Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1893-06-22
The Coroner's Jury duplicates Four
Persons
WITH YOUR UNCLE SAMUEL.
Ainsworth, Dant, Covert and sasse to stand
Triai-The other Defendant Gem
sured-Contractor Dant
Sick.

WASHINGTON, June 20.--It was de-
cided by Coroner Patterson that Col.
f. c. Ainsworth should not be sum-
moned TO appear as a witness before
the coroner's jury investigating the
cause of the Ford theater disaster
This decision was precipitated by Il. II.
Warner, one of the jurors, in stating
that several Of the jurors would like
the coroner TO issue u subpoena for Col.
Ainsworth TO give testimony at the in
quest, not merely in regard TO his own
connection with the theater accident,
but with reference to other parties con-
cerned. 81 see no reason" said Mr..
Warner, why he should be treated
differently from other witnesses Four
of the jury favor having him before us,
the other two are Indifferent 1nas-
much as statements that this jury is
prejudiced against him have been made
in the public press and elsewhere, we
think that he should be made to ap-
pear"
Coroner Patterson said he did not be-
lieve that the presence of Col. Aims
worth would in any way assist In show.
ing how Frederick LOTUS, over whose
body the inquest is being held, came to
his death. Nothing could be gained by
summoning him in his official capacity,
and as Col. Ainsworth was not willing
TO appear as an ordinary citizen he
thought nothing could be gained by
calling him.
Mr.. Warner stated that he wished TO
say for the jury, in reference to the
statements of prejudice in the minds of
several Of its members, that up to the
time the inquest proceedings began the
Jury had the highest regard for Col.
Ainsworth, but he had interjected him
self upon them as a defendant when he
was not accused. The testimony was
principally in reference TO the charac-
ter of the material used by Contractor
Dant In doing tho work beneath the
old theater building.
Interest in the efforts of the Jury to
determine where the responsibility for
the collapse of the building rested was
intensified when Capt. Thorpe, chief of
the supply division of the war depart
ment, was called TO the stand From
questions asked last week by members
of the jury, II was apparent that they
had an idea that Capt Thorpe was in
some way responsible for the work be-
meath the building. lie was questioned
as to the bond given by Dant. The
testimony created quite n sensation.
There was no bond, said Capt.
Thorpe. One had been drawn up, but
Dant had come to him and said the
man who was going on his bond was a
brick contractor, and thought he ought
not TO go ON. Witness had consulted
with Col Ainsworth and Dant had
been told TO go on without bond
Mr.. Warner asked a series of ones.
tions in regard 10 Mr.. Covert's duties
and the witness said that he should
certainly consider that, as superintend.
emit, Covert should have reported any
danger in connection with the build.
ing. He should have reported to Col
Ainsworth Did not know what Co
vert's specific duties were. Col. Aims
worth, said the witness, was in charge
Of the building, and was responsible,
for II.
James NJ. Common, newspaper re
porter, said that Superintendent Cover
had told him that Col. Ainsworth wal
uHcCtiN III ChhiBc VI tnc Worh Dtnchli
the building.
After being out two hours the jur,
returned verdict setting forth that
Frederick II. LOTUS came to hi
death by the disaster at Fordi
Theater building on June o, 1898
The verdict recites the fact tina
GEORGE W. Dant was the con
tractor under the government TO
the work In progress, which caused tn,
disaster and all the circumstances con
nected with the accident, and find tina
Col Frederick c. Ainsworth in charg,
of the building; William c. Covert, tn,
superintendent; Francis Sassc, the en-
ginecr, and George w. Dant, the con
tractor, are responsible for the killing
of LOTUS. The jurors further fin,
that the failure of the government q
the United States TO provide 70
skilled superintendent of the work q
repair and alteration of its building
in charge of the war department
most unbusinesslil<e and reprchcnsiblt
and are of the opinion that If sue
superintendent had been provided 4
the case of the work on the Ford
Theater building, the awful TRACED
might have been avcrted.
Coroner Patterson decided not to Is
sue warrants for the commitment q
Col. Ainsworth, Dant, Covert and sass
until to-day, in order TO give them a
opportunity of obtaining bail. Co
Ainsworth has already secured a bondi
man. Contractor Dant is very i'll at hi
residence.