The Portland daily press., 1893-06-15
A PECULIAR MIDDLE.
The Inquest at Washington Must Begin
Again-Ainsworth's Defence,

The Inquest at Washington Must Begin
Again-Ainsworth's Defence.
WASHINGTON, June 14.-Colonel Fred
erick G. Ainsworth took the novel and
apparently unnecessary step yesterday of
petitioning the circuit court for a writ of
mandamus against the coroner. DR..
Schaffer, the coroner, intimated yesterday
that he would adjourn the inquest until
Col. Ainsworth and his counsel withdrew,
and afterward consulted the legal au-
thorities of the district as to his right to
exclude Col. Ainsworth.
The Ainsworth petition is mainly in
teresting in giving for the first time the
sworn statement of Els side of the case.
He says that when, in 1887, he took charge
of the Ford theatre building, he was as
sured by the officers of the War Depart
ment that the building was safe, and that
a year later he was again told that the
building was safe by Mr.. Entwistle, the
building inspector of the district; Mr..
Clark, the architect of the Capitol, and
Mr.. Green, the supervising constructor
of the new library building. He further
says that before the excavations were
begun which caused the, collapse of the
building, IA contractors, after careful ex-
animation, assured him that the work
was feasible and safe, and that during
its process he was assured every day
that the work was progressing with alb
solute safety.
These statements are in such direct
contradiction to the testimony that has
been adduced heretofore that his afida-
Wit, when read in court, produced SEN
sation.
The friends of the Colonel conceded
last night that the petition for manda-
mus will be denied. They also believe
that this will be followed by a verdict of
the coroner's jury in more or less direct
terms against him. This means his ar
rest on criminal charge of manslaugh-
ter in causing the death Of Ford's Thea
tire victims by negligence. The Colonel
himself does not disguise the fact that
this would be the outcome. It is be-
lieved to be the purpose Of his lawyer in
applying for mandamus to get his side
of the case before the pnblic in his affi-
| davit.
This morning the court dismissed
Ainsworth's petition on two grounds:
First-Holding that deputy coroner
is not legal officer. This invalidates
the inquest into the Ford's Theatre dis
aster as far as held.
OOSOisA-T Aep1 OAAO liSlu Va P0ISOu
to be present at an inquest in person or
by counsel is discretionary with coro-
ner, and therefore not subject for man
damuS.
The decision that there is no such Off
| Ger of the District of Columbia as Depu-
ty Coroner, caused DR. Shaeffer, who
had been conducting the inquest at VIII
lard Hall in that supposed capacity to
| day, to adjourn the proceedings.
| The commissioners of the District of
Columbia decided this afternoon to order
| new inquest, and directed Mr.. Thomas,
attorney for the district, to assist Coron-
er Pattison in conducting it. It was as
| certained that the bodies of two VIC
Tins are still in a vault at GIenwood
Cemetery and the officers of the ceme-
terry were directed not to inter them
| without permission of the coroner. DIR.
| Pattison decided to summon the old jury.
One of the bodies at Glenwood will be
viewed by the jury tomorrow and the in
quest will then be begun anew.