The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-02-04

VERDICT IN THE PExBERroN MnLs CASE
The DUTY OF MAssAcHUsErrs.-After long
and careful investigation into the cause Of the
shocking catastrophe at the Pemberton Mills
Lawrence, Massachusetts,, the Coroner's jury
have brought in their verdict They find that
the evidence does not warrant the belief that
the owners of the mill were cognizant of its
unsafe condition. Without referring to the
character or insecurity Of the foundations of
the building, they attribute the immediate
cause of the disaster to defects in the cast iron
pillars which supported the floors, and the
thinness of the brick walls upon which the
floor timbers rested. The responsibility of the
fearful loss of life which resulted from the fall
of the mill is divided between Mr.. Albert
Fuller, the former contracting agent of the
Eagle Iron Foundry, at West Boston, who sup
piled the pillars, and Mr.. Charles L. Bigelow,
the architect and superintendent of the build
ing, whose duty 1t was to test the quality of
the iron, and under whose immediate super.
vision the entire work was executed. It is
manifest from the language of the jury thsG
they place the heaviest responsibility upon Mr.
Bigelow, for they say:-"That upon Charles L.
Bigelow, being the architect as well as the
superintendent of this structure, rests all the
responsibility arising from an insufficient test
of said pillars, and from any and every defect,
weakness and insecurity apparent in and
about the general construction Of said build
ing; that the walls were laid under his super
vision; that the timbers and foorings were in
every respect constructed and located as he
originally designed; that the inner supports, Of
cast iron, previous to erection, had his ap-
prova, and were by him adopted as in all
parts safe and secure; that such inspection as
he required was given to the iron pillars, and
that any want of skill in designing, any error
Of judgment in approving or adopting, any
want Of due care and caution in properly test
ing the different parts of the structure on his
part, appearing to that extent, rendered him
responsible for the direful catastrophe"
This verdict, though it includes no charge Of
manslaughter against any one, affords sum
cient basis for the authorities to work upon;
and we now call upon Massachusetts, to defend
her white slaves-to protect the living and
avenge the dead; to make such an example of
the parties implicated by the Coroner's jury
as will in future deter others from exposing the
lives of her poor operatives, either to satisfy
parsimonious spirit, or through sheer reckless
ness and Indifference to the safety of those
whose value they measure only by the amount
of profit which can be realized from their
labor. 1t comes within the province of Grand
Juries to originate indictments against persons,
where substantial facts going to prove the
commission of crime exist, and the verdict
of the jury in this case, as we'll ~ the testimo-
ny taken before them, furnishes grounds
enough for the action of q Grand Jury in the
premises We hope, then, that the next Grand
Jury which sits in the town of Lawrence win
not fail to take cognizance Of this matter, and
we expect to see public opinion in the State Of
Massachusetts, brought to bear upon 1t in an
effective manner, for the protection Of the poor
operatives, who contribute 20 much to her
wealth and prosperity and whose lives seem
to be held at SO chesp q rate.