New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-03-04
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
GARDENERS INQUEST.
PROCEEDING AGAINST WHICH CITIZENS
SHOULD PROTEST
To the Editor Of The Tribune

To the Editor of The Tribune
Sir Your just and temperate article In to-days
Tribune the subject OF the late Coroners Inquest
in the Adams poisoning case il most timely. IL rs
well that amid the storm OF ferocous OK parte
calumny that has marked the last stage and the
sequence OF that extraordinary proceeding one
potent voice. at least should be raised IN indignant
protest.
In all the annals Of iudcature there cannot be
found so unique and so fragrant exhibition Of
Official vagaries in the administration OF criminal
Law. It saved from being stupendous farce
only by the stupendous atrocity Of its closing act
II in sense OF the term-eXcept perhaps,
the technical one OF bare legality-a Coroners in
quest The Disrict-Attorney and his satellites took
and held possession Of the affair from outstart 10
finish and the Coroner in fact merely specta-
tor. So obviously this his true function that 1t
may be gravey doubted whether his COMM tment
would pass the scrutiny of writ Of habeas corpus
Is this the real reason that induced the prosecu-
ton hurry the to the Grand Jury?
But granting that the presence and acquiescence
OF the Coroner gave technical validity TO the YER
dict, the procedure OF the prosecuting attorney and
his underlings was a bald. impudent and mex
cusable usurpation He mad no more right to
handle the witnesses or make audible comment on
the case than had Mr. Weeks. whom, with fine
show OF outraged dignity. he threatened with I'M
prisOnment for contempt because OF a few cour-
words OF request in benalf OF the victim. He
certainly had cut distinguished a figure in
performing his functions as warranted him in
intrudlng upon the functions OF another.
Ever had ne possessed the right 10 conduct the
proceedings the manner In which he did so was an
outrage on the fair fame of the law. As District
Attorney ne Is presumed TO represent the people
whose attitude in any and every case is altogether
different from that Of the litigan in civil action
The sole desire OF the people is the enforcement or
law against evil-doers. They are free from pas
sion prejudice. So careful are they Of individual
rights that they guard The supposed offender
against their accusatory procedure by cloth
ing hin from the outset with the presumption OF
innocence Lest harm be done to him IN mOments
OF passion, or his good name suffer from an IN
founded charge they enIoln II upon ne pt Li
prosecutor and the Court itself TO discharge MN,
even after formal indictment. if the case does not
snow merit or prohan aus Oh t3l an
above and beyond all, the people ahhor trickery on
attitude even when the accused is combating their
suit with all the privileged weaponry or vigorous
parto procedure they are still more careful Of the
personal rights OF those they feel compelled nav
Judged by these fundamental principles Of law,
every and nearly every utterance OF the prose
ferred to is condemned with fatal severity. lie
had formed before he entered upon IT, as ne pracu-
, i in onfnr,n,ity ~ bie y,htn Every ufte
item Of proof that could be twisted into corrobora-
ton of Il treated and manipulated TO that end.
Every fact or crcumst ance thai couid not be mace
to conform was ignored This bad enough, but
IT not adequate 10 his full purpose. In MS
carefully prepared address 10 the jury an outrage
that surpassed all precedent-he gravely stated as
established facts hideOus hints and mputatons,
hearsay and imaginary situations for which not a
syllable Of evidence had been produced. And as IT
II was not enough 10 traduce and destroy MS pre-
destined victim. whose hands ne had tied and
whose mouth ne had gagged. he ruthlessly dragged
the tortured wife from the sanctity OF home 20 the
plllory OF the public stare. and did his best by
brutal sheer and savage libel to ruin her reputa-
tion and lay desOlate her life.
on il was a manly and gallant act. a fearless,
discharge
be swift and plenaryi D. RI. BOLLES.
New York March l. 1899.