New-York tribune., 1873-09-04
RECKLESS BUILDERS CENsURED.

RECKLESS BUILDERS CENSURED.
THE TENEMENT DIsAsTER-rHREE CONTRACTORS
ARRESTED AND HELD TO AWAIT THB ACTION or
THE GRAND JURY.
Coroner Herman has concluded the inquest
concerning the death OF the eight victims OF the Wes
Eleyenth-st building disaster by winch, In addition "
the killed. nine workmen were severely injured. Inc
following ia the substance OF the final proceedings yes
terday which resulted verdict against the mason
CARPENTER and framer who were all held TO await 'no
action OF the Grand Jury:
Henry Fernbsch architect, testified; have been an
architect for IS years at the request OF Coroner Her
man have examined the ruins Of the fallen house; tIo
that examination and the testimony have near hearu LOT
having been braced by their having been Weakened r ~
the channel cut out for the floor beams, ana py 'n'
having been made top-heaVy Dy the ram
The opinion OF this witness was substantially noof'ou
by Mark Eidtz and Adam Weber builders, OF 10 years
experience ard by other Witnessed an,
President Laimbeer, OF the Department OF C,ao ChaIu
and Correction testified reside al mo; the ruins
IN question at the request OF Coroner ,Irons
man made up my mind a,,,1 that ~ .,smned Was the
plans and confirmed my opinion would morn no, nav we cir
traced TO put such building Inyse % s s hinder
in this city satisfied that very lew ~ I the
erected yesss Sy those plans think the old walls
should nave been pulled down entirely a id nor have
on ron ed .nu tin the ones had been put In II IS
r1Ie always 10 put one brace DeIoIe sa @
other tbo tSpk na law ought to Be
eS snTatons and the of builders who do such
bnlders to undergo thorough examination hy com
petent Board Of Eraminers the oglldng tSs nsa aS
dtone cost would been trng the intrinsic value
Of the building much greater ana tne structure iaa
upon the owner, but he was relieved Dy tue arenect
and architect relieved by the superintendent OF
buildings who indorsed the plans and sanctonehihe al
teratons the contractors responsible for having re-
moved the beams without bracing the walls
In charging the jury the Coroner said that culpable
negligence had often gone unpunisned through imper
feet laws and tenderheared Jurors Public safety ne
said demanded not only amended laws, but also the
rigid enforcement OF such laws as already exist. lie
urged the Jury to act imparay and strictly in accord
ance with the evidence but il they considered any per-
son guilty OF careesness he hoped they would unhes-
tatngly bestow and also strongly recommend
all owners OF buildings to be more careful IN the seiec-
tlon Of contractors,
The verdict contained a clause stating that the dsas-
ter was caused by gross negligence OF the contractors
Jobn Crawford Jesse Newman, and lMchael Pfoertner
in not properly bracing the westerly walls when remov
ing the tmbers OF the building during Its construcuon
The Jury also recommended that the NUMBER OF IN
spectors Of the Department Of Buildings be SO increased
that an inspector NAV be assigned to duty in eaeh
Ward there being only ls inspectors Tor the y
Wards OF the city,
After fully indorsing the verdict, Coroner Herman
stated that he wond personally present the evidence to
the District-Attorney, and would hold Crawford the
mason and Newman, the carpenter, under 5000 bail
each and Pfoertner, the framer, under 1900 ball 10
await the action OF the Grand Jury He then gave the
into the custody OF Police Sergeant Bush OF
the Ninth Precinct with instructions that they should be
permitted to friends to obtain ball. but should not
be released until bail should be procured few hours
afterward Crawford and Newman we're released upon
q, 900 bail esch the bail bonds being signed by p j.
Holzderber Of No 26g West Tenth st. and Richard
Gwynne OF Orange, y. j.