Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-06-13

WAsHrNeroN, D. c., June 12,-The
inquest over the bodies OF the victims
of the Ford's theatre disaster was com
menced to-day sc II O'Clock IN VIII
ards Hall, adjoining Willsrd's Hotel,
room capable Of accommodating about
500 people. just at IL o'clock Col.
Ainsworth, chief Of the record and pen
sion division, who has been placed on
the befensivO by implied accusations
that he was responsible for the pres
ence OF the clerks in the old building
entered the hall and engaged In short
consultation with his attorney, Mr..
Ross Perry, Of this city. About hun-
dred persons were present, most OF
them the clerks OF the record and pen
sion division, with q sprinkling OF War
DeparSment officials builders, contract
ors and policemen. DR.. Shae6er, the
deputy coroner Of the District, con-
ducted the INQUEST. The deputy cor
oner called the jury to order, and pre-
faced the investigation by statement
thSt holding "a investigation 10 puo-
iiehaH was something OF an expert
meut. and he admOnished the public
present TO keep perfect quiet. de
stated that the inquest % be held over
the remains OfJ. A. Chaplin, whose BODY
hss been secured for that purpose.
2 Beu1. r. Reiss. . clerk employed In the
old theatre building, was the hrst wit
ness called. He had been excused, he
said, st 9 o'clock on the morning OF the
disaster on account OF business, and
WAS not present when the building fell.
\
dangerous inside the old theatre. For
several years be had heard II rumored
thOt she building, particularly the rear
wall (which did not fai), was unsaIe.
A day OF two before the accident be
had seen Col. AinsWorth st the build
ing; be was there while the excavation
was going on.
Ches. Troutman, a clerk In the old
theatre whose desk was on the hrst
floor, described tue fall Of the floors and
his escape. The witness knew OF no
protest having been sent by employees In
the building 10 the authorities about the
dangerous condition Of he building. He
DNhad been warned by j. W. Webb, in
harge OF the first floor, not 10 approach
on area on that end which had been
rOped dfof while the excavation was go
ing on. Mt Webb had given him this
warning ten days before tbs accident
To his knowledge no orders had been
Issued abORt the insecurity or the oulld-
ing, except an official warning not 70
walk over the rODed Of space. He saw
NO under pinnlng OF the first floor. He
had heard the rOBed of space, called
"the dead line" The day before the
accident he had seen Col. Ainsworth
examining the roped OF space minutely,
aud be thought he went down stairs. 20
see the excavation. Col. AlnswOrth
came nssrly every day while the exca-
vatiOn was going on. The old employees
OF the building had told him it was q
shell and death trap.
SmithThOmpsOn,a a clerk Ia the theatre
building, who made bitter speech de-
nouucing Col. AlnsWorth at the relief
meeting on Friday, was the next witness.
HAD you ever heard any warning
about the stairWay?" asked the deputy
coroner.
Frequently, frequently" said the
witness, servants or messengers OF
Col. AinsWOrth who were stationed on the
stairway notified US with bated breath
that it was Col. AinsWOrth's order that
employees should go easily on tip toe up
and down the stairs The building was
known 20 all OF the clerks as the death
trap. but ones bread and butter de-
pended on working there; SO what
could we do. Only this morning l re-
ceiyed q letter from q friend. In which
abe recOllected distinctly that l said
two years ago that 1 was going into a
death trap"
The witness said he had been q civil
engineer. Every day he went below
stairs And watched the progress OF ex-
cation. He saw no pillars nor props used
in holding up the first floor while the
excavation was going on. Concerning
the one stairway in the theatre build
ing, Mr.. Thomp pson said it was not suf-
fciept for the rapid exit OF one half OF
the clerks with safety. In going down
the stairway, he had heard clerks call
out to VtAke care, the stairs are IN
safe.
Just at this stage 10 Mr.. ThompsCa's
testimony there was strange scene,
illustrating a bitter feeling against Col.
AinswOrth. A majority OF the specta-
tors present at the inquest were en-
ployed in the old theatre building. Mr..
Warner, one Of the jurors. asked what
was the feeling Of the clerks 10 the
building towards their superior officer,
Col. AinswoFth.
THAT Of abjeet fear" answered Mr..
Thompson impressively. lSlight clap
ping Of hands.
A lieutenant OF police present held up
his hand 70 stop the applause, but be
was too late. A burst Of handclapplng
followed that lasted quarter Of min
ute from a portion Of the room where
most Of the clerks were sitting.
Mr.. Warner said he had asked the
question because there seemed 10 be a
belief that the feeling existed between
Col. AinsWOrth and every man In the
Office, was such that had they made a
suggestion as to the safety Of the build
iBg IL would have jeOpardized their
positions.
Mr.. Warner asked II there was such a
feeling OF fear that the clerks were
afraid to make suggestions as 70 the
dangerous condition OF the building.
1T was, Mr. Warner, emphatically,
Il was, was the answer
Mr.. Thompson was questioned fur
ther about this feeling, and he said It
extended 20 jacob Frech. "Col. AIMS
worth's right bower, and the chrsnlc
pessimist Of Washington" aud to Mr..
G. B. Brown, chief clerk Of the build
IA latter to "A coroner from
epi. LsnRnl, ~ q War, was