New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-06
Admits He Was Sent to 81"
Wreck Inquest to Give
Coroner Legal Advice.
THOUGHT "GUILTY"
CHARGE IMPROPER
Hearing of Official Accused by
marlborough Directors Opens
in City Hall:

Coroner Patrick D. Riordan went 10
trial Yesterday in the City Han on
charges Of misconduct brought by Inc
odore p. Shonts and other directors Oh
the Interborough Railway Company Oh
wbom the Coroner tried unnecessarily
70 make malefactors last December
LLOYD 2. Stryxer presided as eommiS-
sioner. The hearing was IN the room
Of the Board Of Estimate.
Herbert il. himburg was the only
witness. He acted as volunteer legai
adviser 10 the Coroner during the m
ouest into two deaths caused by an ele-
,Tstod wreck in Harlem. In their charges
tbe marlborough directors complain
,ba. Mr. Limburg was closely a5sociat,
cd With William Randolph Hearst ana
49, tho Coroner was too wiling TO 49,
ten to newspaper law.
Mr. Limburg testified that L. >;
O,Reilly. Mr.. Hearsts secretary had
oetod him TO assist Coroner klordan'
tvbo was in need Of legal advice, at the
;nanost The District Attorney had re-
used 10 designate him as oihcial ad-
wiser. he added, saying that two ASSIST
a,t district attorneys would take care
of legal points. -. .,.Lo,
AIthough he was not present when
coroner Riordan charged the jury, ne
bod left the Coroner memoranda on ire
iav, in the case, Mr.. Limburg SAID.
Fv-Judge Edward W. Hatch, OF coun..
col for the marlborough, read part OF
tho Coroner's charge to the witness, Mr'
Iimburg thought it was improper Ior
tho Coroner TO charge his jury mat the
directors were guilty. That should nave
boe1 left for the jury TO decide, ne SAID
"Our judges" the witness ADDED, are
oil the time charging jurles IN Just thdI
Uav. when they should not DO IL.
DO YOU mean to infer" snapped Mr.
Hatch. himself once a justice OF the
AnneIlate Division, that Judges are
telling iuries that defendants are
guilty?" A., r;n.bnrc
TRANQUILITY, you can hear it every day
in the federal courts -,
Ignoring that bit Of information Mr.
Hatch sought light on the witness
own estimate of the Coroner's legal
ability 49,.
ncv for the lnterborough." he asked,
".Wen, God help you fellows now; l
have been trying to keep this fellow
straight in this case and
II did not" was Mr. LImburg's reply.
II was at his suggestion, Mr.. Linn
burg said, that Mr.. Shonts, Mr.. Bel
mont. Mr.. Hedley and the secretary OF
the company had been called as wit
n sses. at was plain that there was
culpable negligence somewhere ne eX-
plained, land that these and otner OH
GERS should be questioned
James /. Quacicnbush. of counsel for
the Intcrborouch, in preliminary state
meut to Commissioner Stryker, sug-
gested that the defence would probably
be an attempt to prove that the blame
for the accident really rested with the
officers Of the company. lie would
show. he declared, that disobedience OF
orders was the true cause and that the
employees concerned had been favored
throughout the inquest.
"The real cause" he asserted, was
an IMPACT due 70 the absence from ms
proper place of mOtorman. lie was
disobeying his orders. and so were
others, and yet the two men who should
be held are to-day unhampered and
free"
The hearing will be continued this
morning. Henry A. Wise, former
United States attorney, is counsel for
Coroner Riordan. Associated with MIR.
Hatch and Mr.. Quackenbush for the
railroad is Morgan J. O'Brien.