The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-06-13
CALLS FOR ROPE.
Colonel AinsWorth Was in
Deadly Peril.
CLERKS MAD WITH ANGER.
Athirst for the Blood of the Man
Deemed Responsible for the
Great Tragedy.
Special to THE MORNING CALL

WASHINGTON, June II. - The inquest
upon The bodies of the Victims of the Ford's
Opera House accident began here to-day.
Colonel Aipsworth, Chief of the Record
and Pension Division, against whom is
the Implied accusation of responsibility
for the accident, was present.
The first witness. Benjamin Refs, testi-
fed he had not seen any area roped off as
dangerous inside The building. For sew
eral years he had heard rumors that the
old building, particularly the rear wall
(Which did not falD was unsafe. Colonel
Ainsworth was there during the time Of
the excavation.
Charles Troutman, clerk. testified he
had been warned by J. W. Webb. in
charge of the first floor, not TO approach
tue area on the fioor roped off while the
excavation was going OIL. No other warn
ing of insecurity Of the building was given.
The day before the accident Colonel Aims
worth examined the roped-otf space
minutely and the clerk thought he went
downstairs 10 see the excavation. The old
employees told Colonel Ainsworth the build
ing was she'll and a deathtrap.
Smith Thompson, clerk, testified that the
messengers Of Colonel Ainsworth stationed
On the stairway frequently notified the
clerks with bated breath that it was tne
colonel's order that employees should walk
Oh tiptoe up aud down the stairway. Wit
ness WAS an engineer and examined the
building. There were no props where the
excavation was going on. He declared the
feeling Of the clerks toward Colonel Aims
worth was one of abject fear.
a burst OF nandclapping from the as
N1,a al en-
Thompson. going on with his evidence,
was asked if there was such q feeling that
the clerks were afraid to make suggestions
as to the dangerous condition Of the build
ing.
There was" emphatically answered
Thompson, and he added that the feeling
extended to Jacob French. Answorth's
right bower, and to o. 3. Brown, chief
clerk of the building.
Al this point letter was received from
Attorney-General Olney rendering the ser
vices OF an assistant in conducting the in
quiry. The offer was declined Another
letter, which was from Secretary of War
Lamont created a sensation. This letter
was TO the effect that the War Department
was Informed that apprehension existed
ana ~ department employees that they
mInt ieopardize their positions by testify
ina before the jury. Colonel Lamont
wrote:
1T seems hardly necessary to say that
such an apprehension is entirely ground
less, but to allaY any such fear as may
exist beg to INFORM you that no emplOye
of the department will endanger his posi-
tioD in an any way on account of any such
testimony"
Jefferson ". Carter. a clerk in the
wrecked building, testified that there had
been a common rumor among the clerks
that the building was insecure.
The first with ess at the afternoon ses-
sion was David Brown. clerk, who said
ne had been instructed to go carefully up
and down the stairway in the building.
Brown was asked if there was any fear
on the part of the clerks that they would
be disturbed, if they protested against re-
manning in the building.
Eyes, sir" he answered. and then de-
INJURED, but finally said. "I do not fear
Colonel Ainsworth, for he has done me
two favors. but [ do fear Mr.. French"
Brown SAID further that there was much
feeling about the Insecurity of the build
ing, and a great many clerks, himself
among them, would have protested, if they
had the courage to do SO. against being
Kept in the old theater
what had the clerks to apprehend ?"
he was asked.
Discharge" said Brown.
j. S. Smith, clerk, testified that the
feeling was not against Colonel Ainsworth.
but against the other officials, particularly
Jacob French The talk against Colonel
Ainsworth was confined to few old sore
heads.
James a. Long, a clerk, said that he had
felt insecure during the work of excava-
ton; had secured leave of absence while
the excavation was going on, and had ap-
piled for life insurance.
While Albert n. Crosby was being ex.
amined man walked slowly to place
behind Colonel Ainsworth's chair, and
said something in such a loud voice it
brought a warning "snsb," but the man
was not to be hushed. He stepped for
ward and, standing directly over Colonel
Ainswor cried in a voice trembling
with passion.
You murdered my brother, and I'd like
to know what right you have to sit here
and intimdate witnesses ?"
There was a moments silence after this
passionate outburst and then wild shout
of approval Colonel AinSworth sat calmly
pushed the disturber toward the doorway.
His name is Charles G. Banes, and his
brother was killed in the falling building.
The shouts of the Government clerks
present continued, and it looked for the
minute as though Colonel Ainsworth was
in danger, but the sharp words from the
police lieutenant finally brought quiet.
Before the witness was allowed to pro-
ceed, b. Il. Warner. one of the jurors, sug-
gested to the Coroner that the episode
showed the existence of a feeling that
would best be silenced by the withdrawal
of the party against it whom it had Deen
directed.
Loud applause followed various remarks
and Dr. Shaeffer whispered a request to
Colonel Ainsworth to withdraw. He re-
fused to do so, however, and the Coroner
said be had no right TO exclude him.
Juror Hanvey said that he had been told
by dozen Of clerks that they were afraid
TO testify, and would have refused to do so
but for the letter of the Secretary of War.
~. N,lo II