The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-11-27

1
left to be called again at any time during the night that
the jury might agree.
The Ninth Ward school Catastrophe.
| BEREAvED PARENT TO THE FOREMAN OF THE JURY
| TRUSTEES OF THE SCHOOL EXAMINED.
Before Justice Bleakey and Aid Ball. Acting Coroners.
| DAY.
Again the jury assembled yesterday afternoon, accord
ing to the hour Of adjournment o'clock. The names
| Of the members called and all being present the
Court proceeded to business Before however any wit
called Mr. Leonard the foreman Of the jury
presented the following letter which, he sad he had
ceived from Mr. Moore, Of the bereaved parents
The letter handed to Justice Bleaksy the Acting
Coroner who after reading the same ordered 1t to be
read the jury Mr. Smith the Secretary of the jury
read the letter Of which the following is a copy
| Mr.. MosEs q. LEoSARp:-
DEAR siR-Beng deeply interested in the examination
now going on before the jury, Of which you the
foreman and wishing to have all the which
the late melancholy accident exposed for the satisac
ion Of myself well other bereaved parents there
Of the teachers in the Primary department OF
avenue school, who yesterday made the following state
ment to my wife that, first hearing the noise and
hustle which taking place Of her room
the children under her charge laughed out which she
immediately hushed but the confusion outside still
tinung she walked towards the door which, before
she reached burst by fireman, who called out
TO her that she wished to her life and the children
under her she must Immediately fly until that
ment net Of her class had left the and she be-
leves it had net been for the alarm thus given she
would have been able to have kept them from all
danger; but hearing that, she Immediately called
upon her scholars follow her through the window
all but few did who in their fright passed through
TIE door them their deaths the fatal
stairs Among these was my son; and although VIC ld
| n TX that any whether fremen other
sc, who would give such terrible alarm amongst so
nany little children, when if he had any sense what
he might imagine the terrible of doing
SO, and too without any for such alarm that
man, or those men say. whoever they may be- are de-
serving of punishment and will receive it, toe from their
ewn condolences if not otherwise when they think
the awful suffering that has been caused by giving
danger. What wish to know therefore, IT, where are
the that gave the alarm and why did they be-
| fore they examined where the danger was
remain yours, &c, HENRY MOORE,
Wednesday morning Nov g. 1851
After the reading of the letter Justice Bleakley
marked that be did not the utility Of calling any
further witnesses points of which they had already
abundance Of testimony; If any facts could be
ELECTED they would be pleased hear them but merely
aecumulave evidence would only be delaying time to
| Justice Bleakley then proceeded to say:-I would
here remark, gentlemen Of the jury since last
meeting have consulted with the Recorder and Dis
trict Attorney who have both perfectly justified in
the position took In the objection made to Uniting
the evidence OF Mr. McLean they have stated that
jury District Attorney did not believe in his opinion
remain propose to examine the of the school
as have since learned that they have interest what
i
therefore, call the first witness
John W Lstson, being says IL reside at No II
Hamersley street; am one OF the trustees Of Public
sckoel Ne. 26 invited to inspect the plans Of the
building but did not any Of them from the fact Of
my leaving town watched the progress Of the building
from its commencement until finished materials ali
appeared 20 be good the school delivered to the
in November or December 1850 at meeting Of
the trustees objected to the stairs as lag
for the irgress and egress of the children the sa
do not reach the upper story but only to the exhibit
L rCOm aOf NJ fhereN nv ha aptra
which on the front stairs; the front stair rail OBJ
cced TO As too low IL would endsnger the lives Of the
boys who would get on the rail TO slide down. offered
two outons to the Board Of Trustees place
rail TO project up above the wooden rail- kind Of net
another resolution to have erected tower and double
arcate for the boys and the other for the females
to go at the top Of the building the resolutions laid
for two three weeks visited Mr. Dones school;
examined the tower erected at his school and looking
over the building was sti more convinced Of the
eessy Of having tower staircase for school;
the resolution laid think the table by the vote
Of JAMES H. Townsend Oregon Mcdonald and George p
Nelson from the fact Of being able procure
for the improvements from the Board of Education;
never heard the security or myth Of the rail
ing questioned by any one always believed il to be
have cautioned my children not TO 90 up the front
staircase on any consideration as was afraid they
Question by Justice Beakley-In the event Of q Ere
any alarm panic among the children do you think
the stairway sufficient for ngress egress' Al NOT
do not believe the stairs sufficient for the ordinary
purposes have frequently cautioned Mr. McNally 10
drsn from sliding ON the railing Leaving school;
certain death weuld ensue, should they fall over;
my application for the Improvements IL said that
enough money had been pended already the school,
the two commissioners Of the school Edmund
Hurry and Mr. Mclean the architect Edmund
Hurry Jr the south half Of the front door when open
ed will cioe up the foot Of the stairs IL there had
been two side doors right aud left At the foot Of the
s;sirs, doubt very much IL the doorway wouli have
bee cogged up by the children all with TIE excep-
ton Of the stairs and banisters the yen
ton and want Of wardrobe in the primary believe thi,
h ~ he hast Inf hs
lions were made officially.
George P. Nelson being sworn, said--I one Of the
trustees Of tchool No. 20 had nothing do with the
construction Of the building; became Of this
school In Dscember last about year ago; trustee
the building quite finished; the stair railing
that time was being erected; met that time Mr..
Mclean the CO mmiseoner; both went the build
ing together; when got the third floor, the
front part Of the building. the construction Of these
wrong and too low and the that gave
on looking over down the well hole the great height
that boys will slide down ratings thought they
be would inevitably dash out hi, brains; Mr.
Mclean replied that the boys seldom used IL. and
that II could be obvatsd by putting iron railing
the top have been connected with the Public school
Society for time and the stairs in this school In
the rear different from all the Others had been
sccustomsd TO see / then asked II this the only
stairway and Mr. McLe said II was I then said
bought there ought to b. independent staircase to
each department like public school No II; Mr. Mclean
epied, that the old plan obsolete and that this
'aheol was the improved plsni I found that ]
ceulo not receive any htbtLuOnf anu ulu not
ssy any more about then committee was
formed for some other improvements, and agreed TO
meet az the school and at that meeting took Mr
Murphy up the back stairs and explained the danger 81
permitting the primary children and the other larger
children, 70 meet ~ had them do the stair
1 case told him We wanted tower stair case, and
planned 70 him how TO have made he replied to me
my dear fellow you have the best school house the best
accommooations and the best furnished the city and
yet you are not satisfied you don't need H. and its no
use talking about H." talked 10 him about the front
stair case hh reply vas, he thought they good
4 m FIR askfn fneo<
questions 81 Mr. Murphy was 10 get favorable impress
sion or opinion, that the trustees might send 20 the
Board o. Education and pave the way approprs
ton and that the alteration might be made vacation;
Mr. Murphy person engaged 70 do repairs for the
Beard Of Education; thing would ssy regards
the resolutions represented TO have been made BY Mr.
Latson; tat AZ fer az am concerned such resou-
tons aid before the Board Of Trustees
tended every meeting an should have known II II any
1 bad been offered