New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-11-13
FEINBERC ADMITS
MANY MISTAKES
Coroner Excuses Errors
in Dooley Death Case by
NewnesS to Job.

Peculiar circumstances attending the
case Of William Heineman, arrested Tor
the death Of Robert Dooley, were mar
sbslled Yesterday by Leonard NJ. Wall
stein. Commissioner OF Accounts IN IN
curing into the conduct OF SOrohS!
Feinberc. Incidentally II was oroush'
out that the Heineman case, Whlcn
caused = breach between Judge swami
Of General Sessions, and Jusuee sea.
hurry. Of the Supreme Court, because
~ The remarks the latter is sald 70
have permitted from Max d. Steuer IN
applvirg for certificate OF reasonable
Doubt for Heineman, has been the SUP
iect Of inquiry by the Bar Association
Coroner Feinberg yesterday took eX-
ception to Commissioner Nallstelh 3
characterization Of the case as lrreg-
Mar from start TO finish
"No" he said. at was the work OF
\ novice and would be handled better
now" -,.,.i.
N the evening of January l, l9lU. COT
oner Feinberg, who had just taken OF
fee, was notified at his home by the
Harlem Hospital. The next morning
shortly before 10 o'clock he notlneo the
coroners' Office. Police records were
noti6ed the coroners' Office soon after
the shooting, although the coroners
day book did not show IT. On January
Coroner Feinberg was assigned 70 the
case. although his tour OF duty had eX-
Al the inquest, for which Coroner
Feinberc had no jury, Heineman was
dircharged. subsequently his case was
broppht before two grand juries, the
second finding a homicide Indictment
against him. He was convicted before
Judge Swami of manslaughter IN the
first degree. The conviction was up
held by the Appellate Division ana
new trial ordered by the Court OF APP
peals.
Coroner Feinberg was unable to eX-
plain the dereliction on the part OF the
coroner's clerk who failed TO enter the
notification by the police. He denied
no had directed the clerk not 10 enter
il. He realized now, he said, that ne
should have empanelled jury Tor tho
inquest but at the time thought the
law left il 10 his discretion. He be-
lieved that J. Robert Rubin, Deputy
Police Commissioner. then an Assistant
District Attorney, should share with
him the blame for not having jury.
1.-THE Assistant District Attorney, |
think" said Coroner Feinberg, sad
that we could close the case without
a jury. At any rate he did not advise
against IT,"
II was called to the coDner's atten-
ton that when the inquiry into his
Office was started in July a food con-
sisting of 431 inquisition papers, some
of them more than three years old, de-
scended upon the District Attorney
Office; and this despite the fact that
such papers were supposed to be filed
with the District Attorney immedi-
ately.
81 did not know it," said Coroner
Feinberg. 1T shows lack of diligence
on the part Of clerks, or else the Dis
trict Attorney did not make request
being conversant with the facts"
Coroner Timothy Healy took the
stand yesterday long enough to say
that he would be willing to answer all
questions put to him and would not
raise the point Of jurisdiction. Of the
four Manhattan cOroners. DR.. HELEN
stein is the only one TO refuse TO an
swer questions. The examination OF
Coroner Feinberg will be continued
TUESDAY,