Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-06-18
Claims of the Victims of the Dis
aster Being Examined.
THOSE FOR DEATH TO Be ACTED On
Those for Injuries Received to Be
Next Considered.
SENATOR MANDERSON'S PLAN

Senator Manderson. who was assigned by
Chairman Harris Of the select Senate COM
mittee on the Ford's Theater disaster to
investigate the death claims arising out OF
that accident, has so far completed his
difficult task that he has begun the work
of examining the physicians and nurses
who attended the victims In their last Ill
ness. At o'clock today he met a number
of these medical folks and heard them on
four Of the twenty-four cases that have
been filed with the committee. These wit
nesses were as follows: DIR. James c. Kerr
and DIR. n. r. Jenner in the case OF AL
fred l.. Ames; DR.. Rozier Middleton and
Margaret b. Fields. In the case of A. n.
Girault: DIR. l.. ID. Wilson, James T. Hens
ley and Jas. p. Hart, In the case of Charles
b. Sayer. and DR.. z. T. Sewers, George E.
Giles and Minnard b. Sturges. In the case
of George w. Roby.
A New Claim.
The Sayer claim is a new one, filed with
the committee on the 1th of April. Mr..
Sayer died on the 2lst of March and his
widow claims that his death was due TO
the accident. She asserts that though he
was troubled with a cough at times before
the disaster his physicians said that he had
q good prospect of years of life, but the
shock not only Frustrated him and produced
weak lungs with plaster dust. and so
hastened his demise
Twenty Easy Claims.
OF the twenty-four cases now on file with
the committee twenty will be comparatively
easy Of adjustment. namely. those of the
immediate victims. who were killed out
right In the fall of the building. These
were: G. Q. Allen, G. NJ. Arnold, s. p
Banes, j. Bussius. J. E. Chaplin. Jer. Daley.
j. r. Fagin, J: B. Gage J. B. Jones. ID. c.
Jordan, F. B. LOTUS, ]. H. McFau, o. FW.
Meder. b. F. Miller. H. S. Miller, NJ. T.
Mulledy. B. Nelson, w. Scherber, z. c.
Shull and F. NJ. Williams.
There can be TO doubt of the cause OF
death in these instances and the only uues-
tion for adjudication In connection with
them Is whether the government should pay
In each stated sum. or should grade the
compens sa ton according to the size of the
family or the necessities of the survivors.
That question, however. is to be decided by
the full committee after Senator Mander-
son shall nave made his report, which will
contain careful statement Of each case as
Tar as he can judge 1t.
Four Died After the Accident.
-Four OF the twenty-four men who died
lived for some time after the accident.
Ames and Girault are believed to have lost
their lives solely through the disaster, and
there Is little controversy over their claims.
49," Nio'"S Vi DoAiiseT anu Sayer, now
ever, are not so certain, as each of these
men was sufferer from lung trouble be,
fore the accident and died later Of con-
sumption. The contention in their cases N
based upon the theory that the plaster In
haled by them shortened their lives
Senator Mandcr.on's Hone.
1t Is Senator Mande-son's hope that he
may be able to complete these cases in such
time that the committee can secure a lump
sum in one of the regular appropriation
bills to pay of all the death claims. Tho
other cases. those of the survivors, will
thus be postponed for future action. This
is thought to be best because In most In
stances. the injured men have been able to
resume work, and so their families have
been provided for. at least partially. In the
case Of the death claims. however imme-
date action seems to be only humane as
the needs of some OF the families are very
pressing.
Claims of the Injured.
Work on the claims Of the injured, how
ever. s progressing as rapidly as possible
Squads of half dozen claimants are sent
to the board Of examining surgeons at fire.
quent intervals. and their report will not be
delayed very long.