Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-07-19
A NEW CORONER.
DR.. Patterson Resigns and is Sue
oeeded by DR.. Woodward.
ACTION OF THE COMMISSIONERS TODAY.
The New Official a Physician ol
Decided Ability.
WHAT DIR. SCHAEFFER SAYS,

DR.. Dewitt G. Patterson, coroner for the
District. today rendered his resignation. and
Dr.. W. G. Woodward was appointed to fill the
vacancy.
The resignation Of DR.. Patterson was due
entirely to i'll health, and perfectly voluntary
on his part. Some time ago he applied to
the Commissioners for leave Of absence to
enable him to 60 away and recuperate.
While the Commissioners were anxious to
grant the leave, they were prohibited by the
decision Of Judge Bingham, who held that no
one but the coroner had the right to hold in
quests. DR.. Patterson's health continued to
fail until at last he was compelled to hand In
his resignation. At present he is confined to
his home, but will leave the city - soon - he IL
able.
Der !, 1878. by Governor Henry ID. Cooke, Just
three weeks prior to Governor Shepherds in
stallation as the head Of the District. DR.. Pat
terson was the first coroner for the District
The New Coroner.
DR.. W. G. Woodward, the new coroner, Is .
rising physician Of very marked ability. He
was engaged for some time in the city post
Office and during that time studied
medicine at the Georgetown Medical
School He graduated first in his class
and resigned from the department 10
take an advanced course in medicine at Phila-
delphia When be returned he was appointed
on the staff Of the Emergency Hospital, where
he served with distinction until December last,
when he resigned to 60 into private practice.
He was shortly afterward appointed physician
to the poor and was prominently mentioned in
connection with the position Of police surgeon.
In conversation with . reporter Of The STAB
familiar with the duties Of coroner, having
served with the deputy coroner on several oc-
casions. He would take charge Of his new
Office at once.
The new coroner is well and favorably known
at the city post office, whore his appointment
has created . large amount OF satisfaction.
He was connected with the city post Office
from January 20, 1886, until July 81, 1891, when
he resigned.
After his resignation he spent some time in
Philadelphia studying In one Of the hospitals
there.
served in the mailing, money order and cash
ier's offices, his promotion being steady and
deserved.
Speaking Of the appointment Postmaster
Sherwood said: ut win certainly give great
satisfaction to all who know DR.. Woodward.
He is a hard working, able young man, with
plenty Of application and back bone.
"While in the post Office he showed himself q
thoroughly capable man and was popular with
everybody"
DR.. Woodward 10 Q young man. not over
twenty-seven years Of age, but his work and
services show him to possess I'm old hssd II the
shoulders are q little young.
Shortly after the matter was disposed OF
Deputy Cor oner Schaener called to apply 70,
the position Of coroner. The Commissioners
were at lunch, but he was informed by THz
STAR reporter that the place had been Allied.
What Mr.. schaensr Says.
In conversation with TIE SrAR's representa-
tive DR.. Schaetfer said: II first learned from
DIR. Patterson last night that he intended to re-
sign. The duties Of this Office have practically
fallen on me from the middle Of Feb
ruary last up to the time tha,
Judge Bingham decided had no right to hold
inquests, and this without extra compensation
owing to the wording Of the appropriation
bill by the last Congress, which, while intend
ing to pay me during the coroner's sickness,
by some error only took effect the
urged me to apply for the position. and get the
salary, as I was dischsrging the duties, and
believe could secure very favorable state
ments from members Of the bar conversant
| with the manner In which I have discharged
my duties for the past four years. Upon my
arrival at the Commissioner ofiice this morn
ing, Immediately after attending to . coroner'i
| call, I learned from you that the position
had already been given to DR.. Woodward
| Q young man Of excellent character and oi
| ability. ! have no criticism to make on the
appointment except that should have sup,
| posed a subordinate in my position would have
been allowed chance to enter an application
| for the place on its becoming vacant under any
circumstances. More especially when he had
already sustained considerable loss from thu
| faithful attendance to his duties.