New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-05
BRINGS PRESSURE
ON INSURANCE co.
Wallstein Can't Get Aid
to Expose Peddling in
CorOners' Office.
SLIPSHOD METHODS
RAPED BY CHEMIST
Delicate Analysis of Poisons
Left to Men Who Test
Paving Materials.

His personal efforts TO get informa-
ton from the Travellers Insurance
Company, of Hartford, Conn, relative to
alleged peddling Of public records by
coroners' physicians having failed,
Leonard W. Wallstein, Commissioner of
Accounts, wrote yesterday to Frank
Hasbrouck, State Superintendent of In
surance, TO see what could be done
through interstate comfy.
James J. Hoey, deputy superintend-
ent, said that Superintendent Hasbrouck
had Jurisdiction over all insurance COM
panies doing business in New York
State, wherever their home Offices might
be. He thought the Hartford matter
could be arranged.
In his investigation Of the Coroners'
Office Commissioner Wallstein learned
that physicians representing the Trav-
elers' Insurance Company had been in
formed by coroners' physicians here
that certain information TO which the
company's physicians were entitled
could be had only by paying for it.
On July II Commissioner Wallstein
wrote to the chief adjuster of the COM
pany, and was informed that upon
careful consideration we do not deem it
advisable to attempt investigation into
the cases referred 20 by you wherein
DR.. - and DR.. - were approached
by the Coroner in an attempt to sell
information" In reply to letter writ
ten to Sylvester c. Durham, president
of the insurance company, on August
IS, Commissioner Wallstein was in
formed that he could probably get the
necessary information from the physi-
clans.
The physicians testified as to the two
cases first discovered, and others also,
but for the purposes of the inquiry 1t
proved necessary to have more detailed
information. which could be had only
by reference TO the files of the corr
pany i'm Hartford. In a letter date
December 3 Commissioner Wallstei-
was informed that there was nothic
in the files (which would be helpful =
any way to the investigation"
lnasmuch as two representatives OF
the company had testified that by ref
erence to the files thev could complete
their testimony, Commissioner Wall
stein thinks the insurance company
should assist him.
81 desire particularly" he wrote to
Mr.. Hasbrouck, ITO direct your atten-
ton to the failure on the part OF the
Travellers Insurance Company, OF
Hartford, to afford cooperation in this
investigation, and to request that, as
Superintendent Of Insurance, you take
such steps as may be within your
power to compel that company to facil-
itate my investigation.
At the hearing yesterday in Commits
soner Wallstein's Office James P. At
kinson, chief cher-ist Of the Depart
ment of Health, testified that relations
between his bureau and the Coroners'
Office had virtually been severed in
1911. Up to that time he had occa-
sonally examined organs for traces OF
poison for the Coroners' Office, al
though he himself had never been
called as a witness. The relations
should be close, he said, and chemist
should be present at all autopsies.
The slipshod methods followed by
the Coroners' Office in sending speci
mems for examination, and the fact
that, instead Of issuing a subpoena for
the chemist, the coroners contented
themselves with reading his findings
into the record, convinced the Depart
ment of Health that its employees were
wasting their time in making such ex-
aminatons. For the last three years
such examinations as have been made
at the instance of the coroners have
been made at the testing laboratories
of the Board of Estimate, whose chem
ical engineers are chosen for THEN
ability to analyze paving materials
rather than for their Genealogical
knowledge.