The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-01-21
THE CALAMITY IN rwESTY.FIRsr STREET.
conclusion OF the Testimony before the
.NE Nf CorOner's Jury.

Conclusion OF the Testimony before the
III coroner's Jury.
Ee REMARKABLE gvIDEscR ELIcITEp.
The coroners investigation continued yestsr-
| dsy in reference to the cause Of ths calamity In
Twenty drst street, by the falling OF six buldipss
whereby six perssrs were killed, and nsuv others
dangerously injured. The evidence as taken before
the Coroner in this case, will be read with much in
tere.t as 1T presents some very curious aud remark
able facts in the and customs adopted By boss
carpenters and and in opinions
entertained by tn Of the safety and caution re-
qursd In the erection of brick buildings We by
the evidence that no blame be attached either to
Mr. Enmet or Mr. Gientworth-al they had to guide
them was the judgment Of the architect and the
perience OF the builder. But OF the
able facts exhibited in the testimony Is the evidence
given by the master masons and carpenters who,
SCENE foresaw the danger from day to day, and pre-
dcted the downfall Of the buildings, yet never gave
any information TO the workmen, or persons in
charge ofthe ouildings This appears csrtauy to be
a very remarkable feature exhibited on the part o
master builders towards their brother workmen. Any
one would suppose that the ordinary feelings OF hu
manity would prompt caution in such cases when
| the dagger appeared so decided.
Thomas Adds Emmes, being sworn, says-I reside at
No. "a University place.
The Coroner tb. asked Mr.. Emmett to relate to the
jury all the facts within his knowledge touching the
relating 10 the calamity which occurred
now unoer inveslig alton.
Mr. Emmet then stated that during ths last sum
| msr the late MIR Ferris pell made agreement with
John Ooout and wished to purchase six lots Of ground
in Twenty nrs street but that he had not the money
TO buy them, and that II would buy them, and make
the frat payment, the deed should be in my and
on the sale OF them, ne would divide such prost,
In 6ooosr about tho 10th Of that month be told me
that he had sold chem to George Spencer, under
~ they progressed MIR. Pen died in Novsmber last at
which time the cellars Of those buildings dug
and think the foundations were commenced; after
MIR. Pell's death, Mr.. Gentworth. who lad been the
| broker through whom the lots had been sold TO Mr.
Speu called on me in relation TO them having heard
had an inereet IN snem; looking at che contract
told Mr.. Glent~orth would assu me the contract
and mske the same payments az Mr. Pell had done;
these contracts had been erasn out in tn Mr.
Pel and Spencer. but not signed by either party; .
Mr. Gltntworth, at my Once, aud In csnversing
| about the contract, Mr.. Spencer said he did not
have for houses OF that descriptionI think that
the loan Spencer was TO receive 50 900 each
@ ,ns contract st rsauT.a ~ MN 70 aoi'n sas IN .'
Spencer told me he intended 10 make letter houses
than those referred 70 in the contract told sm i
that Was the case, would incre1e the loan 10 $4,000
on each house; did so and the contract was then
drawn up In my name; Mr.. Pel had slso negotiated
Loan on those lots, and the houses TO be erected
them by Spencer. tor s76oo from the seamens Bank
Of Savings; few days after this was taken sick |
for several weeks; sent tor Mr. William rhonas who
was The srchtect baned In the agreement did no.
know him at frs. bat believed hm 10 be one the
| firm q Thomas \ Son, In cspsl street. requested
Mr.. GleDtworth TO bring Mr.. Thcmls to my mousse
hr Thomas called; told Mr rhom,s the con nusction
had with the buildings, by the death Of Mr. P-ll and
ss II was new business TO AID he the arch
tect and superintendent named In the contract be.
tween the parties that required him to give very
particular attention the business thould req
certificates from him the building progressed that
Mr. Spencer entire stranger and that IT /
things did not go according to HE satisfaction
he must let me know the buildings went on IN that
attention as he resided In asirhboraood NJ sern
Ger enthusiastically draw on me for sins sun, be-
tore the payment was actually due; a stons eiil
wss presented 10 Tor payment and refused TO do
30 until received certificate IRON Mr. Thomas;
| mr.. Thomss certihcats paid ths stone bill AIR.
III, for his services was TO resolve 500; halt
vss 70 pay received m order fcom Mr speaser, to
pay Mr. Thomss $50 for wings made for the build
iDgs in rsenty fret street paid this order, by gyin
my note ut the death Of Mr. P-l, several contrasts
IN process and Mrs PelI engaged Mr. Glentsosth
to conduct and superintend the business Mr. 6ient-
worth was merely TO Represent AMI protect tho inte.
~hst manner the buildipss we're te be erected; the
day before the accident MIR. Davenport called at my
buioir In Twenty TT are getting into bad
reppts; am tsli That IN. beams tnst being put
IN sie too slight and not OF sufictent
sent Tor Mr. Glentworth and informed h,n shat mad Il
\ been told me by Mr. Davenpcgt insorm-d Mr. Gisnt-
"eith ttst ne must - 70 ~ Ihonss the architect
buildings In Twrtt, nrst street, the -ex' morning Mr.
Gentsorth called on me- aud CAV. me the nate. or
certificate. from Mr.. Thoma.; cnnsifsr-d II cer.
| t1ca.e the next day sitfr tcr accident. Nr.
| Thomas Mr.. Glentwtrih, aud Cartaio Peck TO
ny o0ice; asked Mr. Thomas Low he could giye a.
such e.rtihcate thatiu my osu ins;ta cation vas
cen PEELED 10 publish it, and that q ne conld
1 srd thr public, the public Justly ini,g-
ug-t, then rad the sertiacsie over ., |
bin ~ there was any exalanatan ne could si'r ~ 20
~. cause pt tho Rsctdrnt he di not nc the re at
t,mTt 10 deny the certidcats the only explanation
De stua CIV. WIS that tho men lad ~ elected % do
wat he had epj,ios on them 20 io-which wa, 70
vent on and 60 bnSge ths DeaeS lha a. the frsnts
v,Ie not TO 20 mp hs cosdsIed Il recsssary precan
ton strengthen the builiings the had done II
third Story. thai elected the fourth
ttorJ sLd that - many men voy King going up ani
down The huiidinF,' 'ls visr,'loa on ne sresa
the other wallis VIM "; remarked that thooght 1
bia plauatsns med reasonable tb.y had stood
The L.asy gale aud did moi bulge. MIR, Thomas sso /
went 70 plain about tn. brams mentioned in his
certificate. lie told that he considered them &c b.
amply strong. they we're to he croGsspurr.d the
unc.r eide aud double t.idged The seEmens Bsnk
or Savings hsve person to iavtstigas the buildings
sn wtiea they Loan money think that personsas
Mr. Davenport; placed confidence in the uigmcut
q Mr.. rhomss sns soted sccoriinNyi have msfe
~. msnt without csiuhcatc from Mr. fnomss; the
lsst certificate believe I. o. the handwriting Of Mr..
ol,ntwofth. dictated by Mr. Thom.s. Mr. Taomas
acknowledge the ccIuaeate; rss1 he certiheas- ~
Mr. Thoma. the day tte accident occurred - dld
not feel iusidsd 10 nakins another p'y ment without
\ esrtIheate iron Mr. Thomas, after what had been
told rtspeetiDg the buildings the payments 20 be
mad. by we're stipulated, but 70 accommodate Mr..
spencer, made edvance, on materials made no
rsJmcit on the last certificate the accident nap
rencd sheriff time alter received the eertacste-the
same osy
MILAN Crcs'si sworn. says - u side a. I0i West
Te,ndeih street 1 sm = mason; worked on the |
IoiairGs In question commrnctd - work on the l
goth II Dscsmosr worked two days aud quarter, /
woi ktd on the ana party walls. | thought th- /
mortar hsd too nuah loaul Ia ~ 70 make Il strong
never n ace any "a m plsut should judge from what
in The MAX of hs mortar, that more than two
barrels 81 lean pot In - load Of sAnd; IN
working the brick header made every eighth |
course the TaFty val. and every sixth course
the ali. / consider that Toor Ecrsmen
gaced 20 wotk the lllidbgs thc frrcnRn called me
W enc dsy tec carry up party wall as none - the
men at work On the wall could carry up ehimaeyi
he eve there teo Emth tneftar uged bsksesn the
hack thought tho beams we're totally nsufl ent in
stfrurth. broke one M seli BY walking IN "a.
inthan Peck sworn .aJs - reside ~ NJ 4 leroy
street. brick ear nsr; conveyed htick 70 the
bBildrgs In question: the hIfsk earted ., hard
quality | call III. good brick, was la Mr. Oent-
eepLs ties On ID, dss ne aet fent uesUrrsd; when
MIR On nfras. the twrhltert. came In Mr. 9entwnrth
said ~ him " 4 the buidia1s this moraiug
/ prd did not Tcu there. T" " no. tai AR "a OMas
but after wafdfs ~ W. Thomas " IT ur to the