Year: 1875

CROKER UNDER TIE MICROSCOPE.


The examination OF Coroner Croker was resumed
yesterday morning by tho Senate Investigating Com
mittee The investigation has thus far excited but
very little interest Judging from the number and
character of the spectators with the exception OF
few local politicians nobody attended the examination
Yesterday. The examination began shortly before
eleven O'Clock.


CORONER CROKER AGAIN on THE RACK


The first subject gone into again the adIourning
OF nquests to the Morgue, by reason Of which, as it
appeared on the previous day two juries
had to be empaneed-oue at the house.
which viewed tile body and gave no
verdict and another which rendered the decision
at tho Morgue and had never seen the corpse, The
drift of the examination was to show that in these
cases where the jury the Aorgue had never seen tho
body and where scarcely any testimony taken was
perfectly useless to caltt and only prompted by
desire to obain the $5 fee which the law allows for
the summonng OF jury The witness insisted how
ever, that he considered It safer TO have jury and
that relieved him Of much responsibility .The jury
have an opportunity TO ask the Deputy Coroner who
gives tho result Of the autopsy all the questions they
like he said And he volunteered this state
ment:-'These were all extremely simple cases where
there was no suspicion whatever OF foul play"


PUT THAT DOWN.


The counsel for the committee must have seen in
this statement voluntary confirmation Of the fact
which he was trying all along to establish--namely
that tho nquests utterly useless and only held
for the sake OF the fees which they would put
pockets OF the Coroners for he Immediately turned to
the stenographer and said, "Put that down"


After an hour had been spent in technical
nation OF the routine business OF the Coroners Office
Coroner Croker's trial for murder was taken up The
Coroner asked to make statement of everything
that occurred from the time he went into the station
house


CORONER cRoKKR's STATEMENT


''When first went into the station house | made
charge against James O'Bren for assault, and 0Bren
made the same charge against me. While this went
man named Craig came in and said had murdered
his cousin The Sergeant paid attention 10 my state
ment and was locked up IN a cell This was at about
half-past O'Clock, and two hours after Coroner
Woltman came, made q preliminary examination and
bailed mc.n


sDo you claim the power as Coroner to take bail in
o charge of murder 2" asked the counsel


Coroner Croker-Yes, sir.


''Can you point the section of law which gives
you this powerY"


Coroner Croker-No. sir can't do that


After several cross-questons the Coroner corrected
his previous statement by saying that he had power
TO bail IN charge OF murder


"You used 60 home during the trial. did you not?n
he was asked.


Coroner CroEer-Yes, sir; about four times l think
1t might have been five. IL was generally after the
"lt has been sworn here that you were seen at
your house as early as eleven o'cock-is that sog"
coroner Croker-lhal positively ueny


"At what time were you generally returned TO tho
Tombsfn


Coroner Croker-one day it late as ten.
generally only half an hour at home; only,
when my wc was sick, stayed an hour
AT what hour was tho trial generally over'"


The witness first said at seven O'Clock in the evening"
but subsequently admitted that it was ofener at
Ave O'Clock


sWhere did you spend all that time II you did not az
your homc-you generally used to take dinner while
Coroner Croker-I generally took something to cat
at home.


FROM THE suBLME RIDICULOUS.


''You dincd out at Delmonico's generally, did you
notSn


Coroner Croker-No sir; ! took dinner sometim
at Ieggett's restaurant.


''You say that you returned to the Tomis
later than ten O'Clock while tho Warden testified that
II late as elcvcnIn


Coroner Croker-l think he must have been mistaken
as to that.


''while you were at the Tombs you visited by
great many friends late night ~


Coroner Croker-Yes, sir, was.


''How late did these friends generally stay2n


Coroner Croker-About eleven O'Clock. One time q
friend Of mine, Ed Kearney, spent the whole night
with me.


Glow late were these friends admitted TO the TombsPr
Coroner Croker-They would come in at about half
past nine ten O'Clock and stay about hour or
Here ended Coroner Croker's lengthy examination,
and be rose with an expression Of evident relief
QUESTION 2F swEARING


Mr. John j. Toal, clerk for the Board or Coroners
questioned in regard 10 the duplicate Of missing
Inquest paper which he had made out four five
days @ as be be ss ossa STdsr the S.r~ superstition
would be brought against tho Coroner's office as an
evidence that the inquest bad never been held
in that case. Mr. Toal admitted that his attestation
sign of his having been sworn, although the
printed form says "havng been duly sworun Mr.
Ioa confessed that he neither swore with uplifted
hand nor upon the Holy Book. He considered that
when he signed his name TO affidavit II equal to
taking the formal oath.


''Then you consider that you have sworn, whether
you have sworn not


MI. Toal-Yes sir. (Laughter.)


The investigation was adjourned at this point till
Monday morning.