The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-12-05
BURIED BY FALLING WALLS.
Continued from page ~

winc & Oakley at O'clock, whence the
body was removed on order of tho cor
Onpr
hr stable in which tho fatality oc-
Cured WAS sold some time ago by G. l..
Miller to l.. II. Flanagan OF West Vir-
gina, and was by bin rented to Rogers
IL O'Bricn. This firm will lose upwards
OF $1,000 by the wreck The building is
almost a toial wreck. and the loss is
estimated at $500 or 81 900
The building on TIM south side of tho
brick structure which IL is Il double
tenement, and one side. furthert from
the wreck, was occupitd by c. l.. Mil
Ter. This house WAS not damaged in
the least, although the walls were al
most touching; nevertheless, it was con-
siderably shaken, and Mrs. Miller was
so badly frightened that sho went into
commissions.
Herring and Lovelacc were both from
Mt. Airy, N. c., and had been in the
employ of Rogers & O'Bricn for several
years. They were recognized as faith
full employees, and the death of Herring
is much deplored, and there is rejoic-
ing over i4ovelace's escape from a hor-
rible death.
The coronor's Jury met at 3 o'clock
and at once began an investigation as
to the character o. the building and the
material used. Tho evidence was drag
ged through with until after 6 o'clock.
Some of it was very important and de-
veloped tho fact that the owners of tho
building had never gotten Il permit to
put it up, and that the building inspec-
tor had sncver noticed it; that no
policeman had ever reported it or
thought it worth his while to SEQ if .
permit had been issued. Most of tho
evidence was relative to the material
used and the character of tho work.
E. A. Thurman, one of the owners of
the building, was tho first witness
called. He said he did not take out
permit to erect tho building, which was
begun about four weeks ago. and re-
gardcd it as an oversight on his part
1--WE agreed to use tho best material,
good sand as could be had, and Indian
rock lime. The brick work was being
done by Mr.. Cannady. The building
fell from an excessive wind"
''Why did you not get a building per-
nit, Mr.. Thurman" asked the COR
oncr.
"Wcll, forgot. 1t was. as said. an
oversight"
Mr.. Thurman described tho walls,
which he said were thirteen inches thick
or the first and second story, and the
third, which was to be nine inches, was
not more than five feet above tho floor
line. TWAS eighty feet long and twenty
five feet wide. 1t had twofoot stone
foundation.
The jury were then taken to the
scene, where the walls were measured
by building Inspector Coleman. Re
turning to the Office, Mr.. Coleman was
the next witness, and testified as fol-
lows:
81 inspected the building on --,I
do not know the name of the street, but
- oh I
had the walls of the stable torn down to
prevent further danger"
Being asked as to the charac ter OF tho
work, Mr.. Coleman continued: LAS to
the Dimensions of tho building, Tho
thickness of the walls was sufficient If
the work had been done we'll, but
thought it was poor work No permit
had boon granted by me for the erection
of this building.
The brick used were fairly good but
many of them were broken. The NOR
tar used was very poor, and was mostly
sand and was not mixed well. If the
roof had been placed on the building
do not think it would have fallen.
1t is not customary to leave the front
of buildings open.
~ do not consider the mortar good.
1t takes about two and five tenths
bushels of lime to a yard Of sand, but it
depends on the quality of the sand
used. do not think tho sand had as
much lime in it as is generally used"
what is your duty as building in
spector?' he was asked.
"My duty is to inspect buildings that
are reported to me, and such as grant
permits for The inspector has general
supervision over all buildings in the
course of erection; to see that the law
is complied with; TO grant permits, and
see that no buildings are erected that
will menance public safety"
did you not know this building was
going up?"
''No, did not. 1t is tho duty OF the
police to report All such cases of viola
ton of the law"
Mr.. Colemans testimony was con-
tinued by explaining tho specifications
for building, the thickness of the walls
and the character of the materials used.
Waller p. Huff being sworn said his
ideas of tho duties of the building in
Spector was to see tEat all buildings
were so constructed as not to endanger
human life; to sec that the law was car
riei out In every particular, but he was
not expected To go around and play the
part of a detective. He had only to
look after such buildings as were re-
ported to him, and those which no had
granted permits to build.
Mr.. IIulfs tos timony concluded with
his opinion Of the work on the building.
He did not consider tho mortar q very
good quality. When tho brick fell the
mortar dropped off, whereas if it had
been good quality it would have ad
hered to the brick.
DR.. Harrison testified that Herring
came to his death by asphyXiation or
smothering, caused by a heavy weight
being on the body, making it impossible