New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-01-13
Belmont, Shonts, Hedley
and Others Accused of
Culpable Negligence.
NEAR-RlOT CREATED
IN RIORDAN'S COURT
Company Lawyers Make a
Heated Protest Against
81" Wreck Decision.


tcrddy found the directors and the
general manager OF the INTERIOR
ough Rapid Transit Company gritty
Of cuipabie negligence.
The Ucrdict jolloUcd a miniature
DoaHybrook fair. When comparative
calm ,cGs restored RiordGn gaUe
the accused until o'clock this after
noon to fle S5,000 bonds to alcGit
the action Of the grand jury.
Earlier in the dag the Public Ser
rice Commission ordered the COM
pdHy TO remOUe oil l0oodcn cars
from the subCay by December /.
T. is not expected that the c0mpGny
wiU yield to this order tCithout a
contest, James l.. QUackenbush tell
ing the commission before its Gdop-
ton that resistance CGs to be er-
pocted.
The officers named By Coroner
Riordan's jury are:
August Belmont, hcad of the
banking house of august Belmont
e Co. and chairman of The board Of
directors.
Theodore p. Shonts, president and
director of the company.
Frank Hediey, Uice-president and
general manager in chcrge of opera
tion.
Horace ". Fisher, director and
secretary.
W. Leon Pepperman, 0ssistont to
the president and director.
F.. de c. Sulliran, capitalist, d.
rector.
Edward R. Bacon, larger and cap
itdlist, director.
Thomas de Witt Cuyler, capitalist
and director. He IS one OF the in
dicted NeaC RdUen directors.
Edwin S. Marston, latCyer and
banker, director.
AndrrU Freedman, intimate Of
Richard Croker 1Chen he 'Uas "boss"
of Tdmmany Hall, and capitalist;
director.
Cornelius Vanderbilt, capitalist,
director.
The near-riot that marked the clos
ing scenes of the inquest in Coroner
Riordan's court, in the Municipal
Building, came after the Coroner had
charged the jury, practically ordering
it to bring in a finding that the direc-
tors Of the company and its general
manager be held for the grand jury for
having caused the death of GottlieD
Minnisch through culpabe negligence.
The charge. covering eighteen type
written pages, was Immediately pro-
tested against by Martin L. Burke, Of
counsel for the company.
81 am here as a lawyer he began.
Before the jury leaves | want to say
v ord
"You can't say a word here" said
Riordan, beckoning to Burke to with
draw.
But as a lawyer have right
to-
81 tell you you cannot say a word
here not word" persisted the Cor
oner.
Here James L. Quackenbush, general
attorney for the lnterborough. jumped
TO his feet.
This is atrocious," he said, as he
went toward the Coroner's desk. you
do this sort OF thing in the
State of New York"
The Jury was here ordered out. and
Burke and Quackenbush cried to them
to stay. They ignored the request and
shouted:
Accuses Coroner.
use your own judgment. men!
Don't go by what he has told you.
you have exaggerated and falsified,"
said Quackenbush, continuing his re-
marks TO the Coroner. IL tell you TO
bring that jury back here this instant
and do your duty az Coroner!"
81 am not going to have a row about
IT," retorted Riordan.
"You have made a grave mistake"
Burke cut in with. "You charge honor
able men with criminal offence, and
YOU can only charge them with a civil
offence. To be criminal, an act must
De wilful. Remember that
"Why should you charge criminal
Negligence demanded Quackenbush. |
why should a court, without com
,etent investigation, arralgn the names
)f big men without fair trialF You
nav misuse your authority, but you
viii hear about il. You are unfit TO
occupy an official position OF Coroner
never saw such a travesty Of justice
n my life You are disgrace to the F.
State Of New York"
"It is a rule here" said Riordan. "to I
iear both sides Of the argument while .
he inquest is being held. and not after T.
he jury has been addressed II you :
iad come during the investigation you
would have been heard" l
1--WE object TO you falsifying the rec
,rd and misconstruing the testimony" /
aid Quackenbush. II have watched I
'Ou"IoT lht ldoL Two uayH anu nave /.
you, and ! believe you had
our mind made up two days before
his action"
Yes" said Burke. "Who are you
laying TO? Is il the journal? p"
when we try 70 put the thing in
Is right light you send the jury out
4 the room" added Quackenbush. 81
an guarantee that we won't have a
Continued on page 3. column 2