Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1893-06-14
WANTS FAIR PLAY.
Col. Ainsworth Asks a Manda-
mus on the Coroner,
THE RIGHT TO FACE HIS ACCUsERS

Cross Examine Them and Present Testi-
mony in His Own Behalf. and Protection
from the Law of the HIob-His Connec-
tion with the Tragedy Briefly Told and
the Charges All Denied-TaBen Under
Amusement.
WASHINGTON, June 14.-The proceedings
in the District supreme court in the Ford's
theatre tragedy case were interesting. A
petition filed by Colonel Ainsworth gives
in detail statement of the condion of the
building and his participation in the work.
He sets forth the fact that he is chief of
the record and pension office of the war
department with the rank OF colonel in the
army, and charged with the supervision of
the clerical force in one of the branches of
the record and pension office Colonel
Ainsworth says that as he had heretofore
heard certain rumOrs touching the Securi-
ty Of the eastern wall of the Ford building
when he assumed control he made diligent
inquiry of the officers of the war depart
ment and learned that it had been made per
fectly secure and that the entire building
was in every respect safe
Improved the Clerks Onarters.
Having in 1SSS-S9 obtained a new steam
heating apparatus and an entirely new
plumbing outfit for the whole building,
Colonel AinsHorth says, to further pro
mote the comfort of the force he procured
an electric light plant and for the purpose
of locating This electric light plant and to
improve the ventilation of the basement of
the building it became Necessary TO exca-
vatc a space about twelve feet in width
between two partition walls in the base
.nent This, he says, required TO be un-
lerpinned, ard of abundant caution, the
colonel says he had frequently gone into
the basement and had given orders that
he should be notified of the slightest indi-
cation of danger so that he might remove
all occupants.
No Suggestions of Danger.
In furtherance of this, he says, he or
dered the superintendent of the building
to keep n constant watch, and that no one
suspected any weakness or cause of dan
ger. He never entertained any idea that
the work was dangerous, and denies that
any of the numerous occupants OF the
building made any suggestion of danger
to him or any one else to his knowledge
until after the accident. Almost immedi-
ately after the catastrophe rumors reached
him that he was publicly accused of Grim
inal negligence and was so accused in the
public press Cfthe District He therefore
appeared with counsel at the session of the
coroner's jury June y, the testimony of
certain witnesses tending, if unexplained,
TO impute to him criminal negligence.
Refers tn Mondays Disgrace.
Through his counsel Colonel Ainsworth
says he requested permission from the cor
oner to crdss-eXaInine witnesses, but the
deputy coroner refused. Subsequently,
the relat0r says. he was faslely accused of
intimidating witnesses, and charged with
murder by sundry persons in attendance,
and was finally called upon TO withdraw
from the court by the deputy coroner and
by one of the jurors. Thereupon rotous
mob surrounded him and threatened his
life. Colonel Ainsworth says he has stated
the facts so fully because he is convinced
that n fair investigation will result in his
acuIIittal of all blame