The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1893-06-20
A Sensation at To.Day's In.
quest.
The Department Clerks Make
Threats at Col. Ainsworth.
The Inquest on the Victims OF
Fridays Disaster Furnished
a Great Sensation.


ward and in a voice trembling with
passion, shaking his fist in Col. Aims
worth's face, shouted:
"You murdered my brother, and
you shall not sit there intimidating
these witnesses"
The man was Charles Barnes, whose
brother was victim of the disaster.
After the uproar thus occasioned
had quoted, Mr.. Davis, representing
Col. Ainsworth, started to speak,
when a dozen excited department
clerks rose to their feet and shouted
for HIM to sit down.
The lieutenant of police present en-
deavOred to quiet the Outbreas, but
his voice was as Intellectual as it would
have been in a cyclone. The excite
ment grew in intensity. Nearly ev-
eiy clerk present, who was employed
in the theatre blilding was on his
feet shouting. At first they only
called "sit down" "shut your mouth"
but finally some frenzied individual
cried, chang him." hang HIM" Men
were springing forward and it looked
as if harm would come to Col. Aims
worth, for the clerks were shaking
their fists over his head and others
were rushing forward as if they wish
ed to tear him to pieces.
Mr.. Warner one of the jurors,
finally managed to quiet the mob and
DIR. Schaffer adjourned the inquest.
THE INQUEST.
WASHINGTON, June, 12.-The in
quest over the bodies of the victims of
Ford's Theatre disaster commenced
today. Col. Ainsworth, chief of the
record and pension divisions, who has
been placed on the defensive by i'm
piled accusations, was present with his
attorney. DIR. Schaeffer, deputy coro-
nerofthe District of Columbia, conduct
ed the inquest. The district attorneys
office was also represented. The in
quest was held in Willlard's hall and
was public.
A letter read from Secretary La
mont stating that no employe need
fear dismissal on account of the nature
of his testimony.
Benjamin Reiss. a clerk employed
in the theatre building, was the first
witness called. He was not in the
building at the time of the disaster
He said he had heard it rumored for
some time that the building was I'M
safe. A day or two before the in
quest he had seen Col. Ainsworth in
the building where the excavation
were beng made.
Charles Troutman, a clerk, de-
scribed the fall of the building and
his escapes. He had been warned by
J. w. Webb, who was in charge of
the first floor, not to approach GER
tain spot on the floor which has been
roped off while the excavating was
being done. Webb had given him
warning ten days before the accident.
So far as he knew no order had been
issued about the insecurity of the
building except the official warning
not to walk over the roped-ofi spot.
The day before the accident, he saw
Col. Ainsworth examining the roped-
off space, and he thought the colonel
went down stairs to see the excava-
ton. Old employees of the building
had told him il was a death trap.
Smith Thompson, a clerk. vino made
bitter speech denouncing Col. Aims
worth at the relief meeting Friday,
said the messengers and servants of
Col. Ainsworth were stationed on the
stairway to notify employees to &c
easily up and down the stairs on tip
toe. {. The building was generally
known among employees as a death
trap. The witness said he had been
civil engineer. He went down to
see the excavation. He saw no prop:
nor pillars used in holding up the
first floor while the excavation wa:
gong on.
Mr.. Warner, one of the jurors, ask
ed the witness what was the feeling o.
the clerks in the building towards Col
Ainsworth, their Superior officer.
THAT of abject fear" answered tn,
witness.
This answer was followed by Sigh
buzz among the spectators and Sigh
clapping Of hands. The lieutenant o
police attempted TO suppress the ap
plause but it continued and grew il
volume, lasting quarter ola minute
The applause came from that portion
of the room where the clerks wer
sitting. Col. Ainsworth grew red
DR.. Schaffner looked astonished an,
admonished the people that there mus
be no applause.