New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-07
RIORDAN DRUNK,
SAYS PROSECUTOR
Coroner, at al" Wreck,
Profane and Angry, De
clares Deacon Murphy.
DISTRICT ATTORNEYS
ASSISTANT FOILED
Legal Aid Refused by Official
During Inquest-"Unseem-
w." II Is Charged.

Coroner Patrick D. Riordan was
drunk when he went to Harlem, in De-
cember, 1914, to investigate wreck
on the Sixth Avenue elevated IN which
two were killed, according TO Deacon
Murphy, Assistant District Attorney.
Mr.. Murphy testified before Lloyd p.
Striker, commissioner. in hearing
AT the City Hall on charges brought
against DR.. Riordan. Officials OF the
marlborough, whom the Coroner
blamed for the wreck. brought the
charges after q grand jury exonerated
them. Mr. Murphy said he called a
man drunk if he was so intoxicated
that he could not take care of him
self
"He was intoxicated" said Mr.. Muir
ply, speaking of the Coroner's ap-
pearsnce at the West 123d Street po-
lice station CAS- soon as l realized
this asked him into the captains
room. lie was unsteady on his feet
and incoherent as TO speech. ex-
plained what had happened and he
mumbled something about a CHAIR
which | did not understand. He re-
marked profanely that II was a shame
10 call men like ourselves from their
pleasure for men with names Ike the
victims.
MIR. Murphy said that he consulted
with the Coroner's clerk and with his
physician, advising them to smuggle
the Coroner out without letting re-
porters see him.
Don't you know" demanded Henry
A. Wise. Coroner Riordan's attorney,
that some judges. even, are great
Ir,tnk than cObpr ~
That is a matter upon which there
is q difference Of opinion" replied Ed
ward w. Hatch. OF counsel for the In
terborough.
Arthur c. Train, another Assistant
District Attorney, described how the
Coroner requitted Mr.. Murphy's thought
fulness. Mr.. Train and Mr.. Murphy at
tended the inquest as the representa-
tives Of the District Attorney.
81 had an idea" said he, that the
District Attorney conducted the eXamI-
nation OF witnesses but didn't proceed
with it at all. J had to wait until the
Coroner was through. The Coroner
conducted that examination. ! tried to
make him see that ne had better let me
take charge Of the matter but did not
succeed.
81 am frank to say that though ! went
there believinb that the Office Of the Dis
triot Attorney had charge Of the exami-
nation, found after ! walked out and
studied the rules, that the only right |
possessed was immunity from election
Although Coroner Riordan spurncd
The advice Of the District Attorney, Mr..
Train asserted that he was entirely at
sea and constantly turned for counsel
20 Herbert r. Limburg, whom he had
invited through William Randolph
Hearst's secretary
For more than an hour" declared
| Mr. Train, 81 listened to immaterial
witnesses. I heard jokes and touches
of humor from the Coroner, which
seemed to be entirely out Of place. The
Coroner didn't eeem to know what 10
do. He was houndering around, asking
Mr. Limburg for advice. lie was
wholly ignorant and unseemly and
stenographers were wasting taxpayers
money and time taking testimony that
was wholly incompetent
Several had told him, Mr.. Train
added, that the Coroner was drunk at
the time Of the wreck. Mr.. Murphy, he
said. described him as drunk as an
OWL
/. J. OReilly, Mr. Hearsts secre-
tary, testified that he had applied 70
District Attorney Perkins TO have Mr.
Limburg designated as special counsel
in the case, TO help Coroner Riordsn.
Mr.. Perkins, he said, refused in these
words:
81 am opposed TO having outside help
and think my staff can handle the stu
alton. Anyway. this is case OF hom-
eide, where a motorman and conductor
are culpable. ! think II IS an easy
case I suppose YOU would like 10 see
me indict the directors of the company
and hold them responsible for this &C
cideut"
Mr. OReilly said he replied that he
wanted no one but the guilty 10 suffer.