Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1883-11-30

coroner's inquest, held over the re-
mains of the victims of the late CAPT
tol disaster, is as follows:
At an inquisition taken at city of 1Iadieon in
the county of Dane. commencing on the 9Th day
of November, 1885 before ChaS. y Brown, one of
the Justices Of the peace f the said county, upon
the view of the bodies Of James Kelly. William
Edgar, William Jones, Michael Zwauk and Ber
nard Higgins there dead, by the jurors whose
names are hereuntO subscribed who, being duly
sworn to inquire in behalf of this state, when in
what manner and by what means the said James
Kelly. William Edgar, William Jones. Michael
Iwank and Bernard Higgins came to their death,
upon their oath do say:
That between the hours Of one and two on the
afternoon of the sth day of November 1888
James Kelly, came to his death by reason Of in
jurieS TO his ribs and lungs: William Edgar came
to his death by reason OF fractures of his skull:
William Jones came 10 his death by reason of
fractures of his skull; Michael Iwank came TO
his death by reason of a fracture of his skull;
and Bernard Higgins came to his death by reason
of fracture of his skull
That these injuries were respectively received
by James Kelly, William Edgar, William Jones,
Michael Iwank and Bernard Higgins while em-
ployed in and about the south wing of the state
capitol extension, in the city of Madison. county
of Dane and state of Wisconsin, by reason of the
falling Of portion of the said south wing
That the Internal construction of the building
was such as to render it especially subject 10
disaster from accidents liable to occur during its
erection
That during such erection and probably be-
cause of the settling Of the eastern and western
walls, cracks occurred III the brick piers or plaS
terS supporting the ends of ,iFderS and columns,
while endangering the building and the workmen
Ill and about it.
known TO the contractor in charge to exist, for
several weeks prior to said falling, in the second
story pier Of the south partition wall. near the
southeast corner of the building and that the said
contractor attempted To strengthen the said pier
in IN entirely insufficient manner.
That al the time Of such rep ir on Tuesday. Ne-
ypubpF q the yit.II-
inS under the weight it supprrted, and in
precariOuS condition.
That at this tEle there rested the column
having its base upon said pier weight variouSly
estimated at from fourteen 10 eighteen IONS, which
was gradually increased by the placing of the
concrete filling of the arches above.
That on the day of the falling November s. 1888
the pier had given way still more.
That in all probability the building gave way at
this point first.
We therefore find:-
That Oscar f. Nowan, one of the contractors,
by ca,ing the said second story pier OF the south
partition wall, near the southeast corner OF the
said south wing to be Improperly and insufficient
" repaired, guilty of grave error, and cDntr
huted thereby to the falling of the south wing on
the Sth day OF NUvrIlbUr. ISN3.
That ID. II. Jones AMI II. G. Koch, as designing
and consulting architects We're guilty Of uegli-
gence IN designing the internal construction Of
the said south wing of the said capitol extension,
without due and proper regard for its safety
during erection. and In reby contributed To its
falling, on the sth day of November, 1888.
ALLAN ID. CoNovEU,
l.. S, HANKS,
JAMES f. MusELEY
FRANK VI. DuRN,
ID. +. SORENSoS,
Il. WARNEs.
Many different oplnl.ns are eX
pressed regarding the verdict. Some
think it too strong, others pronounce
1T too weak and really meaningless.
1t is understood that the district at
torney has not yet made up his mind
whether or not to institute proceed
ings against the parties censmed by
the above verdict