The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-09-09
BENZINE AT RESEMBLES.
TRYING TO PROVE THAT IT CAUSED
TIE PARK PLACE DISASTER

TIE PARK PLACE DISASTER
~. I.,ebier RenemSers that 10 Caused
10000 OF His Insurance to he Cas-.
c.,,ea - Two Barrels Of 10 Alleged to
Have Been smuggled .. Tive Weeks
BEFORE the AcciAsnt-rne Grand Jury.
Coroner Hanly moved his Jury of experts
who have been investigating the Park place
disaster over to room ~ OF the City Hall yes
,erday and began . second weeks work ON
Tho question whether the building went down
An account OF the weakness OF the structure or
because OF an explosion.
Edwin Dobbs o carpenter OF 2O5 west Forty-
third street. was the first witness. LAWYER
Findley OF the Fire Department questioned
him Dobhs had made an examination OF the
,imners OF tho building. and he read TO the
nry the calculations he had made. He con-
cuded that it would have taken weight OF
9ii hounds to tho square foot on the fourth
soor TO bronx 1t down. and he was sure the
building was strong enough to stand any rea-
.onable weight. He thought nothing but an
.yposion could have brought on tho disaster.
Tohce Captain Slevin OF the Church street
s,a,ion tho next witness. said that he was OF
tho opinion. from having seen the bodies OF
n.tsous who had been killed by explosions
mat an explosion did not cause the death OF
the Park place victims.
Louis de Cappa Berg an architect said he
had na,e on examination OF tho ruins at tho
,e,,e,, OF Mr.. Harris OF the law firm OF Plat 4
rowers He said there must have been an
s.plo,ion: and when one OF the jurors wanted
10 know where it occurred Mr.. Borg said that
nroh.ply II was In tho rsar OF the building near
tho ground floor. As proof of an explosion Mr..
Herc said he had found considerable bronze
nowler in tho area OF building directly across
the way from Rosenfeld's store. Col. Town
sand Of the District Attorney office cross-ex-
a,ained the witness later and found that he
had disc overed this bronze powder week
after tbs disaster. 1t was suggested in tho
court room that this had probably dropped into
,be area from pile OF bronze powder which
Ind been dug out OF the basement OF Rosen-
folds establishment and temporarily stored
across the street
Jacob A. Lehman. q clerk In the Coroners'
office. said he was present when most OF tho
loie. wsre taken out. and very few OF them
ver, burned Nothing about the clothing or
lie 10 n nj the victims showed to him that
'' IS lehman lott the stand and was Walking
oHt an nca OF the Fire Department growlsd
" Muat did i'd YOU want TO testify ike that for"
We l., l testified to what was right" said
Two or three new owl nesses OF the disas-
ter we're then ,rut on the -tand William r.
,he : 'und Of the disaster and he firmly be-
eIed it was caused by an exnl sion.
aS.9 Masss sa ey he Rsu smn"{ 6s
cellar of Rosen eld's establishment at the or
der OF Mr.. Mass two weeks before the disas-
had been iroueht in .mysteriou-ly. He found
that they had benzine in them Col; Town WIN;
S ssnn TO Know Who had seat for him The
witness indicated another boy in the back Of
@ st.pi up" said Col. Townsend to this boy.
and ill us who on are
The boy was in the employ OF Liebler 4
Who asked, you to get this witness '' asked
front Of. the boy aid he whispered quickly
laid d.. ala The RI boy 'hen answered: Mr.
Q. Q; shelley, printer. Of u College place.
was listened 70 with considerable interest
las been noticed in earnest conyersation with
come one OF the Jurors every day OF the n
was vase sndeasoline to impress uion The jurors
in these contsrsat;ns Il was sail ,hat an ea.
one or twl ot the Jurors. .LiebIer & Mass now
had offices. he said. IN the same building on
the fsiii pb 9lding was to Mr.. Shelley like
what the Bible calls q consuming fire.
iournmsnt FoHsman Leo OF the jury suggested
that it would be- good plan to ssk the nsws-
,hoss Ssnzne to
i.ld: Another Juror wanted ~ e5pert chemist
:pmmonsd TO testify Is to the effect OF an e T.
Mr. lIeSle H"e said to the Coroner. that for six
said t, 9 presence Of the benzine in Kosen eld's
being cancelled. It was co mented on as
rather curious that be had not stated this on
his original examination.
The inquest will 70 on to-day.
Judge Fitzgerald. presiding in Part ]. of the
General Sessions where tne earlier sessions
Grand Jury yesterday il regard to the Park
place saster as follows
mat should direct your attention to the 70;
, cent deplorabe catastrophe which shocked
by loss OF lie that brought sorrow and an
gui,h to many homes, l am informed that the
The PAX
MINI with view TO de'ermining whether or not
tion, OF the District Attorney will b. a thor
ogsh and &C, rigid one. ana that you VII CO.
S q the laws as 70 sseurs
public safety and protection to life. "
Mayors office for the benefit Of the sufferers
t sy ne Park place disaster is s25Gl64o which.
% t.@% Ihe recelp!s Al II. Mayors ONCE
sees!dy ia lost t sssH as.s%
a., 2;ocs K. ii L.. s5O: Simon sterne s2o;
@ @ema AMI z M as1
E." 81: Einstein; Wolf 4 Co.. $50: Mills L
SSols'% P,s1'a SIS: M His Mans. 81: collected
q Asch, Jacket. s4a.l5; collected BY
=. F.!rclough slG77: Csunstattsr Fest W.
l,si0; colleo cd by Steve BrodIs $24 II; mccl.
hers New York Consol dated Exchange s25
,sitI East Fiity-seconi street" for the relief
Andrew. Petersen. who kept the restaurant
N tho building which collapsed, and who lost
his son. Andrew t. Peterson. under age in the
accident, was appointed administrator OF tho
gay in order to bring an action against Mrs.
Grain, the ownor OF the building. Tho estate
pafn