The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-06-13
A MOST EXCITING Scene
At the Inquest Into the POrd'S Theater
Disaster at Washington.
YOU MURDERED MY BROTHER, SIR,
Was Shouted ut Colonel Ainsworth by
One of the Witnesses-An Uproar Fol-
lowed, aud "Hang Hint" Was the
Cry Directed Against Ainsworth.

WASHINGTON, June l3-Dr. Shaffer,
the deputy coroner of the district,
conducted the inquest into the Ford theatre
disaster which began yesterday. The jury
included architects and builders
letter from Secretary Lamont was
read, giving assurance that no clerk need
fear dismissal on account Of his testimony.
The deputy coroner called the jury to
order and prefaced the investigation by
statement that holding an investigation in
a public hall was something of an expert
ment, and he admonished the public
present to keep perfectly quiet.
There Was Nobady on Trial,
he said. The jury would simply endeavor
to get at the facts in the case. He stated
that the inquest was to be held over the
remains of j. A. Chaplin, whose body had
been selected for that purpose
Benjamin Reiss. a clerk of the record
and pension division. employed In the old
theater building. was the first witness
called.
He had been excused, he said, at o'clock
on the morning of the disaster and was
not present at the buildings collapse. He
had heard it rumored for several years
that the building was unsafe. A day or
two before the accident he had seen
Colonel Ainsworth at the building. He
was there while the excavation was going
on.
Smith Thompson, a clerk in the theatre
building, who made a bitter speech de-
nouncing Colonel Ainsworth at the relief
meeting on Friday, testified that when the
accident occurred he was at his desk at
work ON the second floor, to the rear of the
light wall. the part of the building which
did not fall
In describing his experience he said that
there was
No Fire Escape
on the building and only one door for en-
trance and exit He had hooked an TIM
brella to window sill and lowered him
self by il to n ladder, which some one
below him held, and thus escaped from
the building.
After two other witnesses had testified
there was a strange scene, illustrating a
bitter feeling against Colonel Ainsworth
A majority Of the spectators present at the
inquest were clerks who were employed in
the old theater building. Mr.. Warner,
one of the jurors. asked the witness what
was the feeling OF the clerks In the theater
building toward their superior officer,
Colonel Ainsworth.
'That of abject fear" answered Mr..
Thompson, impressively. A slight buzz
and shifting of chairs followed, then a
slight clapping of hands. DIR. Shaffer
looked astonished, and Colonel Ainsworth
grew red DIR. Shafrer arose and delivered
a lecture to the offenders.
At the afternoon session of the inquest
well-dresscd man walked forward, and
with a voice trembling with passion,
shaking his fist in Colonel Ainsworth's
face, shouted:
"You Murdered My Brother,
and you shan't sit there intimdating
these witnesses" The man was Charles
Barnes, whose brother was a victim of the
disaster. After the uproar had subsided,
Mr.. Davis, representing Colonel Aims
worth. began to speak when dozen ex-
cited department clerks rose to their feet
and shouted for him to sit down. The ex-
citement grew in intensity. Nearly every
clerk present, who was employed In the
old building, was on his feet shouting. At
first they only called "Sit down." "Shut
your mouth" but finally cried "Hang
him; hang him"
Among Other Statements
made by Charles Thompson in the clerks
indignation meeting was the assertion that
The New York Times was "the mouth
piece of Daniel S. Lamont and his coaju-
tor, 4. c. Ainsworth," and that 1t 'was
the only newspaper that did not hold
Ainsworth responsible for the disaster on
Friday. lie also denounced Jacob
Frech, whom he called IAN 'unnaturalized
Dutchman." Much more Incorporate
language of similar kind was used It
was proposed to appoint committee to
secure counsel To represent the clerks at
the next session of the inquest, but this
was rendered unnecessary by Judge Jere
Wilson volunteering his services.