The Washington herald., 1907-01-14
REJECT INQUEST BILL
Commissioners and Coroner
DONOt Like Proposed Law.
MEASURE IN CONGRESS TODAY
mcfarland Sees No Reason for a
Change in Method of Appointment.
Nevitt Defends Conduct of Wreck
InquIry-says Attorney Davis Has
Overlooked a Few Points.

According to Henry <. Davis. the bill
drafted by him providing for radical
changes in the methods Of conduct OF
coroner's inquests, as well as in the law
governing the appointment of that ON
eial. will be introduced in Congress to-
day. Mr.. Davis declined to give the names
Of the Senator and Representative having
the bill in charge.
The changes as advocated by the attor-
ney do not meet with the approval of
Commissioner Mcfarland. who said last
night, in reference TO the subject: Il see
no reason for a change in the method of
appointment Of coroner. Certainly. Cor
oner hewitt should not be legislated out
of office In the Judgment of all disin-
terested persons, he conducted the recent
inquest admirably. AS TO toe other provi-
sions of the proposed bill. they should be
considered as a separate proposition"
Coroner NeVitt Defends HIS Methods.
Commissioner West declined to make a
statement regarding the proposed meas
ure, saying II would probably be submit
ted to the Commissioners for official con-
sideration.
The present method of conducting a cor
oner's inquest is declared by Coroner
hewitt to be as fair a method as can be
devised. THE District code" said Dr.
hewitt. which governs the working of
the coroner's Office, was drafted by COM
mittee OF members Of the bar in every
way qualified for the drafting Of such
legislation. No former criticism has been
made of its provisions. or of the method
Of conducting an inquest Throughout
the entire Terra Gotta proceedings It was
my endesvor to be as fair as possible TO
all the parties interested.
In reference to the criticism Of Mr..
Davis OF the arrest on suspicion of six
persons Of whom only two were held by
the jury Of inquest. I may say II is within
the province Of the coroner to detain as
a witness any person who is supposed TO
have knowledge OF a disaster Of that
sort
Accordingly I requested Inspector
BOardman 10 hold as witnesses all whom
/ he knew 20 he acquainted with the facts
I Of the wreck. I should have felt remiss
I in my duty to the public had l not
/ adopted every means within my power II
summon witnesses whC could throw
| some light upon the catastrophe
Why Trainmen Were Held.
"Mr. Davis also lays some stress upon
the holding Of the conductor and engineer
| OF the collidins train for six hours
awaiting the return OF the verdict Had
| they been released and failed 20 give
| themselves Up Immediately after the rem
dering Of verdict holding them in a
measure responsible, the blame would
have rested upon the coroner. They were
/ IN no worse plight than the jurymen,
newspaper men, &c, who were also
| forced TO postpone their dinner
] The coroner's inquest, II must be re-
membered. is not a trial. and more in the
nature Of the proceedings of a grand
| jury The object is to obtain facts which
/ are later 10 be presented to the courts
with this difference. that the proceedings
/ OF grand jury are secret. no Oppor-
tunity being given to the accused TO pre-
sent their side of the case.
1t Was my endeavor TO conduct the
proceedings with absolute impartiality