The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1893-06-13
Exciting Scene at the Coroner's
Inquest IN Washington.
NCENsED All AINsW0RTH.
Survivors Of the Ford's Theatre Horror
Talk Plainly.
They Charge Col. Ainsworth with Murder
and with Cries of Chang Himi'' Make
an Attempt TO Reach Him-But
Are stopped by Cooler Heads.

theatre accident began here today. Col
onel Ainsworth, chief OF the record and
pension division, against whom the i'm
piled accusation of responsibility for the
accident lies, was present.
The first witness, Benjamin Reece, tes-
titled that he had not seen any area roped
off as dangerous inside the building. For
several years be 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 that
he had been warned by J. w. Webb, in
charge of the first floor, not to approach
tbearea on the floor roped off while the
excavation was going on. No other
warning OF the insecurity OF the building
WIS given. The day before the accident,
Colonel Ainsworth examined the roped
of space minutely and thought he went
down stairs To see the excavation. Old
employees told Colonel Ainsworth that
the building was a shell and death trap.
Smith Thompson, clerk, testified that
messengers OF Colonel AInsworth, sta
toned on the atairway, frequently mott
fed clerks with bated breath that it was
the coloners orders that employees should
walk on tiptoe up and down the stairway.
Witness was al engineer and examined
the building. There were no props where
the excavation was going on. He declared
that the feeling Of the clerks toward
Colonel Ainsworth was one of abject fear.
A burst Of handclapping from the as
sembled clerks followed this declaration.
Mr.. Warner asked if there was such
Id l-~I--
afraid to make suggestions as to the
dangerous condition of the building.
ut was" emphatically added Thomp
son., and he added, 1.-THE feeling ex-
tended to Jacob Freecn, Ainsworth's
right bower, and to o. B. Brown, chief
clerk of the building
At this point letter was received from
Acknowledgement Olney, rendering the
services of an assistant In conducting the
inquiry but the offer was declined.
Another letter which was from Secre-
tary OF War Lamont created sensation.
The letter was to the effect that the war
department vas informed that apprehen-
sion existed among the department en-
ployes that they might jeopardize their
positions by testifying before the jury.
Colonel Lamont wrote:
lit seems hardly necessary for me to
say that such apprehensions are entirely
grcuudless, but to.allay any such fear as
may exist, l beg TO inform you that no
employee of this department Will endanger
his position in any way, on account of
any such testimony
jefferson W. Carter, a clerk in the
wrecked building testified that there had
been common rumor among the clerks
that the building was unsafe.
The first witness at the afternoon ses-
sion was David Brown, clerk, who said
he 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: ~ do not fear
Colonel Ainsworth, for ne has done me
two iavors, but do fear MIR. Freech.''
Brown said further there was much
feeling about the insecurity of the build
ing and q great many clerks, himself
among them, would have protested, if
they had had the courage to do so, against
being kept in the old theatre.
''WhaI had the clerks to apprehend?''
was asked.
discharge, . said Brown.
J. S. Smith, clerk, testified that the
feeling was not directed to Colonel Aims
Jacob Freech. The talk against Colonel
Ainsworth was confined to few old sore-
heads.
James A. Long, clerk, said he felt in
secure during the work of excavation
aud secured a leave of absence while the
excavation was going on and applied fol
life insurance.
While Albert N. Crosby was being ex.
anined man walked slowly to place
behind Colonel Ainsworth's chair anc
said something in such loud voice that il
brought warming, 'tshl ship But the
man was not to be hushed. He stepped
forward and, standing directly ovel
Colonel Ainsworth, cried in a voice trem-
bling with passion:
ssYou murdered my brother, and I'c
like to know what right you have to sii
here and intimidate witnesses.
There was a moments silence after this
passionate outburst and then a wild
Shout of approval. Colonel Ainswortt
sat calmy in his chair, and Lieutenant
Sniss pushed the disturber toward tbs
DOORWAY. His name is Charles G.. Banes
whose brother was killed. The shouts o.
the government clerks present continued
and il looked for a minute that Colone
Ainsworth was in danger, but SHARP
words from a police lieutenant finally
brought quiet.
Before witness was allowed to proceed
B. II. Warner, one of the jurors, sug.
pested to the coroner that the episod,
would best be silenced oy the Withdraw
OF the party against whom it was direc
ted. Loud applause followed Warner
remarks and DR.. Chaeffer whispered tn,
request TO Colonel Ainsworth to with
draw. he efused to Go so, however, ant
the coroner said he had no right to ex
Guide him.
Juror Harvey said he had been told b,
dozen clerks that they were afraid to ties
fify and would have refused to do so bu
for the letter of the secretary of war.
Ross Perry, representative of Colone
kinsworth, arose, and his first word wa
the signal for the most exciting inciden
OF the day. Butler Fitch, an old whit
haired clerk, started the trouble. Isl
dovnl;' he shouted. tiYou are an out
slider and have no right here. l protes
against an outsider speaking here. - Isl
downl Sit downin echoed his fellow
clerks. Fitch cried out something abou
Es.nurder,'' and the words echoed from
every part of the hall. Clerks were Oh
their feet trying to make speeches a
though a public meeting was being held
Morgan Spencer, of Bridgeport. Ala.
ard a government clerk, called out t.
Colonel Ain5worth: stYou shonld be ar
rested for murder and not released OF
bal.''
Here the tempest broke IN full fury
nhang himl'' was shouted from dozel
fh~oats and every man in the spectators
seats rose at the cry stHang him, han,
him. - and the turmoil grew louder.
Colonel Ainsworth, however, sat coo
snd collected. Somebody said after tn
hot L, hand r,7oved 4,