Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-06-16
After Recess.


The coroner's inquest was continued at Will
usual crowd Of clerks and curious spectators
present.
During the recess Mr.. s. T. Thomas, the at
Patterson, said to STAR reporter that in his
concluded by tomorrow afternoon.
There were . number Of witnesses whose tes-
timony might not be particularly important,
but 1t was advisable that they should be heard,
that there was fair play and free speech.
MR.. sAssK RECALLED.
The first witness called at the afternoon hear
ing was Mr.. Sasse, the engineer of the building.
who was on the stand yesterday. He stated in
that his plans for the repairs Of
the building were taken away by
Colonel Ainsworth the morning after
the accident and he had not seen them since.
de was directed to see Col. Ainsworth and pro-
cure the plans as soon as possible, and he at
ing to return at once
AUGUSTUS DAVIS
Augustus Davis, . builder from Falls Church,
was the next witness called He said he was
bidder for the contract for repairing Ford's
building at that time. He saw Mr.
sasse, who showed him a drawing and the speci-
ncatfons. He had quite a conversation with
the engineer and was told that drawings we're
prepared in the building. 1t was evident
they were not the work Of an
expert and they needed considerable explana-
ton in order to be un ierstood. Witness spoke
at the time Of the "tcklish" character Of the
work that was to be done and called Mr..
Sasse,s attention to the incompleteness Of the
specifications. He saw Capt. Thorpe's name
at the bottom OF the specifications and spoke
to him Of the matter.
He noticed defect in the specifications in
their silence as to the removal Of portion Of
tne uooring necessary to prosecute the work.
NO PROVISION FOR SNORING.
There was no provision in the specifications
for snoring up the other floors while the re-
pairs were being made. Witness told OF con-
versation he had with Builder Simms about the
character and danger of the work on the day
the bids were opened. Witness said at the time
that II some d-n fool was to get the contract
he might throw the whole building down.
Mr.. Davis did not think any reasonable man
could have made bid for the work without
including an item for showing up the
building. His own bid, 1892, included
600 for snoring, and in his opinion IL $500 had
been spent in snoring up the Aoo-s they would
still be standing all right and there would have
contract he would have used hard brick for
underpinning, with the best quality Of cement.
NO SANE MAN WOULD HAVE NEGLECTED SNORING
Witness said. in answer to Q question, that,
IN his opinion, no sane man would have at
tempted to make the repairs in an occupied
building without first snoring up the floors.
Had they been properly shored there would
have been no danger at all.
DAVID b. JOHNSON.
David D. Johnson, an employe Of Philadel-
phia company, who looked over the foundation
OF the building with reference to putting in the
dynamos, was next called
He saw the work of excavation, but did not
consider himself a competent Judge. Mr..
johnson threw no light on the subject
ing: said that be used 70 know Frederick b
Lotus, who was killed last Friday. First
saw the body at the moreue cxtsr the
accident and identified the body.
He saw danger line. a rope put up on the
first floor to keep the clerks back.
On the morning Of the accident the barricads
bad been extended by putting boards across the
desks, shutting off several more.
THE PLANS OF THE REPAIRS.
The engineer. Mr.. Sasse, was recalled and |
identified the plans which he had gone to Col |
Ainsworths Office to procure.
The plans wore stretched out on q table be- |
Tore the jury, and Mr.. Sasse explained the
meaning Of the different lines
He testified that the part Of the
aoor that was roped off was to be |
as soon as the work Of under.
oinning had been completed. With the tracinps
n front OF him and the jury about him he eI-
planned how 1t had been planned the work
'hould be done.