New-York tribune., 1875-03-11
LOCAL MISCELLANY.
G. w. 8.

AWARDING BLAME FOR THE CHURCH DIS
ASTER.
THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE UNSAFE WALLS d.
yIpEp - THE FIREMEN, THE DEPARTMENT OF
BUILDINGS, THE ARCHITECT AND BUILDER ALIKE
CENsURED-A MAJORITY AND MINORITY VERDICT,
DIFFERING MAINLY AS To THE MANNER OF DEATH.
The roll Of the jurors in the investigation Oh
the ST. Andrews Church calamity called at a. m.
yesterday ana they retired to deliberate upon the YER
diet At IL the jury returned to the Court-roo anu
returned two verdicts, both agreeing In laying the
blame for the accident upon tho Fire department ahu
the Department Of Buildings. The verdict OF tne
majority severely censures these departments, as
well as the architect. Mr. Snooks. and requests the
Mayor to make application to the Legislature to amend
the present building law, as TO secure adequate
means Of egress from all buildings used for puollc
meetings OF any kind. The minority report also cen
sures the construction Of the church. which prevented
rapid egres and charges the contractors for the re-
building Of the Shaw building with gross carelessness'
The verdict Of tho majority is as follows:
We find and certify that Michael Mccarthy. Catherine
McGnniss and Rose McGlynn came to their deatns
from Injuries received from being struck by and buried
arising from the crushing of the roof OF said church
hy falling thereon OF portion OF the west mai S'
tie binding at No. 25 Duane-st. owned py James W.
shaw on OF Feb. 25, 1875 and that Mary A.
Conner and Thomas Fceny came 10 ther deaths Dy pe
ing crushed and trampled upon durihg tHe pap.c M ~
said church. consequent upon such faIing Oi SAID wall
| on said evening OF Feb. 25 1875. .
We also further find that the sad walls OF SnaW's
building AT No rs Duanest were in an unsafe and dan
gerous condition when said fall occurred ana naa pee
in that condition since the occasion OF hre IN saa
building Jan. IL, 1875, and taat me ChleI OF Of
the Fire % Baon o iHs iy charge ars
| surab.e for insufficient discharge OF duty,
In not causing portions Of said wall To be
thrown down. before leaving the place of said fire; and
the Department of Buildings ~ said cty Is guilty
TO secure said walls and TO the dangerous portions
thereof 10 be removed in the interval from said JAN IL
to the date of the calamity period OF days. anu also
in NOT warning persons the immediate neghborhood
OF walls OF the dangerous condition thereof ana
that, John B. SnOoR. the aIchect OF SAID ouoihg
was ntrused by the owner thereof during said PERIOD
with full authority and discretion respecting hc same
we also that said architect erred IN Judgment In not
taxing additional precautions for the security or re-
mova Of the dangerous portion OF SAID wall. And We
application to the Legislature Of this state Tor such
amendments to the Binding laws as will secure ade-
numbers OF people arc employed or do c0ngregates
where by tie safely OF life shall he promoted against
fatalities of fire. panic other rgencies OF IKE ma
ture In whereof the said jurors as well as
the Coroner, have to this nGuison set our hands AMI
seals on tue day and place Aforesaid.
This verdict was sigued by Oswald Ottendorfer Eu-
gene Kelly James Lynch, Z. r. Meade, g. LewecE. ID.
O'Dona ghue, Thomas Maher. Edward Jcnkns Il. S.
Donnelly. To this the tenth juror Thomas L. Thornell,
ADDS the following finding:
agree with the above finding IN each particular and
6ud addition that the construction OF ihe eaery'
stsirways and the doors opening inward, at ST. An,
drew'5 Church. which occasoned the death OF Two oi
The minority verdict, which is signed by John +.
Trow and II. 8. Thurbell, is as follows:
The undersigned members OF said jury do upon their
oatbs and alirmatons, say that they are unable 10
agree with the findings and verdict herein OF the ma
jorty said jury hereto annexed and for themselves
iind and certify Michael Mccarthy and Catharlne
McGnnis came to their DEATHS on tho evening OF Feb
25 1885, St. Andrews Church in said city, by the fail
ing npon them of portion of the west wall OF an ad-
James NJ Shaw, and that Mary A. Conners, Thomas
Fceney sc McGlyDn came to their deaths at the
same time by being crushed and rampled upon during
| "a panic which ensaed Immediately after said
fall and In cOnse quence Of inadequate prOyis
ions for the safe exit OF the conGreca
| tion the stairways being too narrow and crooked
of which defects caused sacrifice OF their lives We
And upon the evidence addueed before that the Chiefs
OF the Fire Department, the Building Department and
the erred In judging said wall to be sucien lily
safe and in allowing to stand We also fad, IRON the
Testimony Amos w. Titus, contractor for rebuilding
that he had and control OF the walls OF the
shaw building under contract for rebuilding, from
Feb l2 TO the day of the month 1875 the datt
of the calamity aud considered the walls danger
Gus all the time and therefore consider him guilty
of gross careessDess In that he did not during thai
period dangerous walls to be removed OK made
-,
ON motion OF Oswald Ottendorfer the foreman Of the
iurv vote of THANKS rendered TO Coroner EckhOf
Tor tine able and faithful in which he had con
Quoted The papers VIII be forwarded to tl'
Grand Jury as soon as possible.