Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-06-20
THREE GIVE BAIL.
Those Held by the Coroner's Jury in
Its Verdict.
CONTRACTOR DANT Was NOT PRESENT.
Col. Ainsworth, Supt. Covert and
Engineer Sasse in Court.
THEIR SURETIES ACCEPTED.

This morning three Of the four men whom
the coroner's jury found responsible for the
death of frederick b. Lotus and others in the
Ford's Theater calamity appeared in the Crimi-
nal Court and gave bail in the sum of
$4,000 each to answer the charge of
manslaugher. They were Col. Ainsworth,
Engineer Sasse and Supt. W. E. Covert. The
fourth man, Contractor George W. Dant, is
still confined to his house as result Of nervous
pros,ration growing out of the disaster and the
part that he took in it. He unable to ap
pear and his attorney was not present either.
The three men named surrendered volun-
tarily before the papers in the case could
be served upon them. Last evening. soon
after the coroner's jury had rendered its
verdict, Col Ainsworth appeared at the
court with his attorney, Mr.. r. Ross Perry.
prepared TO give bail The court had already
adjourned, but Col. Ainsworth urged that some
thing b. done in the matter. After a consulta-
ton between Mr.. Perry and District Attorney
Birney it was decided to accept his bail to the
amount Of $4,000. as this sum was satisfactory
to Mr.. Birney under the circumstances.
This action in the matter hardly regular.
and this morning Clerk Williams Of the Grim
inal Court stated that he had no record OF the
bond regularly before him, SO it was decided to
give new bail In the case
WHEN THE COURT OPENED.
When the Criminal Court, Judge McComas
on the bench, opened this morning at 10
o'clock Col. Ainsworth and Messrs. Covert and
Sasse were already in the court room ready to
go ahead with the case. As soon rs the court
had been formally opened Mr.. Perry rose and
addressing the bench said:
MAY it please your honor, am here ready
to give bail in the matter of the Ford's Theater
disaster. The coroner's inquest has inculpated
| four men. OF these Col Ainsworth ap-
pearcd here last evening after the
adjournment Of the court and gave bail
| for his appearance whenever wanted. His sure
ties, Messrs. Peter F. Bacon and Henry c. Nc
Cauley. qualified in the sum of $1,000. l am
| now ready to give bail in the cases of Messrs.
Covert and Sasse. would suggest that the
| sum of IS 900 is sufficient i'll all the cases"
| District Attorney Birnev said that his honor
| probably understood the nature of the charges.
In view Of their serious character, therefore. ne
| would respectfully submit that double the
amount suggested would be more suitable
bail.
THE AMOUNT OF BAIL.
| Judge McComas spent few moments in
looking over copy Of the findings of the
coroner's jury and then announced that he
l
1T would not be IN the case OF Col. Aims
worth. A." said Mr. Perry. 'He stands ready to
give bail to the amount of Sl0O. 900 II necessary.
| In view Of the remarks your honor has made it
| would hardly be proper for me to suggest any
| amount but NAV be allowed to say that ii
might be rather difficult for Mr.. Covert and
Mr.. Sasse to secure such a large BAIL.
| Judge McComas said that he must insist on
that figure. but that he would give the men all
! reasonable time to secure bail. In view Of the
l.
present, he thought it would be better il new
bond were given.
Mr.. r. j. Wynne, a well-known newspaper
man and formerly private secretary to Secre-
tary Chas. Foster. was then summoned to &c
bail for Col. Ainsworth. He had been sitting
with Col Ainswor.h in the rear of the cour
room during these prelimnaries. and a
once stepped up to the clerks desk. He was
sworn and stated that he was the owner OF
$4,000 worth Of unincumbered real estate
This was satisfactory to the judge and the dis
trct attorney, and he was bound over to see
that Col Ainsworth should appear whenever h
was wanted.
sURETIEs FOR COVERT AND sAssE.
As bondsmen for Mr.. Covert, Mr.. Perry pre-
sented two clerks from the record and pension
bureau Of the surgeon generals Office, Mr.
jeremiah Imbrie, 925 street, who was chief o
the second floor in the old Ford's Theate
building. and Mr.. Ernest Schmid. 1853
9th street. Mr.. Imbrie was one OF the wit
! nesses in the inquest and was the mai
, who testified that the rules of the otfic
we're not unduly oppressive, and that the rela
lions between the clerks and Col. Ainswortl
we're of pleasanter character than any othe
witness had admitted them to be. The rea
! estate holdings of these two men aggregated
} more than $4,000. and they were accepted a
satisfac tory sureties
Meyer Loeb, who testified that he owne'
100000 worth of real estate with incum
} brances which amounted to not one-half Of tina
sum, was accepted surety for MIR. Franci
Sasse.
| THE PROCEEDINGS BRIEF.
The proceedings in court this morning wer
quite brief, and as soon as Mr.. Sasse's suret
had qualified all the principals in this impor
a tant case left the court room. There was nc
an unusual crowd present and there wer
no scenes Of any moment. The grand jury. t
. whose attention the case will next be brought
= is in continuous session now, and
rests with the district attorney
, to when they will take it up. OF the three me
present this morning Mr.. Covert seemed
show the most signs OF feeling and worry ut hi
position. He looked rather worn and tired q
compared with his appearance when he was bt
' fore the coroners jury last week. The me
and their attorneys have refused to discuss tn
matter at ALL on the ground that there va
- nothing To saw about it.