New-York tribune., 1918-01-28
Neglect of Duty
And Bias Charged
Commissioner Also Ac.
cused Medical Examiner
of Drunkenness

by Lloyd ?. Stryker. Mr.. Stryker, a
former Assistant District Attorey, had
been appoined a commissioner at the
time, to investigate charges made
against the then coroner.
The report of Commissioner Strykcr
never has been published. The Tribune
to-day gives the salient features Of it.
Presumably, Governor Whitman did
Eot act on the recommendation of Com
missioner Stryker, because the office Of
coroner in New York was abolished
bout the time Commissioner Strykcr
hled his report.
Commissioner Stryker, in his re-
port, sustained charges of the City
Club, finding that Riordan had been
guilty Of neglect of duty and other I'M
proprieties. Seldom has report in its
language and recommendations been
more condemnatory.
The Municipal Civil Service Commits
sion is now trying to abolish the civil
service list for medical examiner. and
have the place made exempt In that
event Riordan's temporary appointment
could be made permanent.
appointment Called Temporary
On January l last Mayor Hylan an
nounced the appointment Of former
Coroner Patrick D. Riordan as Chief
Medical Examiner. under the statute
which went into effect on that day, and
provided for replacing the coroners by
The medical examiners system. This
appointment was made in disregard Of
he civil service list. which was estab-
lished by the Municipal Civil Service
Commission OF the Mitchell edmins stra-
non, in accordance with the statute
which placed the new position in the
civil service class.
When this was brought to the at
tcntlon Of the Mayor he replied that
the town was sick of reform, and incl
dentally that the appointment was only
temporary one. The law also provides
that the Chief Medical Examiner must
scopist. In a taxpayers action brought
Saturday by Russell II. Loines it is
charged that Riordan is not skilled
patholog!st and microscopic, and an
injunction is sought against payment
u his salary. with temporary re-
Straining ORDER issued against Con
'roller Craig and Chamberlain Johnson.
How the Charges Arose
On December 9. 1914. at about 6 80
p. m. a northbound local elevated train
crashed into the rear end of an expires 9
train waiting at the 1l6th Street sta
ton of the Ninth Avenue elevated road,
resulting in the death Of John Collins
and Gottlicb Minnisch. This accident
occurred while Riordan was assignee d
TO duty as I. coroner, and the inquest
into these deaths was held by him on
January 8. II and II, 1915, at the Coro-
ners' Court, in Manhattan. These pro-
ceedings resulted in the coroner hold
ing the officers and directors Of the In
terborough Rapid Transit Company
guilty of culpable negligence and
charged with the crime OF manslaugh-
oneration of the conductor and the
motorman of the train which crashed
into the waiting express.
Following these proceedings Presi-
dent Shonts OF the Interborough tileo
with Governor Whitman charges agains'
Coroner EiordAn seeking his removal
A little later the City Club filed addi-
tional charges in reference to the coro
ner's conduct on the night of the acci-
dent, the Shonts charges dealing Will
the coroner's conduct of the inquest
Both sets of charges were referred tC
former Assistant District Attorney
Lloyd P. Stryker, as the Governor:
commissioner. who held public hear
ings on April 5, G, T, S, 10, 10 and 2S
1913, and whose report was thereafter
duly filed with the Governor.
Findings of the Commission
In reference to the charges brough
by the Interborough officials Commits
sioner Stryker found that Riordal
caused and procured the Interborougl
officers and directors to be held in bal
on the false charge of manslaughter il
the second degree and the motorma,
and conductor to be eXonerated"; tina
Riordan did instruct and charge tn,
Jury falsely as to the law and misle,
the jury into rendering its said find
ing and verdict against the said officer
and directors"; that "Riordan frequent
~ IN his charge to the jury did refe
to his own false and unsworn state
ments as though they had been cvi
dencc. so as falsely to make it appea
TO the jury that the lnterborough of
Ncers and directors were guilty o
crime; that "the coroner's acts an,
conduct proved his bad faith in caus
nc innocent men to be charged witt
crime and guilty men to be exonerated
commissioner Stryker's report states
Throughout the inquest the respond
ent Eiordan) was striving in ever,
was possible falsely to make it appea
that the motorman and conductor wer
innocent and the officers and director
we're guilty He constantly indulge
IN buttooncry and attempts at humo,
Had this been the result Of innocen
GOOD nature the respondents jibe
would have been more evenly divide
between the employees and EMPLOYERS
but they were principally dirccte
against these petitioners (officers an
dIrectors). Their design and cfrec
were to prejudice them with the Jury.
District Attorney Hampered
Assistant District Attorney Arthu
Train represented the District Attor
ncys Office at the inquest before Rior
dan. The latter's treatment of MI
Train and his associates upon this in
Guest was included within the scope O
the charges filed agans. Riordar
Commissioner Stryker found that it ha
been the invariable custom for The Dis
trict Attorney to conduct the examina
ton of witnesses at coroners' inquest
He found, too that Riordan did no
want either the District Attorneys ad
zee or his assistance. This respondent
who defends his injudicial conduct OF
the ground that he is "a layman ant
not lawyer told an experienced pros
ccutor not to interferc' interfere