Daily Republican., 1881-10-20
THEowNER RasrONsIBLE.
Verdict Of the COF0Aer's Jury On
the Landenbergcr Mill Calam.

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Verdict Of the COr0Aer's Jury Ol
the Landenbergor Mill Calam
ity.
When the last edition of the Bulletil
went to presss yesterday, Mr. Harvey
the owner OF the ill-fAted I.aadenberge
mill was on the stand ut. me Coroner
inquest. He admi3e6d receiving thu
order to erect fire escape from the Els
csle Board and the letter from Mr.
Landenberger, and said that as ir
the new mill he provided a staircase in
the rear, he considered that the facil.
tiles for egress were all that could be
required That opinion he still held
although he admitted that il an escape
had been located at he eastern end the
employees might possible have gotten
out" Mr. Harvey's evidence brought
the examination to close. The jury
then visiteu the ruins of the mill, after
which they rendered the following as
the verdict
"The jury find that the deceased
(names given) came to their deaths
from burns and injuries received at a
fire in the Randolph Mills. The jury
finds that the fire was caused by the
improperly constructed and inefficient
ly managed electrical apparatus for
Lighting the building. The jury finds
that Joseph Harvey. owner of the
mills, is criminally responsible for the
loss OF life in neglecting to furnish
proper means Of tire-escape in case Ct
fire. The jury finds that the city OF
Philadelphia Is responsible for not en-
forcing the laws compelling Joseph
Harvey to erect proper fire. escapes.
The jury believes that the bOokkeeper,
William Il. Hassenpat, is censurable
for not making some effort to saye the
lives of operatives instead Of the effects
OF the firm.
Coroner Janney to-day referred the
verdict to District Attorney Graham
for action.
The District Attorney, when called
upon in reference TO the matter, de-
c.ined to express any opinion. He said
he hardly knew how he would proceed.
UNDER ARREST.
This morning q messenger from the
C0roner's Office called on Mr.. Harvey at
his place of business on lie edger Place
a small street running west of Second
and north of Market-and served upon
him the notice of his commitment by
the jury. Mr.. Harvey said he would
surrender himself at noon, which he
did, and was thereupon committed by
the coroner to await such action as tho
tufr ift mi yh a in
matter.
He was soon after committed to
prison. His counsel, Mr.. John Roberts
is moving in the direction Of securing
his discharge on bail.
ADMITTED TO EAIL.
A. one o'clock, Messrs. Roberts and
Cassidy, counsel fer Harvey, procured
writ of habeas corpus for his admis-
sion to bail, which udge Thayer gran
ted. He fixed the bail at $4,000. II
WAS promptly entered by James Hogg,
n carpet dealer on North Second street
TO RECOVER DAMAGES.
f. w. Kuhlemeier, attorney, has en-,
tered suits against Joseph Harvey, the
owner of the mill, to recover damages
on behalf of the relatives Of the killed
and of several of the injured. The hrsl
claimant is Earnest kreh, who sues for
the loss of his son Frederick placing the
damages at Sl5OO; the second by Mary
Conlan, who claims 3d. 600 for injuries
both her ankles having been broken
spineiutured, etc and third, JOSEPH
Reynolds, 5000, for broken ankle ;
spralned knee.cap, fractured arms, etc
These are said to be only the forerun
ners of a series of suits which will b.
entered in the conrse Of few days BY
the same attorney.
INDIGNANT WoRKMEN.
An Indignation meeting was held las
night by large mum Der Of wCrkingmeI
on a vacant lot adjoining the Landen
berger Mill, J. M. Munyon presided
A number Of speeches were delivered
tue general drift of which were the ne
cessity Of further protective Legislation
in the matter of fire. escapes, a criti
cism of Councils for refusing to appro
PIRATE funds for the purpose, and re
reminder to the workingnen that they
ought to send to tie Legislature mer
who wound attend more to their inter
ests. Mr.. Keyser, one Of the speakers,
paid high tribute to Mr. Thos. Dolan,
as one who looked earnestly after tht
comfort and safety Of his employees. A
series of resolutions were adopted de
claring that the loss of live from the
destruction of the Randolph Mills was
notoriously the result of negligence o
existing enactments in failing to pro
vide tire-escape arrangements; that II
was the sense Of the meeting that Coun
ellis should compel mill owners an0
factory men to adopt such a system O.
tire-escapes as will prevent the recur
renee OF such a calamity; and that A.
j. Drexel, John Wanamaker aud Thos'
Dolan were designated to receive sub
scriptions for the relief OF the afflicted
families. 1t was stated tina. Mr.. Dollar
l 4 hn,lnI = hn ;ut Wit a auhsp ri Dt ipI