The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1893-06-14
TROUBLE IN WASHINGTON.
"You Are the Murderer Of Ny
BrotherP'
Exciting Scene at the Ford's Thea
ter Inquest, Washington.
Charles nancs. Brother Of Ono ~ the Vic
timas Charges Col Ainaworth with nj
rect Responsibility CLERKS Refuse
20 Take tho stand with Him.

W AAltiNaTON, June III lhnl man
murdered my brother, and protest
against his intimidating these wit.
neSseA =
This rcniarls, followed almost imme
dinteiy hy sccno of Wild confusion III
Witch oaths were shrieked by angry
and excited mon. caused nm early post
pnnelncnt Monday 81 tho inquest begun
by the deputy coroner Of the district to
ascertain who was responsible FOR the
fearful accident on Friday ia The build
ing occupied BY the clerks In tho REQ.
ord and pension division OF the war
department The relnark was mnde
by Charles Baina, well known
rcai estate man whose brother was
Killed In Fridays disaster, and Il was
directed against Col r. g. Ainswurth,
the chief 81 tho division referred To-
Col. Ainsworth with his counsel, Il.
Rossprcy, Kat immediately behind tho
deputy coroner and al one clerk after
another from his division was placed
upon the witness stand he looked them
ktradily IN tho face, More than ono
hcsitated In their testimony under the
stern gnzc II their official superior. hut
this was not observed until Mr.. Banes'
ktartling exclamation produced mn In
Simultaneous sensation which was fol
lowed by scene Of wild disorder and
confusion.
The inquest had boon In progress all
day. The hall adjoining Wizards
hotel. which was being used for The
purpose was crowded with men, most
of them clerks from tho wrecked build
ing. Tho attention with which they
.sah k4f a he
witnesses or the coroner showed
how deeply intcrcstcds they felt
Iii the proceedings There was
an afr Of suppressed excitement
pervndinR tho hAll md In the atilinegs
that provided tho tones Of the speak
era could be heard with unusual dis
tinctnesa A few policemen were sta-
toned about the hall to preserve order,
and several stenoRraphers were busy
taking down the testimony Of the wit
neaHes This WAS the condition Of
things when Mr.. llancs rose from his
sent and shaking his fist in Col. Aims
| worth'e face, characterized him az
murderer
Instantly he was seized BY police
man and borne from the hall, but his
words had served 10 loosen the pent up
Indignation 81 tho spectators and 4
shout OF execration directed against
Col. Ainsworth broke from the crowd
Ii was 81 short duration for the police
enforced silence. IN tho lnli that fol.
lowed y. II. Warner. tho foreman Of
the jury urged tho propricty Of exclud-
ing from further participation In tho
proceedings, all persons likely 70 be af-
fected by the result Of the investigation.
DR.. Shafer, the deputy coroner was
about 10 make soInc reply when Mr.
Perry rose 10 make statement for Col.
Ainsworth His action was the signal
for an outbreak, 80 much more fofccful
III character than the proceeding one
had been that the police fell back be-
| fore IL and realizing their inability 20
| cope further with the crowd they re-
manned inactive. Every man in the
room was on his feet. Some rushed
| into the space set apart for the coroner
| and Jury and attempted to make them
selves heard. Others stood on chairs
| and shrielxcd at the top Of their
voices No one knew what anyone
else was saying, but all united in one
| indignant protest against permitting
| either Col, Ainswnrth or his attorney
IL have any voice In the matter. The
| confusion was supreme, tho excitement
| intense. Finally an elderly man named
| Butler Fitch, q clerk under Col Aims
worth, with great effort mnde his voice
heard. The others stopped TO listen.
| without realizing that the din had sub
sided and with the same expansion Of
lung power that he Ind been using, Mr..
1 Fitch Numbered out: SIN the name
| Of the murdered dead protest against
4 the interference 81 those outsiders
Then the uproar continued with re-
newed violence. and the crowd added
It's protest to that Of Mr.. Fitch. Nor
Il gan Spencer, d clerk from Alabama,
| broke through the crowd, and standing
/ in front Of the deputy coroner. he
| shricked: s.Col Ainsworth should be
| held for murder" Many OF the men In
| tho crowd had by this time become nj
| most frantic with excitement There
was imminent danger that vioience
/ would be offered to Col. Aims
worth, and the police and cor
/ onef were powcrless even TO
make themselves heard Before the
awful outburst Of Indignation Col. Ains-
worth. the object Of II all. sat pale and
/ nervous in his chair. literally at the
mercy Of the men who were crying for
his punishment At this point, and
while the excitement was at It's height.
/ Mr.. Warner. Of the jury. sprang upon =
table and addressed the crowd. He
had suggesteed the exclusion Of Col
Ainsworth Inn the hall, and the crowd
Of furious clerks recognized IN him
4 friend They stopped to see what he
had TO say, and having once gained