The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-12-30
THE BUILDING MURDER
Close OF the Omcial Ina
vesti@ation.
Testimony Of the Officers Of tho Department a
Buildings = Interesting Testimony Yer.
dot Of the Jury = Nobody but
tho Wind and Legislature to
Blame for the Calamity.

The investigation into the cause OF the failing OF
the factory OF Mr. Hale IN Thirtynith street. ON the
ltn inst. by which four lives were sacrificed was
| resumed by Coroner Keenan, yesterday morning.
| when the following testimony was taken:-
Bernard N. Sweeney, sworn-Am Inspector Of
Buildings In the Department OF Buildings; have
been so for three and half years; before that was
mason, builder, &C.; was IN that business about
twenty years. have charge OF the Eighth districts
heard or the building that fell about week before Il
was commenced, and had copy Of the plans; heard
that 1t was TO be built before that OF such SIZE To-
be erected by J. Hale; heard OF 1t at the Building
Department about the 18TH or 10Th OF October, ana
received the plan or copy Of 1t tplan shown and
identihed); visited the place when they were clear
ing away the lot and again about three days after
they commenced the stone work; after that every
second day at least; sometimes every day; they were
going on satisfactorily; duty Is to see that the
law Is carried out; the timber three by twelve
except first roof timters. which three by ten,
the Workmanship was good, first rate; never snp-
posed
THE BUILDING WAS IN DANGER OF FALLING;
there is q chance Of the wind blowing over any
building in OF erection, but did think this
more liable than OF the height; It was not.
more exposed than any other buildings In the dis
ttct; there were three or four as much exposed as
this; the of the fail the force OF the wind
upon the roof, and raising It. shifting 1t towards tho
east ana carrying the walls with IT, 1t might have
been shifted any way; do not think the building was
erected too hurredly; II the windows had been
closed It might have prevented the fall, IL the
floors had been laid t0e accident would not have
occurred don't think that cross walls would have,
inches it might nave resisted more, bun not pre-
vented the fall saw Mr.. Hale after tho building had
been up two stories; he wanted 10 place beams In,
tine wall for the purpose of platform; did not glvei
permission, but referred him to the department. and
he obtained PERMISSION, because It was thought thaT
beams passing through the walls would strengthen
them; the beams were ran through The walls and
think they strengthened and not weakened them.
Edward T. Fitzpatrick, sworn-Ama
SERGEANT INSPECTOR IN THE BUILDING DEPART
his business is that OF carpenter and joiner; was ex
amined by the Board OF American Architects;'
visited the building that fell and examined the
thickness OF tho walls, thcr pnmbs, or straghtness,
the material that was used, and found everything I'M
excellent condition never saw better rough walls m
his life no thought OF danger ever struck Nun Wlth
reference to the building
Walter w. Adams, sWorn-Am !
DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT OF DEPARTMENT OF
BUILDINGS;
am mason and builder; Mr., Tyson applied for the
| place about October 7th or sth last; he inquired
about the law as regarded building Of about eighty
feet high and twenty-five twenty-six feet frontS
witness called his attention to the law and showed
wished he then made out o paper similar t2 the
one shown and left it for examination; 1t was found
| to be In accordance with the laws, and witness
signed a certldcafe TO that erect; the department.
has nothing to do with the plan, either TO approve
or is not in lance with the law; heard more
OF the building until 1t fell; never found any faulf
4 with the work.
| swOrn-Am superintendent OF Buildings under the
and have held the position ever since; my business
is that of house carpenter; the law requires tnas
submit detailed statement Of it's pans &c, the
| inspectors are changed from one district 70 an
ana a and no ADOPTED
they could tell every visit the inspector made to the
tna w rspSs is q or
would lead witness to suppose that everything was
f SanSs sncs Janusy y1 ii HSs
! alterations, 115o. Witness stated that he had
se eod not ut so %
| fectlve rs he wished. Witness also stated that
he examined the rssn O. ss sSpag ne
| 10 law; the mortar was green; he would not use
mortar for such high walls, but cement; still the law
wall but used colnterpois, eight inches from tho
wall and two feet on the face and twenty TO thirty
feet apart the beams resting these and anchored
eleven pounds the superficial foot; total weight,
6oo52 pounds; thinks that II the walls had been
| would have made no difference; II the building
floors Iaia and the windows in; the building was
stronger than many othH buildings In New York.
would visit Ills department. and, II tnero was any
Wong, censurc him; but the great fault was In the
aTs not properly to and
remedy II.
No further evidence was offered, as 1t was con-
sidered unnecessary, and the case was given TO the
Jury with . few remarks by the Coroner, who re-
tired, and, after short absence, returned with the
following
| VERDICT.
| The jury in the case OF the Heath OF Annie Hamil
ton flnd:-
First-ucr death was caused by tbs falling Of tho
| building known, &c, owned by Mr.. Hale and built
| by Mr.. COchranc
Second-We exonerate the owner and builder from
all blame, as said building was put up according to
law and built OF the best materials.
TntyM-The law, in our opinion, is detective ana
we recommend the Legislature to SO amend revise
1t as to make special provisions for all Isolated build
| ings
have performed their duties in this matter according
! to law.