The Sun

THE ELM PARK RIOT INQUEST.
A Fruitless Investigation—No body Knows Who did the Shooting.
Coroner Schirmer concluded the inquest yesterday over the bodies of the five victims of the Elm Park riot. Not one of the witnesses sworn could or would indicate who did the firing. The proprietor and two bartenders at Elm Park testified that they saw part of the riot, but saw none of the shooting, although they heard it. Two foremen on the Boulevard swore that the men under their charge quit work at about 3 o'clock on the day of the riot, to visit Elm Park.
Capt. Helme testified that he visited the grounds at 2 o'clock, and that everything was then quiet. He asked the managers of the picnic whether they anticipated any disturbance. They said they did not, but had heard that they were to be assaulted on their way home. The Captain advised them to leave in a body at 6 o'clock, when he would furnish them with an escort. At 5 o'clock he left, and at Ninety-second street saw a crowd of laborers coming toward the Park from the Boulevard. He asked some of them where they were going, and they said to the picnic. He then hurried to the police station and sent up a body of policemen under Sergeant Kelly, and telegraphed to the Thirtieth Precinct for aid, and to the Central Office. After sending up all his available men he returned to the Park himself. He did not see any of the firing, and, although he had made every effort to do so, he had not been able to discover who fired the shots.
Several other witnesses were sworn, but they could give no information concerning the shooting. The jury rendered a verdict that the victims of the riot died of wounds received at the hands of persons unknown.