New-York tribune., 1918-01-28
Hylan Appointee Once
Found Unfit for Post

with what" Obviously with his efforts
to bring about the result which he pro
cured"
After referring to tho evidence be-
fore him in relation to the coroncr's
treatment Of Assistant District At
torncy Train. Commissioner Strykcr
made his finding "That the respondent
Riordan) did interfere with District
Attorney Train and hinder the investi
cation and work Of the District At
torncy of New York County and his
assistants in their lawful efforts prop
erly to fix the criminal responsibility
for the deaths of John Collins and
Gottlieb Minnisch; that by the rcspon-
dents (Riordan's) acts. speech and gen
eral dcmcanor he was guilty of such
discourteous and insulting conduct to
the District Attorney Of New York
County and his assistants as to justify
their Withdrawal from the coroncrs'
court and their further participation
in or at the inquest; that the ro-
spondent's (Riordan's) conduct toward
the Assistant District Attorneys was
calculated and designed to make it diff
fcult if not impossible for such as
sistant District Attorneys to remain
and continue a participation in the in
quest
Called Unfit for Office
Concluding his treatment of the In
terborough charges Commissioner
Stryker said: "The conclusion that this
respondent (Riordan) has proven him
self wholly unfit to hold his quasi
judicial office. and that he deliberately.
whatever may have been his motive,
caused wantor and gross injustice
to be done is one that have reached
after most painstaking consideration
OF the evidence adduccd before me and
at the inquest. 1t is q conclusion
winch, 1t seems to me, any fair mind
would reach after such q study of this
case as | have given it,
The City Club charged in substance.
as set forth in Commissioner STRIKERS
report. that Coroner Riordan was as
signed to duty between D. m. De
cember and 8 a. M December 10, and
that lit was incumbent upon him dur
ing those hours to be readily available
and within the cali Of the Office of the
Manhattan Board of Coroners;" that
shortly PRIOR to p. m. ON December
.. 1914, the Manhattan coroner's Office,
havlng been therefore notified of the
collision and of the deaths of Min
nisch and Collins and Of the nlacc
where the bodies then were to be
found, made reasonable and diligent ef-
torts to communicate with Coroner
Rlordan IN order to apprise him of
such accident and of said deaths, and
OF the place where the bodies then
we're; but that said coroner's office
ca not succeed in communicating with
Coroner Elordan until shortly prior to
- O'Clock at night on December O
1914; that such failure was owinp 10 to
the omission Of said coroner to leave
"lth the clerk OF the coroner's office
lN1ormaNon as to where he might he
1ouAd; that although respondent did
receive such notification prior 10 -
o'clock on December he did not reach
'ne place where the bodies Law until
ABOUT 2:lo a. IN. on December TO. 1914
Found tie Was Drunk
Alter analyzing the testimony Com.
missioner Stryker found that the Citv
Ciuo had sustained its charges in rel.
sIehce to the unsuccessful attempts Of
M Mlne oofoner's office to reach Riordan.
COMMISSIONER Strykcr found that "the
overwhelming weight of evidence
proves that when this respondent Rior-
dan reached the place where the bodies
were on the night OF the acciden, he
was drunk, and | so find" Commits
sloner Stryker further found "that
owing to his intoxication. this re-,
sspondent (Riordam) was unfit to per
form his duties when he arrived at the
pace "herc the bodies were, and that
ne neglected to perform such duties
by reason of his INVESTIGATIONS"
Inc official statement in the Com
mlssioner's report is as follows. "In
conformity with Your Excellencv's an
pointment to me as Commissioner in
1hese matters, have reported to Your
ENcellcncy the evidence and nv finding
OF the material facts deemed by me
10 nave been established in connection
"''h the said charges. and my conclu
SION, which is that this respondent
should be removed from the Office Of
Coroner OF the Borough of Manhattan.
City Of New York."
hen the cases of the officers and
directors of the Intcrborouyh. whom
Coroner Riordan had held for the
grand jury, were presented to the Grand
Jury that body forthwith dismissed the
charges. Despite the nature and gray
lty OF the charges made against him.
Coroner Eiordan did not take the Wit
ness stand to testify in his own behalf
IN the removal proceedings against him
peiofe Commissio.-.r Stryker.
II remains to be stated that Gov
crnor Whitman did not follow Commits.
S,oner Stryker's recommendation that
Rlordan be removed, the fact being
mat when 1t was Received there had
just been enacted, With the Governors
+ assistance, Chapter 264 Of the Laws OF.
l9io' winch abolished the Coroncr's