The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-06-14
THE INQUEST
OF the Theater Tragedy stopped by an Or
der of the Court,

der OF the Court,
WAsHISaToN, D, o., June lS,-By di.
rection OF the Commissioners OF the
District of Columbia, the inquest over
the victims OF the old theater disaster
was continued publicly this morning in
Willard's hall, instead OF privately, in
the First precinct police station. Yes
terday's exciting proceedings, when
Colonel Ainsworth was beset by sew
eral hundred OF his subordinates and
threats OF hanging him were made,
were conducive to the presence OF the
large crowd.
When the inquest began clerks and
others were crowded in nearly every
part OF the hall. In order to prevent a
repetition OF the trouble Of yesterday q
squad of police attended. Col. Aims.
worth and his attorney, Mr.. Perry, did
not appear. Deputy Coroner Shaetter
called the Jury to order and directed
VIM. II, MaIlack, clerk who was en-
ployed in the second floor of the old
theatre, to take tho stand. Mr.. Mallack
described his escape from the collapsed
building humorously. He had pre-
viously mapped out route of escape
from the old theatre in the event OF fire.
He had heard the building described as
an old rattle trap and he had this state
ment confirmed by seeing the rear, or
east wall, which sagged to u consider
able extent. There was q private stair.
case in the annex TO the structure, but
it was used only by Col. Ainaworth and
his chief clerk, Mr.. Brown.
AN INTERRUPTION.
DR.. shaefler interrupted the witness
to state to the Jury that he had received
communication from the secretary OF
war that tho commission OF army off
GERS appointed to select quarters for the
clerks who were in the theatre building
had selected tho Union building, and
he wished to know il the jury had any
objection to removing the furniture at
once from the Tenth street structure to
the new office, No objection was
offered and the permission was given.
Continuing his testimony. Mr.. NAL
lack said he believed the building was
dangerous, but he did not care to com.
plain, because he felt that ii he had
complained his position would not be
secure. He did not believe in this civil
service business; it afforded no proteC'
tion
AN IMPORTANT POINT.
Erneat Bair, a record and pension
division clerk, told of his fear that the
theatre building would fall during the
progres, OF excavation. He had always
believed the structure dangerous. He
had not made complaint to his superior
officers because he feared the conse.
quence. He knew that clerk named
Lease, or Pease, had asked for n transfer
to another building and had been told
that his only recourse was to resign.
The clerks felt strongly against Col.
Ainsworth and Jacob Frech because
they had not been furloughed while the
excavation was going on.
The witness gave the first testimony
concerning the existence of the alleged
petition to Colonel Ainsworth, asking
that tho clerks be furloughed during
the progress OF tho work in the base
ment. He said he understood that
such petition had been drafted. but
the clerks refused to sign it because
they feared tho consequences. Mr..
Bair said he did not know of his per-
sonal knowledge that such a petition
had been prepared, but he mentioned
the names OF two clerks who, he under.
stood, had signed it.
CORONER MANDANUsED.
Just before Mr.. Bair began his tosti-
mony Deputy Coroner schaelTer was
served with paperS issued by Chief
Justice Bingham, OF the supreme court
Of the District OF Columbia, directing
him to appear at 8 p. M. in answer to a
petition fled by Col. Ainsworth, re-
qucsting that he (Col Ainsworth) be
allowed to be represented by counsel
at the inquest.
Frank Randolph had been employed
in the ruined building since 1890 The
feeling towards the heads OF the bureau,
he said, was not cordial, and especially
was this SO toward the Chief Clerk
jacob Frech, who treated men as dogs
and not as mon. He way tyrannical
aud overbearing. Col. Ainaworth, so
far us his personal experience went,
trnnknl hia plnrlu in1ividuollv n a man