New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-06-13
DR.. AINSWORTH DENOUNCED.
EXCITING SCENES AT THE CORONER'S IN
QUEST IN WASHINGTON.
THE PROCEEDINGS NEARLY LEAD TO A RIOT
THREATS OF LYNCHING MADE BY CLERKS
AND THEIR FRIENDS.
fPY TELEGRAPH TO The TRIBtiN

iBI ~ HE Ihba""'
Washington, June l2.--To-day's proceedings OF
the cOroner's jury TO investigate the Tenth-st
murder was marked by incidents of unusual
and thrilling interest. one of which threatened
TO result in tragedy. The jury sat in a COM
modious hall in Est, and long before the hour
named for tho sitting several hundred persons had
assembled, many of whom were relatives or friends
of the victims Of Fridays calamity. As soon as
the inquest began il WIS apparent that the afmos-
rhere of the hall was charged with electricity.
Colonel Answofth was present with counsel, which
made il evident that he had accepted the relation
of defendant TO which he had been almost unani-
mousy assigned by public opinion He was neatly
and fashionaby dressed and appeared TO be cheer
full and wholly at ease despite the lowering looks
Of the men who sat or stood in the rear OF the
table at which he sat with his counsel near the
acting coroner.
IL was evident that they intended to fight every
inch of the ground and it was also evident that
the clerks under Dr. Answorth's control felt that
his presence was designed TO ntimdate witnesses
who were subject to his ordcr>. Th" reading OF
a letter from Secretary Lamont assuring clerks
that their positions would not he mpcrillcd by
telling the truth rcassnrcd TO some extent the
clerks who had been suhpocnaed as Witnesses
hut at the sun,e time surprised men who arc not
SUBJECT 10 'oionfl .finNN'i'Ho '''''N ""' VIZ
could not conceive why even Government clerk
should br placed in danger because Of his telling
the truth To outsiders the fact that Secretary
Lamont Had regarded it necessary to write such
/. letter TO civil officer was regarded as exceed
ngly significant, if not wholly inexpcable, and
this question was freely asked
Have come to the plss that man employe
in the Government service dares not tell the truth
until he j. assured by the head of the DcparI Ine mt
that he viii not be dismissed on that account ?"
The question was not an impairment one
neither WAS Secretary Lamont's assurance an un-
ncc,.s1rv one if the testimony given by witnesses
To-day is TO bc regarded They answered 1ucstiona
freely and yet il was apparent that they would
not have done so if they hid not been spurr'd
by DESPERATION and encouraged by promise oil
immunity. dosptc' which they seemed u bH dls-
turhcd ~ misgivings About one-half OF the au-
liencr ot 300 persons seemed to be- composed OF
mon who are clerks in Colonel Ainsworths divi-
sion or Who are relatives and ficnd- of the victims
while the remainder couIposel of business
u,cn and other residents Of the town.
In the course of the morning sitting several
incidents occurred which showed that the sHntl-
ncnt Of the audience was distinctly unfrenlly ~
Colonel Ainsworth. hut nothing Of startling
nature happened until the afternoon. By that
time IL was evident that the presence ana actions
Of Colonel Ainsworth and his counsel had en-
cited a good deal Of dissatisfaction, for murInnrs
OF hostility swcllcd louder and louder until the
brother of one Of the victims rose and shaking his
Fat toward Colonel Answorth. denounced him az
murderer This was like lighted match n
now,lcr ara caused an Explosion The coroner
,prang Ia his feet and the man who made the
disturbance wac led . the rear. The foreman
Il ono nf hn
business men Of Washington. then rose and sug
o.s,.d IN thc coroner that in view of the excited
state Of public feeling IL would be- wise 10 re-
oucst all persons 10 withdraw who might think
that thov would be censured called 10 account
The coroner was disposed TO tcmporlp, but SAID
that if any membcr of the jury would submit "vl
donco 10 prove, or would aver on his own response
/ dilitv that witnesses were intimdated by th'
presence Of any person or persons he would caus'
, them "a withdraw.
This might have ended the trouble if th'
coroner had been firm, but he allowed 'olone
Nn.,yorths counsel 10 take the floor and at
/ ,empt 10 address the meeting. This lrrcguld'
rroc.odino causcd great excitement and niigna
ton among the audience and for "A lew S'conn
both Colonel An-worth and his lawyer wrrr II
danger of physical violence. The coroner lost hi
head the slim force Of police was helpless, pu
Foreman Warner, OF the jury, mounting MS chai
pleaded for a hearing. which he oDtalnei. lh'
cries Of Hang him" Make him dry up an'
get ont, Let me get at him, etc, subsidized nn'
tie coroner adjourned the hearing.
Colonel An,worh is man of undouotc
physical courage, but his countenance sho"e'
that n. realized his peril, and he obeyed will
alacrity the summons Of cool-hcadcd mrh VIII
surrounded him to escape from the hall by
han fapa
front. II is doubtful if he would have suifcro'
ncr.onal violence if he had done so, for the me-
,yho were most excited and angry are law
abiding citizens. There Is strong evidence |
show that those of them VINO nave pceh EN- ~
under Colonel Answorths orders nave goo
grounds of complaint against hlm, Dnt th'y mus
and will realize that the pending INJURY Is Oh
that relates simply ana sni'ly T." ,m. ,m"r must
rennircd 10 bear account OF the whoiesa,l
murder of Friday. II is not likely th@t ,ii
di.turb,uca of today would have occurrHi hau
nn, hon first for the foolish, untlmcy ana III
rcrtncnt attempt of Colonel AlnSworths attprhe
T., interfere with the inquest, anu s"on'' ., m
the belief which was not without id, ~" vi,
nm ,ttrmpt was being made 10 lntlhida'" VII
In this relation it is pertinent to say that IN
efforts of Colonel Ainsworth or .l' par ha. !,
excite sympathy OH the ground that he has u
cmrrcd the animosty of his subordinat.S' p
cause he has compelled them to work. are !
absurd a. they are indecent Ainohs us a, sm,
ordlnatcs ar" huHui''' WI M -, Il, .hilit,
i'm every respect, who are MS eluais III ""i, ~,
in Industry in conscientious devotion 10 uu.,
and in every other respect, and these men, If re
norts he true have been treated win no NOR
consideration than thc most incorrGin~ ,a'i.:' Ia :r
Who can he found in any body OF ne' a. ii' :
w that which is under his control. Colonel Ans
d r,%,. r,i. fri,.nds make sad mistake when the
| raise this issue 49,, ~, j.; V;II.r
. MI ~ norninp is REGARDED falr one. a
thouch the men who have been employed IN tI
hniIding which dropped to pieces on Ir,uay ',, a,
inrIiued 10 complain that on" OF their 0wn Owl nun nun
hnr who possessed the requisite nialihcafiiomn m
and was not prcjudiced by personal cohsder'
,ons WAS not made n member Of 1t.
N DANGER OF PERSONAL NlOLtNSE'
| cor NNSWORTU> TRYING MoMENT-ihoopH