New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-11-10
CORONER BALKS;;
INQUIRY HALTS
City Counsel to Move in
Supreme Court to Force
HellenStein to Answer.
SILENCE ON STAND
BATTLES PROBERS
Commissioner Wallstein POST
poneS Inquiry Till Tomorrow
-CoronerS Subp9naed.

The Corporation Counsel will move
to-day before Justice Pendletou, in the
Supreme Court, that Coroner Herman
Hellenstein be directed 20 answer
questions put 20 him yesterday by
Leonard Nj. Wsllstein, Commissioner
OF Accounts, or be committed for con
tempt of court. Coroner HellenStein
will be represented by Frank Moss, who
will argue that the commissioner had
no right to put the questions. The ac-
ton will be returnsble before Justice
Davis.
Owing to Coroner Hellenstein's reti-
cence the investigation by Commits
sioner Wallstein 10 determine why IA
coroner?' has been postponed until
tomorrow. Subp9nas have been issued
for the other coronerS 70 appear to-
morrow, and the morning will be de-
voted TO ascertaining whether they m
tend to take the same attitude as
sumed by Coroner Hellenstein.
The coroner" said Commissioners
Wsllstein yesterday, refused 10 an
Swer the simplest questions bearing
upon his conduct OF his Office or test
ing his knowledge Of the legal powers,
duties and obligations Of his office. The
coroner's connection with insurance
companies which frequently are in
terested in proceedings conducted by
the coroner's Office, his methods of Sc
Letting jurors TO sit upon cases IN
which specific defendants stand accused
Of crime before him and his discharge
of the other functions imposed upon
MIN by law are matters which, l am
convinced. the law empowers me 20 IN
vestigate.
Il shall. therefore. without delay. ask
the courts 10 decide whether or not a
city offcial who is paid out of the city
treasury can, whenever the eXamina-
zion approaches a point embarrassing
10 him, halt an Investigation conducted
with a view 20 determining whether or
not he is sufficiently equipped for and
IS properly dischsrging his duties"
Mr.. Moss said that. in his opinion,
the election by the people Of his client
showed presumptively that he was nj
70 hold Office. The judicial aspect OF
his office, Mr.. Moss said. was not .
proper field for inquiry by the Com
missioner Of Accounts.
The decadence that has developed in
the Office Of coroner since the proud
day when julius Hamburger traced It's
pedigree back 10 king Alfred the Sec
ond" was apparent when Coroner Hell
lenstein baked at the second question
asked by Commissioner Wallsteln. II
vas: "Where. further than in the city
charter, may be found the law govern
ing your office -
"How can you fully determine the
cause Of death ?" asked Commissioner
Wallstein-
what do you want returned the
coroner, "a definition o.:
"A definition viii do
well" came the answer, tine best
definition ! know OF cause Of death Is
that il is what causes death
When the questions touched on IN
surance the coroner became retlcent
again, although he admitted that at
previous hearing he had been mistaken
in denying that he had letters Of in
PRODUCTION 20 several Insurance COM
panies which might employ HIM as
physician. He saw no improperly, ne
said. in seeking such employment
ON what classes of cases are ln-
surance companies interested?' asked
Commiss' 0ner Wallstein.
Decline 70 answer put in Mr.. Moss.
That's not my business added the
coroner. 81 think it's an unfair ques-
ton"
The coroner said that death certii-
Gates were made out by the coroners'
physicians. and that he had confidence
in their experience and ability. Dr
Timothy d. Leblanc had told him, he
said, that the Board Of Health, through
DR.. William II. Guilfoy. had agreed TO
accent infantile commissions as a cause
of death in certificates made out by
him. Coroner Hellenstcin said that
such a cause Of death would not he
accepted in a certificate made out by
-, 49, rfau