Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-06-13


journed until II o'clock today at the first pre-.
cinct station. Afterward it was decided to con-
hnue the affair at the hall, with better police
supervision.
Col. Ainsworth sat for few minutes and
then left the hall with his counsel followed by
the angry mutterings of the clerks. He is said
to have given some directions to one of tho
clerks, who replied that he would take no
orders from q murderer.
The clerks left the building with the idea
that the inquest was to be continued privately.
AN INDIGNATION MEETING.
There was continued excitement when the
sidewalk was reached, and finally Mr.. Butler
Fitch mounted the entrance steps Of the build
ing and proposed an indignation meeting i'm
mediately. The proposition was adopted, and
the clerks took possession Of the hall.
Mr.. Fitch called the meeting to order, and
suggested that Smith Thompson of Maryland
be chosen chairman. This was received with
acclamations OF satisfaction and Mr.. Thomp-
son took the chair. He made a stirring speech
in which he attacked those in charge Of the
records and pensions division OF the War De-
partment. Col. Lamonts letter, he SAID
amounted to nothing in the way Of affording
protection to the Clerks. Col. Ainsworth or
Chief Clerk John C. Freck could dismiss any
one Of them and would furnish some cause
which would prevent their reinstatement.
Ethelbert Baier rose and moved that q petit
ton be sent to the President asking him to pre-
vent the exclusion Of the public from the in
quest, but insisting upon the exclusion Of Col.
Ainsworth. This was adopted.
Mr.. Spencer Morgan thought that the sus-
pension of Col Ainsworth should also be asked
for and this suggestion was added to the reso-
luton.
Captain Potter of Laurel. who was the first
man dismissed from the War Department under
this administration. made n speech. in which he
said he was dismissed by Colonel Ainsworth be-
cause he signed a petition asking that another
officer be placed in charge Of the records and
pensions division. The cause given by Colonel
Ainsworth for the dismissal, he said, was ineffi-
cheney. when as u fact his record for efficiency
was IS per cent.
A COMMITTEE APPOINTED.
At the conclusion Of Capt. Potter's speech
the following committee was appointed to pre-
pare and present the petition to the President:
Smith Thompson, Butler Fitch. Percy Monroe,
NJ. NJ Jarvis and W. NJ. Thayer. This done it
was decided to adjourn. Before doing so, how
ever, the following resolution sent in by Jere-
miah Wilson, the well-known attorney, was
read and adopted
Resolved, That inasmuch as it now appears
that in the pending investigation before the
coroner, the contractor and the superintendent
arc respectively represented by counsel, the
chairman be directed to appoint u committee
of three, whose duty it shall be to secure the
| attendance of an attorney to be present duriug
the proceedings, with view to the ascertain
ment of the person persons upon whom the
responsibility rests for the calamity in aues-
ton. 1t is the sense OF this meeting that no
person should be unjustly held responsible,
and no one should be screened upon whom re-
sponsibiity justly rests"
JUDGE WILSON'S OFFER ACCEPTED.
It was announced by Mr. Baier that Mr. Will