The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-04-08
CALLS 81" WRECK
INQUEST A JOKE
Witness Says PETERBOROUGH
Counsel Shook His Fist in
COrOner'S Face.
no DIGNITY AT THE PROBE

A verbal picture Of James l.. Quack-
enbush. chief counsel for the INTERIOR
oueh Rapid Transit Company, shaking
his fist in the face OF Coroner Patrick
ID. Riordan. calling the inquest Joke
and demanding that the jury disregard
the law as II was expounded to them
by the Coroner. was drawn yesterday
from a reluctant witness by Henry A.
Wise. formerly United States District
Attorney.
The Inquest was TO determine the
cause OF the fatal accident on the Ninth
avenue elevated road at 116th street on
December 2. Theodore r. Shonts, pres
ident of the marlborough. has asked
Gov. Whitman TO remove Coroner Rior-
dan because OF his conduct at this In
quest.
Lloyd p. Stryker. special commits
sioner. Is holding hearings TO determine
whether Coroner Riordan should be re-
moved
John g. Mouitcn OF tho fnterborough's
legal depa rtment. was the only witness
yesterday. Mr.. Mouton said he took A
paper headed cause Of Accident" pre-
pared by the legal force OF the Inter-
borough. TO Coroner Riordans office
just before the inquest. Coroner RI
ordan did not use this paper in his
charge to the Jury. Officers OF the
marlborough company were held respon-
sible AT the inquest. whereas II was con-
tended. the company wanted employees
held.
Attorney wise attempted to show that
this paper, which WAS written IN tho
first person, with sentences beginning,
Il believe" &c, was Intended by Mr..
Quackenbush to be read by the Coroner
as his own charge 10 the jury.
And you did not think there was
anything wrong in that" asked Mr..
Wise
"Oh. no." said Mr.. Moulton.
And yet. continued Mr.. Wise. you
say II was wrong for Mr.. I!mburg to
, assist the Coroner with legal advice
openly at the inquest"
II was evident that Coroner Riordan
was having his inning and he fairly
beamed There was no evidence OF love
between the Coroner and Mr. Moulton
To say the least. Mr.. Moulton believes
that Mr.. Riordan lacks proper dignity
for a quasi judicial officer. Mr. Wise
said that Mr.. Moulton failed 20 appre-
ciate Coroner Riordan's Irish wltt!cis3n
Referring to the inquest Mr. Moultou
said;
The proceedings lacked every vestlge
OF dignity. ono time the Coroner turned
think am earning my salary"
Mr.. Moulton declared that the Coroner
cajoled the witnesses and patted them
on the shoulders and that he also inter-
b rupted them during their testimony. He
! believed II was impertnent when Cor
oncr Riordan said 10 Frank Hedlcy. vice
president OF the marlborough Gee
you've got a lot of responsible
Mr.. Moulton thought IT was undlgniAed
I
Of hts desk when he charged the fury
seen Judge Hunt charge a Jury. but Mr..
Moulton had not. although he said he
had hecn around TO courts lot"
Attorney Wise referred 10 the Fac,
that August Belmont In his testimony
nj the inquest had hesitatcd when asked
to give his residence and finally gave an
address in Thirty-fourth street Cor
oner Riordan said at the lime: "Oh, thai
4 Is where he eats and sleeps once in n
while" Mr. Moulton took exception 70
| that answer.
Mr. Wise wanted to know whether il
was not possible that Mr. Belmont NIGH
! not have known whether hts legal resi-
deuce was In Thirtyfourth street or IN
; Newport.
Il will concede that" said judge Ed
ward W. Hatch. counsel for tho Inter
borough.
And 7 viii corccde that he has boon
doing this for twenty years. retOrted
. Mr. Wise II viii concede thai Wheu
thls same Bclmouts brother was elected
TO Congress he did not have n place IN
New York state he could call LEGAL
residence"
The hearing will be continued ~ ~
A NJ In the BOARD OF Estimate cham
bers in the city Hall.