The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-06-13
ne WAS srvRANM,cAl iNcoMpucr
Exciting Scenes During the Hearing
Of Testimony ct Washington City.
sabordi.sses Afraid . Testify Tor Pear
ee Lssing Their Peslsle.s-sscrstary
Lanost's Measuring Lester-Charge
Of Marder BY . Dfethee Of . viesin.


is an implied accusation Of responsibility
for the accident, vas present.
The first witness was BENJAMIN Reiss.
who testified that he had not seen an area
roped of as dangerous inside the build
ing. For several years he had heard
rumors that the old buiiding. particularly
the rear part. which did not fall. was un.
safe. Col. Ainsworth Was there during
the time of excavations.
Charles Troutman. 3 clerk, testified that
he had been warned BY ]. w. Webb. in
charge of the first 6eor. not to approach
an area Of the door. w6ieh WAS roped of,
while the excavations was going on. No
other warning Of ttp insecurity OF the
building had been givBn. The day before
the accident Col Ainsisorth examined the
roped-off space minut(y and then he went
down stairs to ses the excavation. The
employees told Col. Ajnsworth the build
ing was shell and deeth-trap.
Smith Thompson. q clerk, testified that
messengers whom Col. Ainsworth had sta
toned on the stairway. frequently noti-
fed the clerks With bated breath
that 1t was the coaonel's orders that
employees should valk on tip-toe up and
down the stairway. The witness was an
engineer and had examined the building,
There were no props where the excavation
was going on. He declared that the feel
ing Of the clerks toward Col. Ainsworth
was one Of abiect fear. A burst of hand
clapping from the assembled clerks fol-
lowed this declaration.
Warner asked If there vas such feeling
of fear that clerks we're afraid to make sug-
gestions As to the dangerous condition of
the building. There was" emphatically
answered Thompson, s'and the feeling ex-
tended to Jacob Fruch. Ainsworth's right
bower, and o. II. Brown. the chief clerk Of
the building" At this point . letter was
received from Attorney General Olnev
rendering the services of an assistant in
conducting the inquiry. The offer was de-
clined. Another letter. which was from
Secretary Of War Lamont. created q sensa-
tion. The letter was 70 the effect that the
war department had been informed that
apprehension existed among the depart.
ment employees that they might jeopardize
their positions by tsstifying before the
jury. Col. Lamont Hfote: sIt seems
harily necessary fnf lhe 10 say that such
apprehension 10 entirely groundless, but to
allay any such fears as may exist, beg to
inform you that no employe of the depart.
ment will endanger his position in any
way on account Of any such testimony"
Jefferson w. Carter. . clerk in the
wrecked building, testified that there had
been a common rumor among the clerks
that the building was unsafe. The first
witness at the afternoon session was David
Brown, a clerk. who said he had been in
ssrucsed to 60 carefully up ana down both
staircases IN the building. Brown was
asked if there was any fear on the part of
the clerks that they would be disturbed if
they protested against remaining in tho
building. Yes. sir" he answered, md
then demurred, but finally said, Il do not
fear Col. Ainsworih. for he has done me
two favors, but l do fear Mr.. Frucn."
Brown said further that there was much
feeling about the insecurity Of the build
ing and q great many clerks, himself
among them. would have protested il they
had had the courage TO do so, against be-
ing KEEP: in the old theatcr. What had
the clerks to apprehend2" was asked.
Discharge" said Brown.
J. c. Smith, a clerk. testified that the
feeling was not directed to Col. Ainsworth
but to other officials. particularly Jacob
Fruch. The talk against Col. Ainsworth
was confined to few old soreheads.
James A. Long. clerk. said he felt IN
secure during the work OF excavation and
secured leave Of absence while the excaya-
tion was going on and applied for life in
surance. While Albert " Crosby was
being examined man walked slowly to a
place behind Col. Ainsworths chair and
said something in such loud voice that
II brought . warning "Sh-sh." But the
man was not to be hushed. He stepped
forward and standing directly over Col.
Ainsx orth, cried in q voice trem bling
with passion: You murdered my brother,
and I'd like to know what right you have
10 sit here and in,imidate witnesses"
There Was moment OF silence after this
passionate outbursi and then . v lid shout
OF approval. Col. Ainsworth sat calmly
in his chair. Lieut.. Smiss pushed the dis
turher toward the doorway. his name il
Charles Il. Banes, whose brother was
killed. The shouts OF the governments
clerks continued, and it looked for a min.
Ute as il Col. Ainsworth was in danger.
but sharp words from Police Lieut.. Finiay
brought quiet. Before the witness was
allowed TO proceed b. II. Warner, one Of
the Jurors, suggested to the coroner that
the episode showed the existence OF feel
ing that would best be siienced b, the
withdrawal OF the party against whom it
Was directed. Loud applause followed
Warmers remarks, and Dr.. Chatter whis-
rered . request to Col. Ainswo.,h to with
draw. He refused to do 80, however. and
the coroner said he had no righ, to exclude
him. Juror Harvey said he had been told
By dozen clerks that they were afraid to
testify and would have refused to do 50
but for the letter of the secretary of war
Ross Perry. representative Of Col.
Ainsxorsn, arose, aad the frs, word was
the signal for the most exciting inciden,
OF the day. Butter Fitch, an cid. white
haired clerk, started the trouble. ..Sit
doxa." he shoused. You are IN out
slider and have no right here; protest
agains; outsiders speaking here" Isl.
doxa. sit down." echoed his fellow clerks.
Fitch cried cut soEnsshing abou, "mur-
derer," and the word echoed from every
part OF the hail. The clerks were on their
ieet trying TO make speeches, as though a
public meeting was being held. Morgan
Spencer. o. bridgeport, Ala. and . gov.
e.ansent clerk, called out TO Col. AIMS
worth: 'You should ae arrested for uur-
ae-. and no, released on bail Here the
tempest broke IN faii fury. Hang him. +"
VAS shouted from dozen shroass. Every
rIa2 in the spectators seats rose at the