The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-05-25

The trouble between STATE AIne inspector
c. r. Owen and Coroner Spariing has now
reached = point where 1t Is question OF
ysracisy between them The coroner mas
agreed with the inspectors Interpretation
Of law. but when II comes to one fact OF
great Importance curtiy says the inspector
q not telling the truth. The inspector
throws back the lie and there the ease
standA
~ already told IA the Post Jntelligencer
/. Al cane up over q question Mr.. Owen
attempted TO ash during the Inquest over
the body Of John Girard. who Was Killed 10
the Newcastle coal mine last week, oven
says that the coroner knowing who ne Was,
refused 70 allow him to question witnesses.
The coroner nya that Owen boebeo up
without making his identity known and
ga tai s,m pc Il aovS
Mr.. Owens Official dignity was injured
and the next day be went to Olympia
and told his tale Of woe 30 Assistant At
he made charges and these will be for
warded TO Prosecuting Attorney AcEfoy.
OF King county. In few days. He claims
that Coroner eperling has been unfaithful
officer IN the discharge Of his duty.
II do not desire to try this case in the
newspaper" said the state mine inspect
Ia Ear az state ns' o9ess shs perform
my duties, and those who attempt to stop
me must suffer the consequences. 1t u
not . personal matter"
mine inspector" said Coroner spariing:
when told that the inspector SAID
he talked with the coroner At Bonney =
Stewards the evening before the inquest.
Il never met the man in my life. or heard
him speak until he arose in the midst OF
the proceedings At the inquest and COM
menced to ask questions II he had come
to me and made known his identity
most certainly would have given him the
privilege of questioning the witnesses.
He may have met some one he thought
was me. but he certainly did not meet
me-
Mine Inspector Owen came over to Sc.
attic yesterday morning. and when seen
said:
.sIt is unaccountabie TO me why Coroner
Sparling should say that he did not see
and talk with me prior to the inquest over
the remains OF John Girard. who was
''The accident happened at 4:3o o'clock
on the morning Of May II, in the Coal
Creek tunnel 1 was informed Of the fact
BY telegram from Superintendent An
gram came. but returned about o'clock
In the afternoon and took the first train
that evening for Seattle. The next morn
ing went to Bonney & Stewards and
was introduced to Coroner Sparkling by
Undertaken Stewart as State Coal Mine
Inspector Owen
Coroner Spariing at that time had not
heard OF the accident. I informed him
that Mr.. Anderson was waiting Ct the
mine TO come with witnesses when called
II was then arranged that the inquest
would be held the next morning. went
TO the Pacific Coast Company's office and
sent word 10 Anderson. who came the next
morning with witnesses on the word I
sent.
Coroner Spariing made no statement In
the start that this was an inquest to in-
Quire into the death. etc. He simply asked
the irst witness called. DIR. George II. T.
Sparhng. the company physician. what
he knew about the case The second witt
ness called was William Hoyg After
the coroner had Questioned him BREEZY I
requested permission TO question the wit.
ness.
Coroner Sparkling said: What have
you got To say about IL? Who are you,'
said: You know who am. am the
state coal mine inspector The coroner
said that that did not make any differ
encs | Informed him that + had some
thing TO say. and X he doubted IL TO refer
10 the statute. He told me to keep stiI1,
and called the next witness
THE statute was brought TO the coro-
ner by Undertaken Stewart, but he re-
fused to look at IL. and said he was rum
ming tho inquest. II was very Disagree
able matter to me. and I kept II out OF
print as long "a possible. l placed the
matter In the hands Of Assistant Attorney
General Vance. He will formulate charges
and forward them to the prosecuting az.
torney. II he refuses TO proceed then the
attorney general will go ahead himself