Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-11-02
CORONER HINTS At
OFFICIAL D|SC0RD
Says He Does Not Obtain Co.
operation Desired From
Attorney General.
Sylvester

Acknowledgement sylvester -.
Townsend, Jr., was last night charged
with obstructing the administration
OF the coroner's office, in his alleged
repeated failures to turn over to the
coroner evidence, held by the latter
To be necessary in the investigation
OF cases coming before the coroners
jury.
The criticism of Mr.. Townsend was
made by Coroner Isaac S. Bullock at
the inquest last night into the death
OF George Taylor Negro highwayman,
who was shot and killed by Patrol
man Melville Apsley last Sunday night
f6llowing an attempt 10 hold up a
tAxicab on the causeway. Members OF
the coroners jury likewise criticised
Mr.. Townsend.
Mr.. Bullocks caustic remarks re-
suited from the alleged failure OF the
attorney general TO surrender 20 the
coroner the revolver used by Taylor
IN his attempt to kill Harry f. Scott,
driver OF the taxicab figuring in the
case.
Testimony was offered at the inquest
that the Negro had twice tried to
fire a 32-calibre revolver, which he
leveled at SCOTS head. but that the
weapon had failed TO so Off. When
asked by members of the jury If he
had the weapon to offer as evidence,
Mr.. Bullock said the gun had not been
given to him by the attorney-general,
who he understood. had 1t.
Patroman Apsley was asked II ne
had the weapon. and replied that he
had been told 10 give II to Attorney
General Townsend, and had obeyed hie
orders.
You had no business to do So"
Mr.. Bullock said, adding that the at
torney-general has repeatedly failed TO
cooperate with the coroner in the In
vestigation of cases coming before
the coroner's jury.
The verdict in the case follows
George Taylor, colored. came to his
death in the Delaware Hospital on
October %, from gunshot wound in
f1icted by Patrolman Melville Apeley.
Taylor was in the act of committing
murderous assault on one Harry +.
Scott.
We. the coroner'e jury. hereby
commend the said Patrolman Apsley
for his fearleesness in the perform
ance OF his duty"
Speaking of the occurrence thie
morning. Mr.. Bullock would add moth
ing 10 his statemcn. OF last night
Neither would ne detract any OK Il;
He asked, Who was elected corone"
Mr.. Townsend or myself" lie said
the attorney general had no business
with the gun until afte,' the coroner s
Jury had disposed Of the case.
Says Coroner's Office Is Useless.
Acknowledgement Townsend today
Issued the following statement:
The statement OF the coroner I.
substantially correct except that W,
do not actively interfere with hi,
Office. but generally ignore it. Tn,
coronere last public complaint wac
against the Detective Bureau and the
attorney generals office in connection
with the murder of Samuel Christiano
where his office gave a verdict that tn,
person guilty of the murder was un
known. Subsequently the attorney
generals Office brought Ralph Olivi;
to trial as a result OF which he is nov
In the workhouee serving a twenty
five-year term. Had we given III,
coroner's Office the information we haC
concerning the Olivia case and ha,
this evidence been brought out a
the coroners inquest Olivia neve
would have been convicted.
The coroners office is one of grea
antiquity, but Il has outlived its use
fulness and 1t might we'll be abollshe,
and the expense saved TO the State
Because of the publicity given to It
Investigations IL is more of a hin
drance than help in connection wit
the securing OF evidence for the prose
cution OF criminal cases"
A large portion of New Cast
county was covered by Coroner Isaa
S. Bullock and Deputy Coroner Mich
OILS. Riding in an automobile, the
Travelled a distance OF about eighty
five miles, holding three inquests an
making two Investigations yesterday
The hSst inquest was held yesterda
afternoon at Smyrna, into the deaf
of Patrick j. Hennehan, so years ok
who was killed in an accident on tn
State Road, about mile and a hal
above the Kent-New Castle count
line early yesterday morning. A rec
concentration was made by The core
ner's jury that the attorney general
office investigate the accident Her
nehan, who was a tailor at Smyrna
was one Of an automobile party {
three who were returning from WI
mington, where they had witnesse
the Halloween festivities. His con
panions were Chesley Griffith ,
Easton, Nd, and Irving Scott
Smyrna. Griffith was driving, whe
the car ran into a barrel of tar, al
parently placed in the road CAS- a pranl
The object could not be seen unit
the motorists were almost upon !
The machine upset and the three me
were thrown 10 the road. Griffith we
badly injured, but Scott escaped wit
slight injuries. Hennenan's neck We
broken. The verdict Of the coroner
jury was that the man had met h
death as the result OF injuries acc
oentally received.
In the case Of Mrs. Amanda Rec
40 years old, who died Friday nicl
IN the Delaware Hospital after beir
Struck by an automobile truck at Ma.
ket street and Vandever avenue.
coroner's jury last night held Edwal
Taylor colored, driver Of the true
under $4,000 bail for the action of Il
grand jury. The verdict was TO Il
effect that the woman met her dea,
from injuries received by being str,t
by the truck.
An investigation was made into L
sudden death OF Mrs. Lotte c. VALE
ee years old. Of Binstead, who w
FOUND Qead In the CELLAR Of her hnr