The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-06-21

injured beyond recovery and charges that
Frederick &. Ainsworth, William G..
Covert, Francis Sasse and George w. Dant
were each of them guilty of criminal neg
ligence in respect of the said excavation
and enlargement of said cellar. and the
underpnnng of said piers, then being and
about to he done therein, and we, the
jurors aforesaid, say that the said Fred.
erick &. .AinswOrth, William G.. Covert,
Francis Sasse, George w Dant and each
of them Is guilty of criminal negligence;
and we further find that Frederick G.
Ainsworth, William G. Covert, Francis
Sasse, George w. Dant are responsible for
the killing of the said Frederick b. LOTUS.
The Government Reprehensible.
And we, the jurors aforesaid, do further
say that the failure of the government Of
the United States to provide for skilled SUI
perlntendence of the work of repairs and
alteration of its buildings in charge of the
war department is most unbusinesslike
and reprehensible; and we are of the opinion
that if such superintendent had been pro
vided in the case of the work on the Ford's
theater building the awful tragedy might
have been lverted'
Coroner Patterson issued warrants for
the commitment OF Ainsworth Dant.
Covert and Sasse. Ainsworth had already
secured bondsman. Contractor Dant is
very i'll at his residence suffering from Il
nervous attack brought on through the
accusations made against him in connec-
ton with the disaster
Considerable additional testimony had
been taken before the jury retired to pre-
pare their verdict. All the witnesses ex-
amined gave about the same testimony
nothing new being brought out until the
question of DanJ'S bond was touched
Captain Thorpe was recalled to the stand
and questioned as to the bond given by
Dant. The testimony created Il sensation
There was no bond, said Captain Thorpe
One had been drawn up, but Dant had
come to him and said the man who was
going on his bond was the brick contract o.
ami thought he ought not TO go on. Wit
ness had consulted with Colone. Ainsworth
and Dant had been told to 90 OH without
bond
10 Mr. Warner the witness said that he
had heard OF hundreds of complaints
against Colonel Ainsworth by clerks. Wit
ness was not under Colonel Ainsworth and
was always on good terms with him.
NJ Warner-Which government build
ing III the city would you consider the least
desirable for person to get into and re-
tain his manhood?
Witness-From common report should
say the record and pension bureau.
Witness said that Colonel Ainsworth was
III charge of the building and the words in
the contract saying the officer in charge
should supervise the work applied to Col
onel Ainsworth.
Chief Clerk Tweedale.
Chief Clerk Tweedale was the next wit
ness. He thought the department would
have detailed man to oversee The work
had the request been made. Engineer
Smith. who had superintendent the work
AT the weather bureau. was marine en-
gineer, he thought
The witness thought Mr.. Covert, as SUI
perintendent of the building, should have
reported any danger 10 the Ford's build.
ing Covert would be the superior to En-.
gineer Sasse Tie witness did not know
whether Mr.. Covert performed any clerical
work outside ot experimenting the build
ing
Mr. Tweedale said that the words in the
contract Ito the satisfaction of the officer
In charge OF the building would he
thought, apply To either Colonel Aims
worth or Mr.. Covert. Later the witness
said that the words were matter of con
strnction, and ii Colonel Ainsworth drew
the specifications he probably meant him.
self by the words.
All Give Bond.
WASHINGTON, June 20 Tt coroner's
jury investigating Ford 5 theatre disas.
Ter has brought in ve'dict holding
Colonel r. G. Aiiswor,b, Contractor
George w. Dant, SIperinr. n5ant Gov. ~
and Engineer Sasse responsible for tho
deaths of the vic inS hy reason Of
/ criminal negligence on their part.
NO warrants were served this morning