The Washington herald., 1906-10-10

Who. IN addition to his work OF running
press agency, is one Of the cOrOners OF
New York County. took a running jump
into the Hmelight this morning at the in
quest into tie death of "AT' Adams. the
policy king. by accusing W Z. D. Stokes
Of numbering Adams. The little coroner
then found the limelight so hot that in his
subsequent charge 10 the jury he practi-
caIIy directed the jury 10 render a verdict
of suicide. which they did without a mo-
ments delay
Harburger's savage attack on Mr..
Stokes outside the Hamburger private Of
flee and his opening address to the jury a
few minutes later during which the coro-
ner reiterated his earlier charges OF muir
der against Stokes, were beautiful argu-
ments in favor Of the contentious Of those
who claim that the Office Of coroner as It
Is now run should be abolished. That
Hamburger could be abolished if Nr.
Stokes cared to bring charges against him
was the unanimous opinion of several
lawyers to-day.
After the jury had rendered a verdict to
the effect that all the testimony showed
that Adams had committed suicide Judge
". n. X OIcott, who had come to the in
quest in answer to a hastily telephoned
request from Mr.. Stokes, arose and in
sisted that Coroner Hamburger retract
that part of his opening address 90 the
jury in which the coroner had charged
his client with the murder Of Adams. The
coroner made the retraction.
Satisfied With Ret-actiOn.
we are not concerned with Coroner
HarbUrgers private opinions, said Judge
Olcott. when asked after the smoke clear
ed away whether Nj Stokes would have
the coroner removed. The coroner has
taken back his ridiculous charge against
my client, and that ends the matter so
far as Mr. Stokes is concerned ] do not
care TO discuss the matter any further"
The wild charges made 2clins- MT
Stokes BY Coroner Harburger, and 20
prove which Hamburger die not at any
time bring forward any evidence. made
the liycliest sensation that the Criminal
Courts building has had in a long time
Hamburger was opening his mail in his
private Office. when Mr. Stokes. in whose
hotel the AnsOnia, the policy king killed
himself last week. entered the cOroner's
Office in answer 10 a subpoena TO appear
as witness at tO-day's inquest. Stokes
has claimed ever since the suicide that
Hamburger called UP a news agency on
the morning the body was discovered IN
the hotel 10 say that there had been a
murder in the AnsOnia and TO send re-
poTterS there There has been much un-
necessary notoriety about the case, as
Mr.. Stokes claims. and his hotel hC says,
has suffered in consequence.
Meet in Coroner-s Office
Harburger swung around in his chair
and said Good morning" abruptly as he
saw Stokes standing glaring at him from
a corner Of the office. Stokes muttered a
reply and said:
Coroner Hamburger. [ want 10 give
you the name Of an important witness. 4
bellbOy at the AnsOnia, who hasn't been
subpeonaed- I gave his name to the po-
lice some time ago. Why has nothing
been done about 1t? I want this thing
cleared up
You're handing I'm this name pretty
late. Mr.. Stokes" roared Julius with ex-
IRENE severity.
4 gave il TO the police" answered
Stokes shortly. My hotel had been suf-
feTing from nOtOriety." he continued with
rising anger. We've lost about Sg0.OW
all because OF statements that came
from sources I'd like 10 get at. III bring
suit against whoever called up the Asso-
ciated Press on the morning Of Adams
death. Did you do it?"
Hamburger began to hem and haw with
indecision.
This-this is a public office. he finally
answered apropos of nothing in particu-
lar. ITS the most important Office of
the people"
I know its import answered Stokes.
advancing toward the coroner, and don't
ike 70 see il occupied by f0reign-bred
politicians. I'm an American with Ameri-
can ancestors. and I should like to see
this Office conducted in dignihed, Amer
lean manner.
Coroner Makes Charges.
Stokes. YOU can't terrify me, scream
ed the coroner, losing all control of him
self. 'T believe you had hand in this
so-calied suicide You wanted. too. 10
suppress a possible murder"
You're a liar. YOU little foreign -.
You little shyster." Stokes cried. His
growing anger was evident when Har-
burger just before this had used an cpl
thet that S unprintable
Stokes, now white with passion, pushed
back his coat and reached toward a back
pocket He may have been reaching for a
handkerchief 10 wipe MS dripping brow.
HarbSrger chose to interpret the act diff
ferently
"Ah, you millionaire , you would
draw a pistol on me- would your
NO don't have To draw pistol on
people like you" was the retOrt You
are not worthy.
The corOner's courage grew. StUng by
the remark about his foreign" extrac-
tion. julius waxed so eloquent now that
some of his remarks will be omitted
You Puritan began the sollioquy
you illiberal millionaire, if l lost my
temper. Ia spit in your face
why, you little imported foreigner, II
you do. I'll knock you down and stamp
on you
Bystanders Prevent Clash.
Just at this point it looked bad for
the physical portion Of Julius. Stokes
was advancing on the coroner, but by
ISLANDERS interfered and there was no col
lisiOn.
Here Hamburger made his direct charge
OF murder against Stokes.
You ought to be incarcerated,
shrieked Hamburger. L think you had a
hand in the death OF another man. You're
the man ! suspect"