The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-03-11
Three Verdicts in the St. Andrews
Church Disaster.
WORK FOR THE GRAND JURY.
The Chiefs Of Tho Fire Department and De-
partment Of Buildings CeDsured.
The Architect and the Contractor
Also Responsible.

the Coroner's jury in the st. Andrews church
catastrophe Investigation assembled at the Coro-
ner's once promptly at nine O'Clock yesterday
morning and retired to a private room for the
purpose Of making up their verdict or, as subse-
quent events showed, verdicts.
CORONER EICKHoFF
was promptly on hand, as was also a number OF
interested spectators; but the latter took tn cir
departure about eleven O'Clock, having learned
that the verdict would PROBABLY not be ready
until some time during the afternoon. This infor-
nation, however, was erroneous, as the Jury
came into the once al twelve O'Clock and an
nounced that their deliberations were at an end
and their conclusions arrived at
Tie roll having been called and responded to BY
all the juIymen Mr.. Meade arose and read the
verdict OF the majority first and then the two
Others At the conclusion Mr.. Ottendorfer re-
quested on behalf of the jury that the verdict be
sent to the District Attorneys ONCE and a copy
to the Mayor as soon as practicable. A vote OF
thanks was then rendered to Coroner Eickhon for
the able and impartial manner in which he had
performed his duties in the case, alter which the
fury were discharged.
VERDICT OF THE MAJORITY.
STATE OF NEW YORK-CttV ana COtnty of Ne,p
PORK. s.s.-An inqusition, taken at the Cororer's
ONCE. No. 40 East Houston street. IN the Fifteenth
March, In the year OF our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and seventy five. before Anthony
on view OF the bodies OF Michael Mccarthy and
four others, now or recently lying dead at the
sixth precinct station house IN said city, upon the
Oaths and aflirmatiOns OF ten good and lawful men
OF said State. uuly chosen and sworn or afnrmed
the people Of said Stare now ana in what manner
the said Michael MCCARTHY and the four others
came to their death. do. upon their oaths and
That we find and certify that Michael Mccarthy,
Catharine McGuuness and Rose McGlynn came to
their deaths rom injuries received rom being
struck by aud buried under the debris in the gall
lery OF st. Andrews church, arising from the
crushing In OF the roof OF said cnurcn by the ail-
ing tnei con OF portion or the west wall OF build
ing No. 25 Duane street, owned by James NJ. Shaw.
Mary A. Corners and Thomas Feeney came to
their deaths by being crushed and trampled upon
such falling OF said wall on said evening OF Febru
arv rs, 1875.
That we also further find that the said walls OF
Shaws building No. rs Duane street. were In an
unsafe and dangerous condition when said fall
occurred. aud had be- n in such condition since
the occasion OF fire IN said building on January
rhat the Chief Of the Fire Department OF the
charge are censurable for ineficient discharge Of
duty In not causing the dangerous portions said
wall to be thrown down before leaving the place
That the Department OF Buildings in said city
Is guilty OF violation of duly in not taking SUM-
CieEt legal means to secure said walls or to Gauss
the dangerous portions thereof to be removed in
the interval rom said January II to date OF
calamity, period OF lorty.four days, and also in
not warning persons in the immediate nelghbor.
hood OF said walls OF the dangerous condition
That as John B. snooks, the architect of said
building, was tntrusted by the owner thereof
during said period with full authority a nd dscre-
said architect erred In Judgment In not taking
OF the dangerous portions OF said wall: and
We recommend to the Mayor OF this city to at
once make application TO the Legislature OF this
State for such amendments to the building la We
as Will secure adequate means OF egress from all
buildings In which large numbers Of people are
mi Nndn do hnra
life shall be promoted against fatalities OF hre,
panic or other emergencies OF like nature.
as the Coroner, have to this inquisition set our
HSEB S1TRdEE SIY $Sass SaHHf
=. +; MEADE, EDWART 8: JENKINS,
SUPPLEMENTARY VERDICT.
Iagree with the above finding In each particular,
gallery stairways and the doors In opening In
ward at st. Andrews church, which occasioned
severe censure VI '"' THOMAS I. TRoRS SIs lor
MEssRs. TRow AND TERBELL's VERDICT
me underslened members OF said jury. do. upon
their oaths and atlrmatiOns, say that they are I'M
able to agree with the findings and verdict herein
Of the majority OF said jury hereto annexed, and
Tor themselves Ind an6 certify
That Michael Mccarthy and Catharine McGinnes
came 10 their deaths on the evening OF February
the Ealing upon them OF portion OF the west wall
Of an adjoining building No. 25 Duane street, the
ners, Thomas Feeney and Rose McGynn came to
tnelr deaths at the same time by beng crushed
and trampled upon during the panic winch ensued
Immediately alter said iail, and in consequence OF
inadequate provisions Tor the safe exit OF the con-
gregation. the stairway being too narrow and
crooked. and the outside doors being hung to open
inward. both OF which defects caused the sacrifice
OF their lives.
We find upon the evidence adduced before us
that the chiefs OF the Fire Department, the Build
ing Department and the archlt ect or the BUILDING,
erred IN Judging said wall to be sufficiently sale
and allowing 1t to stand.
We also find from the testimony of Amos n.
Titus, contractor LOT rebuilding that he had pos.
session ana control OF the walls OF the Shaw build
Ing. under contract for rebuilding, from the 18th
day OF February 70 the 25th day same month,
1S75-the date OF the calamty-and considered he
walls very dangerous ali the time and therefore
consider him guilty OF gross carelessness III that
ne did not during that period cause the dangerous
walls to be removed or MADE secure.
JOHN +. TROW.
II. ). TERRELL.