Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-28
"REPEATERS" USED
TO FILL PANELS OF
CORONER'S JURIES
Continued From First Pagc.)

torney Leo A. Rover, who has par
ticular interest In the coroner's jury
because Of the effect of It's decisions on
the work Of his own Office. has been
pledged to the movement.
The Chamber Of Commerce members,
IL their investigation Of the coroner's
jury warrants such action. will APP
peal TO Congress for legislation en-
poweFins the jury commission 70 select
the persons from among whom the
coroner's jury win be chosen, just as
they choose the jurymen for the regular
courts. At present the members of the
jury are chosen by the coroner.
Rover IL Not Critieizing hewitt.
In commenting yesterday on the pro-
posed plan Of the Chamber of Com
merce for selecting the jury, Mr.. Rover
made It clear that he feels Coroner
hewitt has done excellent work with the
facilities at his disposal and that he Is
In no wise inclined to criticize the coro-
ner for any undesirable circumstances
which may surround the selecting and
operation Of the Jury.
Il feel that 1t might be desirable to
change the method Of selecting the cor
oners Jury" MFR. Rover said. For, as
long as can remember, the Jury has
been selected by the coroner. This i'm
poses on that oficial task which
hardly comes within the scope of his
duties and which calls for the expendi-
ture of time which he can Ill afford.
because his ofiicial duties are sufficient
TO keep any one man busy.
"Of course, IL would be necessary for
, Congress to act before any such change
could be brought about, but ! for one
would like TO see II accomplished.
! Attorneys Status Explained.
"At the present time there is a rep
resentative of the district attorneys
! ONCE present at every coroner's inquest,
out ne has no more Official status than
any other spectator Any part that he
might take is purely by sufferance Of
the coroner. II there could be a repre-
sentative Of the district attorneys once
present at these inquests with the status
OF an oniciai representative Of the Gov
ernment and with the authority TO ex-
anime witnesses 1t would greatly facili-
tate our work in case the jury decides
TO hold any one for action Of the grand
jury.
While no action Of the coroner's Jury
IN conclusive or final, 1t would, never
theless. be possible for hostile coroner
TO hamper the District attorney in A
considerable measure. / am not criti-
Ching DIR. hewitt. for he has always CO.
operated with us In whole hearted
fashion. But he will not live forever.
It Is possible that his place might be
filled by some stubborn man who could
cause US lots of trouble II we are not
allowed representation at his inauests. /"
Charles w. Darr, president of the
iChamber Of Commerce, said the aues-
ton OF the manner in which coroners
juries are selected was brought to the
attention OF the chamber last month
by man who expressed great indiq-
nation over what he termed the in
efiicinecy of the jury.
This man, Mr.. Darr said, charged that
there are many "repeaters" on the juries
and that these men who serve often are
sometimes incompetent, being unfa-
miliar with the several legal elements
which must be present In every hon,i-
eide before any one can be Convicted
Of nfanslaughter or murder. the two
charges on which the coroner holds In
dividuais for the grand jury.
Il Matter Sent to Committee.
Mr. Darr said that the matter had
been referred TO the proper committee
!, which has not submitted ttsHfeport tc
the chamber as yet. If the facts war.