The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-03-07

from the legal infection or damages II be should
prove that ms action was dictated by humane mo-
tves.
The witness took exception 10 this deduction OF
Mr.. Kehs's. He considered that the law Is not
sentimental. lie believed mat he wOuc be as
sessed Tor damages n he should throw down
building when he considered unsafe, auG thus OPP
posed the legal definition OF his duties.
Mr.. Adams, returning 10 direct statements,
said:-l never visited the Shaw onllding until tho
formed within my once: must stay there con-
stantly 10 see the architects ana builders, who
mock in Ali day long: nave 40 time to make per-
sonal inspections OF oniiding.; knew OF shaws
building, however. because Mr.. Titus omit II, and
at one time worked Tor him; passed IL often, Of
course, and one day, AFTER the fire. as was going
up town on q Fourth avenue car. saw that beams
were being taken into the building; this reminded
ing mad been pronounced unsafe; when /
arrived at the ONCE asked for the papers IL
reference 10 the condition OF the building; when r
saw the building after the calamity did not ex-
anime II thoroughly; looked at 1t from the roo
from the steeple OF st. Andrews church, because
am compelled 10 remain IN my ONCE l have To
rely upon the reports o! inspectors ior II orma-
ton in reference 70 building, the city Is divided
into three districts. each In charge OF &c oeral
inspector; the first extends from the Battery 10
Thirty-fOurth street, the second IRON the latter
limit TO the Harlem River, the third district ex-
tends rom the Harlem River to Yonkers.
Congressman Meade, juror-D0es the law
sanction the division OF labor which you make In
your department.
make the division in order to have the duties or
the department. properly attended to; have 10
OF buildings or for the erection OF new buildings.
am compelled 10 rely upon my inspectors; II
sponsibe: they are responsible only to me.
Congressman Meade now moved tnat the Jury
sit until late at night If the inquest could not be
brought 70 an end sooner There was lively dis
cesslon upon this motion among the jurors some
noon. The examination was continued without
the questions oil adjournment or recess having
been settled.
Mr.. Adams continued There are two inspectors
in the Second district. IN winch the Shaw building
IS situated; one OF them has not been subpGnaed:
no can be subpGnaed In time for the next session
OF the jury have received reports from both in-
Congressman Meade said that 1t would be neces-
sary for ali the documents in the possession OF
Snaw building to be produced. and the examina-
tion was adjourned until the witness could oring
the papers with him.
NICHOLAS MURPHY
testiled:-1 live at No. 80 Marion street; am an
Inspector OF buildings; was appointed one and
began duty as such on the SIN OF January; had
Instructions In regard to the shaw building.
tHere witness presented a ''slp" to the Coroner,
The "sllp'' contained the recommendations OF
Inspectors Malloy and Fitzpatrick IN respect to the
structed to see that these recommendations we're
being followed by the persons in charge OF the
building.)
Continuing he said My duties were, in such
case as that OF the shaw building, II the preps-
the recommendations were going on. to report
"progress;' II the walls were oeing taken down
WOuld report bnat TACT, ana ii tney nau Deen
down and were being rebuilt would report the
same did not examine the walls; simply fol-
lowed my instructions bv seeing that the recon-
mendatons contained in the reports OF Inspectors
MallOy ana Fitzpatrick were followed; l con-
sldered the west wall about the safest IN
the building; the walls were defined
| "uusale," but not as "danger0us:''
an 'unsaien wall CONSIDER to be one mat should
not be butt upon, nor be allowed to stand long;
n dangerous" wall Is one tnat no person should
go near; thought 1t was dangerous to work upon
she walls OF the shaw building. but did not think
they were in imminent danger OF falling; did not
take In to consider atlOn the effect OF heavy wind
upon the walls did not know what was intended
to be done with the building until the day OF the
/ calamity, when received "speclhcauon" or
alterations to be made IN II rom the Department
of Buildings; do not consider nat my duty went
lurtner than TO see tnaL the building laws were
I violated in reconsJructing 1t; the work or
'shoring up" and OF otherwise securing the walls
seemed to TO be done sat STA ctoriy there were,
/ think eight men at woIk putting beams into
the buildngs think force OF men SUFFICIENT 10
take the walls down rapidly might nave been set
at work. do not think that as many as fifty men
could have worked well on the building.
The inquest was al TINS p0nt adjourned, after
some discussion, until two O'Clock on next Tues
day morning.