Waterbury evening Democrat., 1893-06-15
INQUEST STARTS AGAIN
The Washington Coroner Him.
 self Conducts It.
ALL DIFFICULTIES ARE OVERCOME

The Decision of the Court that the Depu-
 ty Coroner's Work Was Illegal Caused
 Little TroubIe-The District Attorney
 to Assist the Disabled Doctor.
 WASHINGTON. June 15.-The decision of Chief Justice Bingham on the petition of Col Ainsworth seemed to have brought matters down to the very simpe basis of requiring Dr. Patterson, the Coroner of the District of Columbia, to proceed with the inquest over the Ford theatre victims in place of Dr. Schaeffer, whose assump- tion of powers as deputy coroner had been declared illegal by the District Supreme Court.
 Two very serious impediments to 8 speedy inquest were thought to have been ipterposed the simpler of which is the viewing of the body of one of the victims by the coroner's jury. As all that Dr. Schacffer has done is robbed of legal effect by tue Chief Justices decision, a new jury must be summoned and the body of a victim viewed. Hugh T. Taggart, assist ant District Attorney, who represented the Government at the illegal inquest. said that the legal requirement with regard to the presence of the body at the inquest was indisputable, and that he thought a body oi one of the victims would have to be exhumed and viewed by the new jury.
 The mosG serious impediment in the way of speedy disposition of the matter by a coroner's jury rested for settlement partly with Coroner Patterson. After the accident on Friday Dr. Patterson asked Dr. Shaeffer to act for him at the inquest Dr. Patterson said he was physically una Il &l. l.I> was poor, he said. and his hearing imper- feet.
 Dr. Patterson is very deaf and has reached old age, and for some time past Dr. Shaeffer has acted for him in impor- tanL cases. In at least seven cases persons have been committed for manslaughter or murder on the warrant of Dr. Shaeffer as- stunning to act as deputy coroner All these commitments are now, of course, pronounced illegal, and the beginning only is seen of the entanglements that will result therefrom.
 Acc riding to the decision of Chief Jus tice Bingham, the coroner alone can act at inquests, and it followed that if Dr. Pat terson was unable through disability tc conduct the inquest over the old theatre victims and refused to resign h;s office, very embarrassing state of affairs would ensue.
 The authorities and reporters, however were pillng up difficulties unne essarily for the Commissioners of the District de cided to hold a new inquest, and thus directed Mir. Thomas, the attorne, for the District to assist Coroner Patterson in conducting it. In view of Dr. Patter sons disability the Commissioners though seriously of appointing a new coroner, bu on Dr. Patterson's statement that h. could conduct the inquest if MT. Thoma: were allowed to assist him, the inquest was ordered. It was also ascertained moreover, that the bodies of Messrs. Lof tus and Pagan, two of the victims, wer, still in the vault at Glenwood Cemetery and the officers of the cemetery were di rected not to inter them without permi, sion of the coroner.
 Dr. Patterson decided to re- summon thu old jury, Messrs. Warner, Harvey, Ayre Kellogg Schneider and Sibley One o the bodies at GlenwooI was viewed by the jury this morning and will begin anev this afternoon