Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-05
Court Records Reveal Cases
Ignored by InquisitoriaI
Body in Findings. ;
|. WAYS TO ELIMINATE
"REPEATERS" URGED
Maj, Peyser Favors Putting Homi-
eide Probes Under Police
Court Jurisdiction.

The District grand jury during the
past year has ignored 20 out of SIS cases
in which persons we're held for their
action by coroners' juries, it has been
disclosed by survey of court records
made in an effort to determine how
nearly the Judgment of inquest jurleS
comedies with that of the grand jury.
The coroner's jury system recently has
been criticized because of the repeat
ers" appearing on juries
During the period in which the grand
jury records were examined true bills
were returned in "a of the cases, 20 were
ignored and IL are pending.
When homicide occurs an autopsy
is performed to fix the cause of death,
and If the circumstances warrant a
coroner's jury Is impaneled to look into
the circumstances of the death.
Jury May. Hear Evidence.
The Jury. under direction of the coro-
ner. may hear evidence. but no one Is
compelled to testify. After the inquest
Is ended three courses are open to the
jury.
It may decide that the circumstances
Of the homicide do not warrant the
holding of any one for further action,
it may reach the conclusion that the
death resulted from actions on the part
of persons unknown to the jury or it
may name some person as being re-
spcnsible for the homicide and hold
him or her for action of the grand
Jury. When the case reaches the grand
jury. it may be ignored. or that body
may indict the accused and hold him
for trial.
In an article published in the Star
last week, Maj. Julius Peyser, president
of the District of Columbia Bar Associa-
ton. questioned the desirability Of
coroners' inquests.
Peyser Urges Court of Law.
Maj. Peyser expressed the belief that
a preliminary hearing of the circum-
stances of killing should be held only
before a regularly constituted court of
law, such as a police court or a hold
ing magistrate. The practice of holding
these inquests before coroner's Jury,
he said, has resulted in much delay of
legal procedure. az
He contends that only a person thor
otlghly acquainted with legal technical
tiles is capable of deciding whether or
not a particular killing carries with It
the elements necessary for the indict-
ment of suspect on charge of man
slaughter or murder If such hearings
are held before any other body than
court of law, he says, the possibility
OF delay arises out of the likelihood
of some one being held for action Of
the grand jury when the evidence
against the suspect is not sufficiently
strong to warrant his indictment.
"Repeaters'' Criticized.
Several prominent washingtonians
recently have criticized what they term
"repeaters" on coroners' juries RE
peaterS" are described as men who
serve time after time on successive
Juries. 1t is contended that the presence
of too many "repeaters" might tend to
reduce the deliberations OF any jury to
a cut and dried affair, with the re
peaters" holding the balance of power
whenever a vote is taken.
To Offset this, it has been recon-
mended that the members of coro-
ners' juries be selected from among the
members of panel picked by the jury
commission, which selects the juries
for the trials in the regular courts. The
jury commission was created several
years ago to combat the "repeaters" on
juries in the District courts and has
been an effective remedy for this evil.
Mai. Peyser is in favor of abolishing
the coroner's jury entirely as legal
institution. If this is not deemed adj
visable. he also favors bringing the
of its members under control
of the jury commission.
Rover Has Same Opinion.
Others who have expressed the same
opinion are: Leo A. Rover, district at
torney; Assistant District Attorney
Pearl Mccall and members of the
Chamber of Commerce.
The Chamber of Commerce now is con-
Quoting an investigation of the manner
in which members of coroners' juries
are chosen with view toward making
to Congress for
changes. If the conditions are found
not to be satisfactory.
The District of Columbia Bar Asso-
citation and the Women's Bar Associa-
ton yesterday referred letters from the
Chamber of Commerce asking for their
advice on the proper procedure in look
ing into the question of repeaters to
their committees on legislation. When
the committee reports are received.
at the next meeting of the
two organizations, replies to the two
letters will be drafted.