Evening star., 1940-04-10

Morgue. I don't recall this woman"
DO you have any independent
recollection of her?'
mo, I DON'T"
What papers do you have with
you? Do you have the, card of the
coroner's ofi1ce?"
This is not the original; it is q
copy, but it does occur that indi-
viduals come, and not knowing any,
thing about their appearance, they
may be called white. when they are
colored."
Part Stricken Out,
The court stated: Il notice that
the word 'colored' was originally on
this copy that you showed to the
doctor.
Mr.. Hart-Yes.
The CORTLAND that Is stricken
out.
Mr.. Hart-Yes. May I ask the
doctor another question?
The Court-Yes.
Mr.. Hart--Do you recall testify
ing at the inquest on the 17th Of
November? This is dated the 7th,
and that is another mistake. On the
18th Of November?
mo. If there was an inquest held
I testified in 1t, but don't recall my
testimony"
Court Asks Questions.
When Mr.. Hart completed his III.
rect examination of the witness the
court interposed few questions.
you testify as an expert, do you
not?" the court inquired.
eyes"
DO you receive a fee for testify
ing in this case?"
I'VE do, yes"
What amount?"
twenty-five dollars and a haif."
THAT is a practice in negligent
homicide cases?"
"All we testify in, yes"
Doctor, suppose q coroner's
jury held case for the action of the
grand jury on a manslaughter
charge and you testified before that
body, would your fee be payable to
you as a witness?"
"' Yes"
Would Receive Another Fee.
"Then. after consideration by that
body 1t was determined that there
wasn't sufficient evidence to hold 1t
for that action (by the grand jury)
and they referred the case to the
Police Court, where 1t was tried,
and you testified then, would you
receive q fee, for testifying in the
same case?"
"Yes." =
I'm the Police Court?"
Eyes"
TN the same amount?"
eyes"
In the United States marshal's
Office, where checks for such witness
fees are drawn, it was explained
that payments are made from
miscellaneous expense fund of the
District Court. This fund is under
Justice Department budgetry con-
troll, and items on the account are
subject to approval Of the Attorney
General. While the District Of
Columbia auditor has no authority
over expenditures in this fund, 60
per cent Of the money thus spent
by the Justice Department is reim-
bursed by the District.
In 1899, there were 81 negligent
homicide and 81 murder cases dis
posed Of In local court. Testimony
Of the coroner or one of his assist
ants was required In all these cases.
Deputy coroners testify in virtually
all negligent homicide cases, with
the cases distributed fairly evenly
between them and court appearances
Of the coroner in such cases being
required only rarely-not so often
rs once year. The coroner, on the
other hand, would testify In larger
portion Of the murder cases.
Doesn't Interfere With Duties.
Coroner A. Magruder Macdonald
asserts that the required court ap-
pearances Of himself or his as
sistants do not interfere in any way
with their regular investigating or
morgue duties,
I'VE have . certain amount Of
work to do; unnatural deaths to In
vesttSatesnore than 400 in1anaAver-
age year~-and autopsies 10 per-
form some 700 in an average year
and this must be and Is done, re-
ssrdlsS Of the amount Of ms ws