The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1895-05-27
CORONER V0LK'S BREAK
He Allows Captain Cox to
Cross Examine Two Men Ae-
eused of Manslaughter.

An irregular proceeding and one which
ha been condemned in the severest terms
by the legal fraternity was permitted by
Coroner Volk al the Littman inquest
Friday night. 1t will probably lead to
an investigation and possibly serious
trouble for the officials implicated. Two
men committed for murder were taken
from the County Jail and were compelled
to give testimony which could be used
against them. Not only that, but they
were compelled to submit to a severe
cross-examination by Police Captain Cox,
conducted for the purpose of gaining
damaging admissions from them which
could be used in the prosecution of the
case. The counsel for the accused, Sena-
tor DAILY, was not present, not having
dreamed that his clients would have been
taken from the Jail in such a
Even had he been there, the law would
not have permitted him to ask any wit
ness such questions as Cox asked Anton
Pharr and andrew Diehl. In fact the
law distinctly states that no n but
the Coroner can cross-examine a witness
at an inquest, although outsiders may
suggest questions to be put by the Cor
oner. Captain Cox not only acted in vlo-
1ation of this law, but put such questions,
which Senator DAILY says the witnesses
We're compelled to answer, as would not
even be permitted at cross-examdnation
at a murder trial. After severely cross
questioning Pharr as to What TRANSFERRED
on the night Littman was assaulted and
failing to shake his direct evidence in
any way, he put this question:
What did you leave Germany for six
or eight years ago?"
Because / wanted to come to this
country" answered Pharr.
weren't you mixed up in a row in
which you stabbed a man." further quer-
led the Captain. Prosecutor n erst-
while Coroner.
NO." answered the witness.
News of the proceedings reached Sena-
tor DAILY and he hunted up Prosecutor
Winfield early Saturday morning to con-
suit with him about 5tt, the e,on mater sad T,tb bh IF
as the Senator. When Mr.. DAILY asked
him by what authority Coroner Xolk
permitted such a proceeding Mr.. VIM
finder this arrangement of the Police
Justice act. anyone can be Prosecutor"
ter Seh t. the Da rspo opRas fref It Vas We .nf in his
opinion. a most high handed outrage
which could not be too severely condemn
ed. No language could be used Whicn
would be severe enough to properly, criti-
to take a man committed to await
trial on the charge of murder from the
jail, and the jailer had no business to
were not only taken from the Jail in d.
rect violation of one of the strictest laws
on the statute books, but were also conn
PEELED to testify. against their will, and
to answer questions put to them by an
individual who had no right to act In the
case in any capacity. a that of a wit
matter before the Grand Jury for inves-
tigation. He made a motion on Satur-
day morning to have bail fixed for mis-
clients, as the evidence adduced at the
cononer's inquest clearly showed that
they could not be convicted of higher
Prosecutor Winfield did not object. and
at his suggestion Judge Hudspeth fixed
the bail at $1,000. Diehl was bailed out
West Side Improvement League.