Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-06-15
ANOTHER INQUEST.
THE PROCEEDINGS THUS FAR At
WASHINGTON ILLEGAL.
Colonel Aiusworth's Petition for Man
damus Rejocted--An Admopi-
tion TO the Public.
fBr Telegraph % tho pIspatch.l

WAsHrNGroS. ID. C., Jnne 1.-THE Supreme
Court ofthe District this morning dismissed on
two grounds Colonel Ainsworth's petition for n
mandamus 10 compel the deputy coroner TO
allow him 10 be represented at the inquest on
the victims OF the Fori's-Theatre disnster--ihe
nrst holding that deputy coroner "a not legal
officer Ohis nvaldates the inquest a. far a.
held: second, that tho right Of person - be
present az an inquest IN person or by counsel is
discretionary with the coroner and therefore not
subject for mandamus
Chloi-.lustice Bingham In bis decision said ex-
animation Of tho law only established what he
had never doubted-that coroner IN holding an
inquest sat as court and was vested with the
power OF judicial officer. IL was we'll proven
that In the absenco of express statutory proy-
son such Official could no, delegate his authority
~ anot0er.
LECTURE FOR THE CLERKS.
In the course OF hts opinion no took occasion
90 lecture tho excited clerks VINO thronged tho
COURTROOM on tho necessity Of maintaining de-
corum. He told them a c0r0ners court was not
20 bo considered az n town meeting. However
deplorable the circumstances, II was the duty OF
all good citizens 10 pay respect TO the law. W6nt-
ever the findings of tho coroners court might be.
they were not anal, and any wrong done could
be ughted by proper legal methods hereafter.
lie aimOuishod them 70 lot the further proceed
ings be conducted In quiet. orderly way 10y tho
coroner himself aud 10 repress their feelings.
NO SUCH OFFICER Az DEPUTY CORONER
WAsHrNGrON D. G.. June ti-In Difference 10
tho decision of the supreme Court OF the Dis
trict oi Columbia tnlt tnero 10 no such ol-eF ot
the District OF Columbia a. deputy coroner
Dr Srh9ener, who had been conducting tue III
quest at Willard Hall in mat supposed capacity
Immediately adjourned proceedings until %
morrow at ii O'Clock. The curious point now
develops that there ~ no OOiy tnat has Osan
viewed by n legally constituted coroners iGrynnd
unless one of the injured vlcSims stiA lingering
should die il may be necessary 10 exndme q
body.
NEW INQUEST ORDERED.
WssuTNGTON d. c.. June 1.-the com MIS-
sioners OF the District of COinmbia decided TINS
afternoon 10 order n now inquest over NJ VIC
TINS of tho Fori's- hcatre disaster ani directed
| District Attorney Thomas % assist coroner rat
terson IN conducting 1t. Ia view ot Dr. Ihttct-
| sons IN health the commissioners thought scri-
| ously of appointing = now coroner M ON br
| Patterson statement that he could conduct tho
| in4urst n Dir. Thomas were alio"ed 10 assist
| hun, the inquest was ordered. IL Wns a-cer-
| tainci thst the bodies Of Messrs Lotus aud
Fagau, two IT the yic,iips. were atill IN Naait
| In GlenwOoi cemetery. and thN oN'NtN oi y"
cemetery were d'rected not 70 inter tnsm WIN
| ont pcrtnissi N % the COruncr Dr Patterson
| de,lied q resummOn the old iury-a ->-r'.
| Warner Hanyey. Ayre, Kellogg, schneider, nnd
| sibiey one 0t tho bottles a. OlenN"ot VIII oa
viewed hy the jury tomorrow ana tao ihldcst
begun anew.
ANoyEL SITUATION
Just how far the ac's ~ Deputy Coroner Shaei-
| fer prior 20 Justice Biuenams dcclsnu hlli DO
| inyalidatoi IS rather "a curious qu-stion III is
| however. beloved that nothing serious VIII re-
! suit. Tnis n duo % n fortunate combination oil
| circumstances. under wni'h To-" II any pets'iis
| have been committed % itll by min ~ deputy
| coroner who escaped Subsequent Indictment Dy
| toe grand jury. ,
| Nowhore can there be found any authority lot
| the apgolntment OF deputy coroner, and su'h
onIclnl n not named IN the list Of appontcea un-
! Ger the district commissioners. An appEoprlt-
| t,n Was ma To by tho last Congress " 5000 ioi
m R-sistqut 70 the coroner, hut this y nor await
| ablo until July lat. IL IA cained thnt the NJ
| torneys have casually czlei attention 10 the
! want of authority in this particular IN tho past.
| but that the question was only ral@ci IN court
OF law four years after such deputy had entered
| upon the performance Ot hts duties.
| TUE ARMY ISyEsTlGATioN.
Major Davis, Judge advocate Of the army co1r'
| O. INJURY. appointed 10 Investigate the Tenth
| straei di-a9ter. II now engaged in preparing tnt
| framework OF the evidence 10 uc submitted Il
| the court, and Is rs 'erfsiuing tho names au1
! kuowleige Of the dltercnt Witnesses who mh'
b. able To throw any light on the case. hisile'
| IL % ru-nnon only sI.n witnesses a hro neces
| sary = a clear UNDERSTANDING of tho i.cts IN IN
case and avoid tho taking VI a mass OF meroi!
| cumulative testimony.