New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-01-14

But there Is bigger game The evidence here
Is not easy to obtain but 1t Is morally con-
| elusive. 1t consists of common talk in the Grim
! inal Courts Building and of the process OF
reasoning which the Rev DR.. Parkhurst followed
when he began his crusade on the Police De-
partment.
THE police" he said permit violations of the
there any other explanation than that they are
paid to neglect their duty and to violate their
| oaths?"
| AS to the Coroner'- office: IT Is impossible to
believe. all the facts being considered. that mere
slothfuness is responsible for the astounding
disregard of decency and law which has so long
| chara cterized the Coroners office. The brazen-
ness of this bureau has been extraordinary.
| Other departments have made some pretence OF
| enforcing the law: this one has hardly done 50 at
| all The police from time to time made raids on
disorderly houses; the Coroner's office. even after
| its attention was called to It's de,inquencies by
the Observation-Disclosures and the Grand Jury. not to
mention the scores and scores of articles in the
newspapers, calmly kept in the old rut. Peri
odcal complaints have been made by the Dis
trict-Attorneys office OF the delay in forwarding
to 1t the papers in homicide cases. 1t might be
supposed that such criticism from a Tammany
| department would stir up the Coroners to a
| reformation of the abuses. But these darts were
| powerless against the thick skins OF the Cor
| oners, and the evils complained Of continued.
THE EVILS STILL CONTINUE.
| Perhaps since the election OF a Republican
| Legislature in 1893 and the opening Of the ses-
| sions Of the Lexow Committee. the Coroners
| have been a trife more diligent. personally. but
| they have allowed the old methods 10 continue
| in their office No later than the middle OF NO
| vember Henry W. Unger. chief clerk OF the
District-Attorney's office. wrote 10 the Coroners
to point out long delays IN transmitting the docu-
| rnents In some half dozen cases to the DIS
| trict-Attorney. After every conceivable clamor
had been made against this practice. after the
| Grand Jury had in the strongest terms inveighed
| against it, after the press had denounced 1t time
! and again the Coroners allowed their subordi-
| mates to be neglected. as ever.
| Now II Is human nature TO wish 10 avoid pub
| lie .censure Police Inspector Williams was an
| exception to this: perhaps Police Justice Grady
| and a few others are in this class also. but even
| Tammany officials ordinarily make a show of
| stopping abuses which are Specifically pointed ont
| and described by feow-ofticehoders. by the
| Grand Jury and by the press. II was small
thing which was asked of the Coroners-merely
| TO have their accounts OF the inquests they held
delivered promptly to the Disirct-Attorney'
whose office was across Chambers-s,.. or In the
same building
1t is Gear there must have been some IN
centive for pigeon holing the documents what
this motive was has been we'll understood in the
District Attorneys Office In every case Of hon'-
eide or suspicious death the Coroner or his phys:-
clan must make an examination. II an Inquest
is held a transcript OF the testimony taken and
! OF the verdict Of the jury is made out This
goes TO the Dstrict-Attorneys office. II Is there
| examined by an Assistant Distrct-Attorney. If
| In his judgment the facts warrant an exam'na-
ton OF the case by the Grand Jury, the witnesses
are summoned to go before the grand inquest OF
| the county K IS rare that the Grand jury
passes on homicide case before the Coroner
has held his inquest
| WHAT IS TO BE GAINED.
II the papers are withheld. the Dstrict-Attor-
ney's office has knowledge OF the case. al
though a crime may have been committed II Is
therefore 70 the interest Of an accused man 10
have the Coroners office retain possession Of the
documents as long possible. There Is little
chance to gain anything II the crime Of murder
has been committed. but when the case has not
had publicity in the newspapers n defendant may
escape Indictment and trial ny delaying for a
wear the presentation OF the papers to the Dis
trct-Att1rney.
This scheme may be adopted with special advan-
hices street-cars or trains Thedrivers engineers
are usually arrested Convictions for manslaugh-
ter under these circumstances are rare but even
an Indictment and trial Inconvenience
and an expense The corporation employing the
man must get a lawyer to defend him: must look
after witnesses and perhaps pay the cost Of their
attendance in court. 1t Is simpler and no doubt
| cheaper way to have the documents held up In
the Coroner's Office. That also avoids any dis
agreeable publicity.
When these papers dspa tched to the Dis
,rIct-Attorney after delay OF months they are
generally sent in big patches. The hope is that
tho busy Assistant Dstrict-Atorney. dismayed
hv the bie task before him. will not examine each
case too carefully. and will not be inclined to
have the Grand Jury pass on those which nave
become stale In the Coroners once. Even IL an
effort Is made to summon the Witnesses IL If
often impossible to do so after mat lapse Oh ulhc
poor neop,e are likely TO move frequently and &c
leave no trace behind them. so mat "e huopoe"'
servers are unable to ind them. Should an In
| ,,,., no o,ed there is a further delay before
,r,o, t. CALLED and by that time the witnesse:
| - ,roo,,on tho circumstances OF the aHair
=, T., = Fac, ira, the very cases In which the
! ,.a, do,.vs occur are those In which 1t IL u
~. .dy.r,aga NJ some person or corporation u
have an investigation by the Grand jury "e
,.rrsd or prevented This evil has not beeh rem
died in smile of all the criticism OF the Co'o"e'
Tho only rational explanation Is that money
paid TO accomplish the interference VIII" wv
course OF Justice. In view OF the d'sc'oSu'e' "'O
the Police Department. no one can nave any 49,
fancy In accepting this conclusion vi
there are other opportunities for pr'oeIy' i'M
the case Of the suicide Of member oil We"
known family His relatives might " WHINE
nav heavily TO have their misfortune NeP. Wv
the papers The Coroner can "''""e