power. An assistant.
isteral acts. but even this III ight be ques-
toned. although the passage of AN appropria-
to validate the acts OF such deputy in purely
ministerial duties.
The Coroner himself. the Court said. when
holding an inquest. was vested with all the
authority OF a Judge. to summon witnesses.
punish for contempt and disorderly conduct.
presence he became convinced was an obstruc-
tion to the inquiry for which his court was or
Of sfs Prevented h Re
tion of the full testimony that might other
Wise Wise be produced his powers sbs were su
s sime. at o least. while Certain ina" witnesses
YSh bshf% shHpli "a retire
not was n matter for his discretion and ludG-
ment. and his alone. and whether the cireum-
worth 81 sufficient to luStlfy him In
ercisinG his authority. was for the Coroner to
ssHd ssd ss p% du not S5 the hS s aanst
tionary power. but Is used to compel the per-
formance of a specific duty. Under the facts
The Cnief Justice then took occasion 20
court room on tine necessity of maintaining
decorum. He told them Coroner's court was
sSer the hS T Il Was the
law. Whatever the findings Of a, Coroners
wrong lone could he rghted by proper legal
means hereafter: He admonished them to let
as @h' ss linz TS. % adnonson tom
nan % the HSSa sf Of tho
Court. Deputy Coroner shaeffer. who had been
ha the at M
~ A. that ,t Dr. Shser ihs oS done is
TIM Waved; This afternoon DON the Com Com N iss sion.
ers Of the District OF Columbia decided to
% Thomas neT the aaSss Rs the Ss
trict: to assist Coroner Patterson in con
iii health. the Commissioners thought seri-
1usly OF appointing aneW Coroner; ,9 Sus % on DR.;
the nSaast Il % Thomas ne vas no%ed to
asce rtained tia. tic bodies Of Messrs;; Lotus
and Fagan. two Of the victims. were still in the
vault ut Genwood Cemetery. and the officers
Of the !ceG.etery were directed not to inter
Patterson, decided to resummon the old Jury.
Messrs,, Warner. Harvey. Ayre. Kellogg.
row and the inquest begun anew,
The court Of inquiry appointed by the Secre-
building and fixing, tho responsibility will not
over. This has been decided upon. in order
that there may be ne ~ clashng Of interests In
Of the, fact that. he is. being followed
by the threats and imprecations of hundreds
geance uron him as the days 90 By. and whose
excitement and Indignation do not seem to be
without u full and fair Investigation. Although
tho Court decides that he Is rot legally the de-
knows that morally he, is. and is acting entirely
through the the advice OF his counsel.
Ss swysrs % hs in aOes the aed ey o
ton. This lawyer and his client are
taking advantage OF every opportunity to Sc
press and to the Coroner's iury during, the OK
element Of the past few avs and when tho
court OF inquiry meets Col. Ainsworth will he
able to present a very strong case in his own
behalf. He has already secured eni orsements
from very large number OF the clerks in his
division. who denounce as absurd many OF the
statements made BY their fellow clerks. and
is making every point nossibl. in his own
behalf.
Another building That should he Propped
WASHINGTON. June 14.-Supervsing Archi-
tect ORourke has made q report upon the
condition Of the Busch building. occupied by
tn. Sixth Auditors ONCE force. In which he
says:
while I do not consider the present con-
dition nf the building rs actually dangerous.
am satis0 ed that to continue rs occupation.
without taking precaution' would be to invite
disa~ter.
files must undoubtedly continue while the
building is occupied 10y the Government. and
therefore recon mend. as IN indlshehSsaole M SI
shall be supported by posts and eirders from
the basement to the upper floor Of the build
ing. and that this be done Immediately
New Fourth-cIass Postmastcrs.
WASHINGTON. June 1.-the total number OF
fourth class Postmasters appointed to-day
was ninety -four. OF which iorty-six were to I'll
vacancies caused by designations and, death.
Anon. tho appointments were tho FOLLOWING:
Sew Icrsry-laeob l. Assns. ri'tstown; John keyn'
sew ror.-G Gorge p. conEi,ns,, AmassrsetI Wili,'
Lorp. oG@mG S.n Btat9i s,Iinss; snl "nafa Ao'
Er-Consui Kerbey Divorced.
PiTTsnuEGH. Juno IA divorce. upon the
grounds OF desertion. was to- day granted in