New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-10-13
Inquest on Demise
of Cock Robin
= Py W. o. MGEEH4y.~

S~~~~~ BY W. o. HGEEHAN.~-~~>S
Boston. Oct. 1.-THE jury sitting on
the inquest as to "Who killed Cock
Robin. of Brooklyn, n. W" is still out
Dozens of witnesses testified before
Coroner Ban Johnson, but the testi-
mony was conflicting, and it is possible
that charges of perjury viii be made
against certain ball players and base
ball writers who were called.
Ring Lardner, baseball writer, was
the first witness called.
Were you present at the alleged
games between the Brooklyn Nationals
and the Boston Americans. during
which the deceased. Cock Robin. came
to his death? ?" inquired the District At
torney.
81 was replied the witness.
"Tell the jury what occurred,
snapped the District Attorney.
81 don't know what happened" said
Mr.. Lardner.
"You were present at these games,
yet you cannot tell what happened
VIII you kindly explain to the jury
how that can bel" Numbered the Dis
trict Attorney.
81 am a baseball writer" explained
Mr.. Lardner.
"Ohl" said the District Attorney.
"The witness is excused"
Wilbert Robinson, of Brooklyn, as
nearest friend of the deceased, was
the next witness. Mr.. Robinson
wore a band of Grape on his hat aai a
large mourning band upon his arm.
There were traces of recent grief in
his tears as he gave his testimony.
"You knew the deceased, Cock
Robin ?" asked the District Attorny.
"He was my little pal,' sobbed Mr..
Robinson.
"Have you any idea as to how he
came to his death2" asked the District
Attorney.
None" replied Mr.. Robinson. "Of
course. he was not very healthy wnen
he started out from Brooklyn, but he
wouldn't have bumped off as quick as
this unless somebody gave him the
works. The first thing know is seeing
him turn up his little pink toes
At this point Mr.. Robinson was over
come and was forced to leave the stand.
The District Attorney then asked that
Ruth and Leonard, Boston pitchers. be
called.
Coroner Johnson interrupted i'm
patiently. "Of course, you know that
the testimony of these men cannot be
accepted as evidence" said the Cor
oner.
"Why not, your honor" asked the
District Attorney.
"They are both left-handers." said
the Coroner. "You should know that
no jury can listen to southpaws."
William Carrigan, manager of the
Red Sox, was next called. When asked
TO tell what he knew about who killed
Cock Robin he said: =.
Nobody killed him. He was dead
from the neck up in the first place, and
he Just kicked off from natural causes"
"You had better be careful" said the
District Attorney. Anything you say
may be used against you, as you are
suspected Of being an accessory to the
killing Of the late Cock Robin"
go as far as you like" said the
witness defiantly. Before you can
prove that | killed Cock Robin you've
first got to prove that he was ever
alive"
The witness was cautioned against
strong language by Coroner Johnson:
He was told that he was in danger OF
contempt of the National Commission.
IF contempt of the National Com
mission is a crime ! ought to be cleo
trocuted," said Carrigan. Anyhow, l
am quitting baseball, so anything say
about the commission goes as II Hes
Charles Ebbets, owner of Cock Robin,
was next called to testify as TO the
material loss sustained by the death or
the well known Flatbush bad.
what value did you place upon the
late Cock Robin before the recent
worlds series and the consequent de-
mise of the bird?" asked the District
about two million bucks" said the
Squire. :, IN x;-
valuation of the remai ms " the SAID
Cock Robin ?" asked the District At
torney. A.
About thirty cents now" said Mr..
Ebbets. He collapsed and had to be
carried from court
Grantland Rice, the poet, who at
tended all games, was next called. My
theory" said Mr.. Rice, sis that Cock
Robin, while in Boston, lived at tne
Copley Plaza Hotel and came to his
death at or near the time he. received,
his bill, the cause being shock and
internal injuries"
"This is immaterial," objected the
District Attorney. at calls for the
opinion of the witness
"What dye mean immaterial!" de-
manded Mr.. Rice. 81 haven't got over
INV bill vet. If didn't have a nat
urally strong constitution I'd have
kicked off myself"
Ivan Olson, the Swedish-Flatbush
ball player, was called, Mr.. Charles
p. Van Loan acting as interpreter.
"Do you think that the fact that you
got two errors on one play had any
thing to do with the death OF Cock
Robin ?" asked the d. A.
CAV don't tank So" said Olson: IF
il ban Yon Anderson or Mr.. Van Loan
sen maybe he got three. Two was all
Az could do and Ay am pretty smart
Swede Teller"
The witness was excused and the
case went to the jury at midnight.