Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1893-06-15
THE CAPITAL HORROR.
The Coroner's Jury Investigating the
Accident,

HSSloC.Its
WASHINGTON, d. c., June r.
Tie inquest over the bodies Of the
victims OF the Ford's Theatre diss
aster was commenced to-day in
Willard Hall. Ainsworth, Chief
of the Record and Pension Divia
sion, who has been placed on the
defensive by implied accusations
that he was responsible for the pres
enee of the clerks in the old build
ing, was in attendance without at.
torney. About one hundred pers
sons were present, most OF them
clerks of the Record and Pension
Division.
A stenographer from the War
Department and a representative
of the District Attorneys Office had
seats at the coroner's table. The
deputy coroner called the jury to
order and pretaced the investigas
ton by the statement that holding
an inquest in a public hall was
something of an experiment, and
he admonishea the public present
to keep perfect quiet. There was
nobody on trial, he started. The
Jury would simply endeavo, to get
the facts ofthe case. He stated that
the inquest was to be held over the
remains of J. A. Chaplin, of South
Carolina, whose body bad been
selected for that purpose.
Charles Troutman, clerk of the
old theatre, whose desk was on the
first floor, described the fall of the
floor and his escape. He said he
knew instinctively that the excava,
ton had caused the accident. Witt
ness had been warned not to ap-
proach the ropedsotf space, but to
his knowledge no orders had been
issued about the insecurity of the
building except an unofficial warns
ing. He saw no underpinning OF
the first floor. He had heared the
roped>of space called ''the dead
line" The day before the &C
cident he saw Ainsworth examine
ing tho roped-of space minutely,
and he thought he went down
stairs to see the excavation. Aims
worth came nearly every day while
the excavation was going on. The
old employees of the building had
told him it was a shell and "a
deathotrap."
Jefferson W. Carter, clerk on the
third floor of the wrecked builds
ing, took the stand, but before be
began on his testimony Dr.. Shaffe1
read q letter from Attorney Gen,
eral Olney rendering the use of al
assistant to give professional advice
in conducting the inquiry. This
offer was declined because the Dis
trict Attorney had already made
the same offer. Another letter te
the coroner created a buzz. 1t wa'
from Col. Lamont, Secretary o
War, and lead as follows: SIN The
matter Of the investigation now il
progress before the coroner's jury
in regard to the loss of life on Jun'
9th, 1898, at the Tenth stree
building, which was occupied b,
the Record and Pension Office o
the War Department. the Depart
ment is informed that a%pprehen
sion exists among the Departmsn
employees that they may leopard
ize their positions by testifying be
fore the jury. 1t seems hardl.
necessary for me to say that sucl
apprehension is entirely ground
less; but to alay any such fear as
may exist, [ b eg to Inform you tina
no employe Of the Department viii
endanger his position in any way
on account of any such testimon,
given before the corones's jury il
this case"
Mr.. Garter was asked by Mr.
Warner about the feeling between
Ainsworth and his clerks; but DR.
Shaeffer interrupted, saying the in
vestiga ion must be confined to thu
cause of the calamity.
Mr.. Warner replied with some
feeling that a great mary extran-
cons subjects had been introduced
and m of them had shown bit.
ter feeling against Ainsworth. He
thought he had the right to ask the
lquestion III erder to satisfy his mind
whether there was or was not any
prejudice on the part of witness that
wonld cause them to do in ustice to
officers of the Government.
This furry passed over and Car
ter said in answer to a question
said there had been common rumol
among the clerks that the building
was insecure.
Albert n. Crosby, third floor
clerk, was not allowed to fnisf
his testimony. While he was heine
examined a man walked slowly t.
the place behind Aainsworth'
chair and said something in such
loud voice that it brought a warn
ing "sh!" from some of those pre-.
sent. But the man was not to b
hushed. He stepped forward, ant
standing behind and directly owe
Ainsworth, cried in a voice tremb
ling with passion: "You murdere'
nv brother. and I'd like to know