The New York herald., 1870-12-29
TEE BUILDING MURDER
Testimony Of Mr.. Hale, Owner Of tho Failed
Building-The Investigation to
be Closed To-Day.

Atten O'Clock yesterday morning Coroner Kecnad
ana the jury met by appointment at the dwelling Of
MIR. Hale No. il2 West Talrtyfourth street. wind
'ned the building which fell in Thirty-nfth streeQ
ON the 18TH instant. for the purpose OF taxing hid
testimony, he being unable leave the house own@
70 sprained ankle, which he received iInmediateN
AFTER the occurrence, wne assisting In removing lha
Killed and wounded from the ruins Below WIN bd
found copy OF MI. Hale's testimony %
JOSEPH p. HALE,
liz West Thirtyfourth street. sworn-I am manui
facturer OF piano.ortes at 40 Tenth avenue: Iwaa
the owner OF the building that fell In West Tnirty}
NTH sreet decided In September last TO erect that
building. and In October made proposals to Mri
Tyson, a builder, ana showed him book OF laws in
reference TO building and told him what / wanted
Iasked him to 20 10 the Building Department and asN
them what they required Tor such building and give1
them full particulars and make out the specihcatona
there; he returned with the specifications and said
they were all right; Mr. Tyson and others made est
uiates and subseq uently engaged Mr.. Cochran I'd
do the mason work ana gave the carpenter wsrk ID
Mr.. Hamnton; stated to Mr. Cochran and Mr{
Hamilton that AL the materials used In the bulldina
must DO the best In the market and
THE WORK DONE THE BEST MANNER:
Preserved tho right REJECT tae material not sari@
factory 70 ME; both the mason ana the carpentel
had their own time To complete e building; theJ
agreed 10 forward the work as fast as prlctcan4
and the weather would permit; they both agreed I'd
60 on; wanted II ready Tor occupation by the ls(
OF March; they thought they mgnt dnish 1t by tbo3
first OF January; they commenced the next day aftc1
the contract was closed; Mr. hamilton had buli(
two factories before FOR ne, and this one'was bd
on the same plan; the building had cross walls I'd
CENTRE after got the contract found that my PAL
pcrs from the Building Department referred 10 Mr4
Sweeny, the inspector OF my district; saw hin3
and told hun tnat there was anything
unsatisfactory about the building to tell me; thug
was about the first week after the work was coni@
nenccd; have seen him since and he
EXPRESSED HIMSELF SATISFIED
with Il; Mr.. DAVE said nothing to about increa1
| ing The thickness OF tho walls; Mr.. Davie made nd
suggestions 10 me; no builders made any obJectioq
at nIst about the walls; when The walls were partiH
up NJ. Hamilton asked II IL would not have Deelv
] better II the walls mad been four inches thicker; (
said TO hun II 1t was necessary | thought the laM
would have required IL; Mr. Hamilton did
not say that 1t was unsafe where wd
the Building department., TO look ut 1t; he seemed
pleased with the work. and expressed himse (: 4
asked the next morning that more men be set u
| work; Mr.. Cochran saii he was working
ALL THE MEN IT WAS SAFE To wo2K; I.
| said then wIsned no more men put on; after thu
building was up six stories | met Mr Cochran ancG
! asked II the buiidog wa4 good ana strong and n
NOT wished 70 stop az there; he said he saw n9
reason as II stood firm and strong, why lie could not
/ carry i ~ 70 he contemplated height; he thoughe
| it safe 70 do so the afternoon before thS
building tel was through II arranging for warming
It; then noticed that thc east walls were wet fron1
the storm Of the MONDAY previous, was subscy
TnE WALLS WE'RE COOP AND STRONG. Il
| passed the building about nne O'Clock on thd
| morning the building icli the Wind bowua
severely then and ala not stop; went 10 my onicd
In my factory, commenced writing aud heard JarS
arose 10 my feet aud heard crash. west out and
saw that the building had fallen; noticed pieces ol
boards rom The roof dying IN the air; went mmeds
ately TO The ruins and assisted IN removing the
wounded In doing SO injured my ankle and caula
home. Z
10 Mr.. Fellows-I was the owner OF tue lot od
which that building was erected; II WAS not con{
tempiated 10 put machinery Ii that building; thd
height OF the new building about ycnty -cghd
feet; the walls were not finished when the puildnf
fell; Mr.. Cochran thought he could finish the valid
by the LIST OF January: had no conversation wit!I
Mr. DAVE about the building AT that any othel
sspector, called on me two or three times abouQ
the building; he called in reference I'd
he said that would p' have TO be lowersd
so as to comply with the law; have built other facl
was nothing between the building and tae river t,A
break the wind: wished to have everything safey
ries; y
In all the factories nearly alike there was nd
written CONTRACT with Mr. Cochran about lne bUildl
ing only verbal; did not anticipate using steam 1
the building mvself, although Intended to nave M
strong enough do so: did not accent the iowes1
| estimate made TO erect the building: | paid nri
Cochran by the week as the work progressed and I'd
Mr.. Hale, having finished his testimony. sand hx
would Ike TO make statement to the Jury and pcrn
mission was granted.
articles censuring him severely Tor the falling budy
ing; nc knew not where the blame rested, but il ID
i came upon him he must bear the esponsbiiityl
MIR. Hale told the Jury that since the CALAMITY 6s
had rendered pecuniary AID TO such OF tae suerera
as required, and felt disposed 10 render them any
/ assistance In his power.
| The further investigation OF the matter was then
adjourned TIL half.past ten O'Clock this morning. I'd
the city Hail. IL Is expected that Mr.. MacpreGorL
| Superintendent OF Buildings some VI his deprt,cs
and other witnesses will be examined after winch
Coroner Keenan, VIII submit The to the jury fo1
\ their consideration.