New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-10-03
PART II.
PAGES II TO 10.
LIEBLER & MASS CENsURED
NO INDICTMENTS FOUND. HOWEVER.
THE GRAND JURY HANDS IN PREsExTxEsr
on TIE PARK PLACE DIsAsTER.


on THE PARK PLACE DISASTER.
The Grand Jury yesterday handed In It's present.
ment on the Park Place disaster 10 Judge Fitzgerald in
Part Of General SESSIONS. and discharged 10
found indictments hnt blamed Lieblcr Mass, the
photographers. for negligence. The presentment was
follows
Acting under the instruction Of the Presiding just
Ice. and with the aid OF The Dstrict-Attorney, the
Grand Jury have made investigation into the
cuuses which led to the fall Of the TAYLOR Building in
PARK Place on August -. whereby sixty persons
lost their lives The Grand jury have examined all
persons who were able 10 she'd any light upon the
causes which contributed to the destruction Of the
building They have taken the testimony Of witnesses
who it fall Of Others who were In and about tho
building at the time. wen Of witnesses who knew
the OF the different floors and the business
conducted on them; and Of all persons who wers
familiar with the construction OF the building.
The Grand Jury have also taken the opinions OF
several eminent architects and experienced builders
upon the probable OF the disaster, and have
thoroughly examined into the workings OF the De
partment Of Buildings and it, relations the building
destroyed. Upon all the evidence taken the Grand
jury respectfully present follows
That the evidence both OF fact and opinion IS con-
Trajectory and conflicting to the causes which ocea-
stoned the fill Of the building one theory Of its fall
which finds support IN the facts testified TO a. well as
In the opinions Of the experts Is that the structure
was demolished by an explosion Of infammable sub
stances stored in the building Another theory Is that
the ovesloadlng OF the upper floors by firm OF tho-
graphers was the Immediate cause OF the collapse.
The evidence which have taken and which. should
an indictment be found. would necessarily be submitted
10 a petit Jury. does not, In opinion. establish the
criminal negligence Of person or persons beyond
such reasonable doubt is 10 be made Out
I'm a criminal action. IL has seemed unwise, there
fore. expend public time and money in a prosecu-
xhi at better q
mlstral.
But while no Indictment has been found. and while
there is evidence proceeding from reputable witnesses
that the fall of the building caused by an e1-
pIosion much OF the testimony tends TO support tho
belief that the business carried by Lebler Mass
I'm the upper stories Of the building was Of such
nature as TO subject It, in the condition In which is
was at the time OF the accident dangerous strain:
and that these tenants censuTable for negligence
In not informing themselves TO its capacity To
bear the weight and strain which they imposed upon
Il.
The Grand Jury deem It n matter Of the utmost
concern that the laws Of the state now in such
condition that disaster such the collapse OF tins
building is possible in the city Of Hev-iork. and the
protection Of the lives and property Of the citizens OF
the state requires immediate legislation on The sublecs
I'm the city OF NewYork force Of building Inspectors
should be appointed, Of number at least twenty
five more than those now employed, whose duty IL
shOuld be to make hsP,'NOh' VI
buildings used Off mercantile and manufactur-
ing purposes in this city, and whose reports should
be regularly filed in the buildings Department. ana
made 10 form an accurate and thorough record oil such
buildings district should he assigned to each in-
specor and for the condition OF the buildings In thas
district he should be held personally responsible ana
any neglect on his part to make such peTiodieal IN
spections should be n mlsdcmeanor
The placing within any building OF greater weighs
than the building capable OF supporting should be
felony and the fact Of such overloadng being esiao-
ished the owner as well a. the occupant on me
building or the part thereof overloaded shouu %
pIima faee guilty. The provisions OF the law now IN
force requiring printed notice Of the capacity OF me
storage warehouses be posted throughout the ware
bonse should also be made TO apply 70 AL oullnInks
,sef for mercantile and manufacturing purposes
The Grand Jury furthermore recommends more stilcs
enforcement of the existing law relating 10 the storase
OF explosives within the ety limits.