New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-12-29
THE THIRTy-FIFTH-sT. DISASTER.

TESTIMONY OF TIE OWNER OF THE BUILDING
Coroner Keenan, and the jury engaged in in
yesgating the cause OF the fall OF the building In West
Thirty fth-st met yesterday OF the residence OF the
owner Joseph r. lale No. III West Thirty-fourth-st,
and took his testimony. He has been confined TO his
room by sickness since the accident He stated that In
September last he decided put up the building and in
October made proposals 10 Mr. Tyson, builder, showed
him book OF laws on the subject OF building, and ex
planned what he wanted asked him to go TO the Build
Ing Department, learn what required for such =
jlding and make out the specifications no returned
with the speclfeatlons and said they all right Mr.
Tyson ami others made estimatesj subsequently ehgagd
Mr. Cochrane to do the mason work, and gave the
carpenter work TO Mr.. Hamilton; told CochIane ana
Hamilton that all tho materials used were TO De OF inc
best kind and the work done in the most approved man
ner; reserved the right 10 reject all material not SAILS
factory to him; the mason and carpenter had ter own
he work as fast as practicabe wanted It ready for
patton 10y March l. they thought 1t might be ready oy
January they began work the day after the contract
closed; Hamilton had previously built two factories
witness, and this was to be on the same PLAN
the budng had crosswas I'm the center found that tho
papers from the Building Department referred to MT
Sweeney the Inspector OF the District saw nm ana tod
him that IL there was anything unsatisfactory
about the building TO tell witness; this was
him since and he expressed himself satisfied with
the building Mr. Daye said nothing to witness about IN
tons no builders made any objections at first % the
thickness of the walls when they were partly up Ham
had been four inches thicker; told him II IL was
necessary the law would have required it; Ham.
on did nS say sor Witness invited
strong Of the Building Department to look at H. and
ne expressed himself pleased with the work; on the fol-
lowing morning witness asked that n2re men bo put 70
Mr. Cochrane said he was wording oil 1t was sate
do and witness said then he wished no more put on
after the sixth stery was completed, witness asked
Cocrane IL the building was good and strong ana III IL
was not best discontinue the work. he said 10 saw no
why he could not carry up to tho contemplated
hight. ,u
arranging for warming T. me east walls were then wet
sured that the walls were good and strong passed tle
building about o'clock the morning 1t fell the wind
was blowing severely them did not stop went TO his
factory In Tenthave soon heard jar, followed by
crash went around and saw that the building had
fallen; saw several pieces OF board rom inc ro9 yhg
in the air. went at the ruins and assisted In get
ting ont the dead and wounded IN doing 80, witness Ill
jured his ankle and went home. -
In response to questions by Assistant District Attorney
Fellows. witness said he owned the lot on which the
building was erected; 1t not contemplated To put
machinery in the building; the hight was 70 feet the
walls were not finished when the building fell; Mr
Coclrane thought he could finish them by January ;
Mr. Sweeney, tho Inspector called on witness two or
three times he called In reference 10 platform on
which to pianos out to dry he said that would have
lowered, TO comply with the law had built other
factories the walls OF which were no thicker than this
one there nothing between the building and the
river break the force Of the wind intended tn have
every thing safe superntcnded the erection OF the other
factories; the bradng. in all was alike; there was no
written contract with Mr.. COchrane did not anticipate
using in the building, although 1t intended To
be strong enough to do did not accept the lowest es
made to erect the building; paid by the week a5
the work progressed and Cochrane did directed by
wit1ess.
Mr. Hale then made statement TO the Jury. He said
that OF the newspapers had printed articles ce
surfing him severely He could not tell where the blame
should rest but upon him. he must bear the respons
by Since the accident he had rendered pocuniary aid
10 the sufferers and was willing to do all else that lay in
his power.
Tie further investigation then adjourned until to-
day when the testimony OF James NJ Macgregor Super
intendent Of Bmldings will be taken and tho case win
then be given to the Jury.