The state chronicle., 1893-06-15
tered unon the execution of the said

tered upon the execution OF INC Sd1u
work. That pending the said exc
cution the relator, from abundant
caution, noticed the progress OF the
work from day to day, himself go
ing into the basement where it was
being done, in order that, in case
there should appear the slightest
indication of danger, he might at
once remove all occupants from the
said building. In addition to this
and for the same purpose the rela-
tor required the superintendent OF
the building to constantly watch
the said work and instructed him
to report Immediately any indica-
ton OF danger. That both the re
lator and the said superintendent
were upon inquiries repeatedly
made always assured that the work
was progressing with absolute safety
and that there was no occasion for
any solicitude.
THE ROPED OFF SPACE.
That the relator has never him
self entertained any idea that tho
doing of the said work was danger
Gus, nor has any one of the numer-
| GUS occupants of the said building
made any suggestion of such danger
to him or to any one else to his
knowledge until after the happen
ing of the accident hereinafter set
forth. That small portion Of the
ground floor of the building, which
portion was to be removed subse-
quently, was roped off because it
was supported only by joists which
had rested upon ground that had
then been excavated, and not be-
cause of any apprehension of dan.
ger to the building. That the re-
lator neither gave nor authorized
any instructions to any of the clerks
in said building with respect to his
movements in or about said build
ing during the progress of the said
work.
THE ACCIDENT
That on the 9th day of June,
| 1893, sitter all of the walls, includ-
ing all of the piers save one, had
been safely and securely under
pinned, and while the workmen
were actually engaged in underpin-
ming the said last pier, for some
cause to the relator unknown the
said pier gave way and a portion { +
! the floor of all three stories of the
said building fell. That most un-
fortunately twenty-three of the oc-
cupants Of the said building were
killed by the said rall and many
more were injured,
That almost Immediately after the
| said catastrophe reached the rela.
, tors ears that he was publicly &C.
cused of criminal negligence in the
!, premises, AMI he was 80 accused in
the public press of this District.
}! THE SCENE AT THE INQUEST.
That upon the 18th day of June
| at II o'clock a. NJ, the respondent
! Edward NJ. Schaeffer. who is
: deputy coroner of this District, hello
/ a session of his coroner's court, will
Q a jury in attendance, in the sale
}, District of Columbia. That the re
0 lator then first appeared IN sale
/ court with r. Ross Perry as hi
]; counsel. That at said session of saie
: court witnesses were for the first tim,
4 examined before the said jury touch
:, ing the death of John E. Chaplin
q who was killed by the fall of tn
said building. That during TIA
i said examination certain witnesse
J. gave testimony tending, if unez
g | planned, to impute to the relate
s criminal negligence in connection
Q With the said death. That the re
Il lator by his said counsel requisite
% OF the said deputy coroner permits
IT sion to cross examine the said wi
d nesses, but that the said deput
o coroner refused said permission an
j. would not allow the relator or b
n said counsel to ask any witness an
rs question. That subse quentl
d during the said session, tt
ss ralator was falsely accuse
l. Of intimidating witnesses I'll
der examination; was charged wi,
murder by sundry persons in a
10 tendance upon said inquest, and W,
Or finally called upon to withdraw fro
4g said court by said deputy corone
W and by one of the members of IL
L. jury. That thereupon a riotc,
le moo surrounded the relator and b
70 counsel and threatened his life; th
g, the deputy coroner then adjourne
ic his court until IL o'clock of Tue
IN day, June 18th, 1898. That durin
r. the whole of the said session the r
g lator and his said counsel conducte
,e themselves in quiet and order
ic manner, doing nothing to NAL
,e their presence in the said court in
,e proper.
x-j RIGHT TO BE PRESENT
in That the relator has hereinbefo]
Is stated 80 fully the facts of his cal
10 because he is convinced that ia
at inquiry into the said facts will r.
rs suit in his scquittal of blame by a,
be | coroner's jury Or committing magi
K trate. That he is advised by b
I'd ! counsel that no man can be legal
W. tried in coroner's court witho
le, being present in said court, if he
d. desired, and having an opportuni
ar Of cross examining accusing wi