New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-08-17
LIST Or THE JURYMEN.

LIST Or THE JURYMEN
The jury selected was as follows: Frank E.
Conover. builder. No. 253 Broadway 0oreman): Os-
Lowinson. architect and engineer. No. 30 Cort-
landt-s; Charles Rentz, contractor No 1853 Fourth
ave John n. Hamilton. architect. No. 80 Broadway;
George Royle. granite builder. No. Madison-ave.
w. Bergen, formerly Superintendent Of Bureau of
Supplies in Department OF Public Works. brick
layer by trade. No. 81 Christopher-st.; Andrew J.
Carson inspector New-York Mutual Gaslight Com
pany Fourth-ave. and sixteenth-st.; John
Kenny. contractor. Bedford Park; A. Il. Jennings
architect. No. AS Broadway.
The first witness Policeman Zimmerman. OF
the Mercerst. station, who told of the falling OF
the building and said ne carried of the ruins the
body OF John Burke.
Coroners Physician Donn testified as TO making
autopsies the bodies of victims OF the disaster.
Enoch Vreeand. Assistant Superintendent OF
Buildings. identified the application flied on Novem-
Der s. 1894. for the erection Of the Ireland Building
TO cost $4,000 He described the plans Of the build
ing at length. At the close OF his testimony Mr.
Hitchings. representing Joseph Guider, asked that
he be allowed to examine Mr. vreeland.
Assistant District-Attorney Mcintyre objected on
the ground that the Court OF Appeals had decided
that an accused person before Coroner had no
right TO cross-examine witnesses.
with all respect to the Court OF Appeals" said
Coroner Fitzpatrick, Il shall allow the witness to
be crosse examined"
On cross-examination Mr.. Vreeand said that
three stories had been put up when permission was
given to change the building from a seven-story to
eght-story building There was no change or
dered in the foundations in the base Of
the columns.
STATEMENTS OF THE ARCHITECT
Charles r. Behrens next took the stand He said
he had been an architect for seven years and drew
up the plans and specifications for the Ireland Build
ing.
did you superintend the erection Of the build
ing?' asked Mr.. Mcintyre. Il there occasion
ally" replied Mr. Behrens. who said that he was
assisted by a man named T. Roberts.
did you Mr. Ireland during the con-
struction of the building?" asked. Yes sir
the reply.
AT this time 1t appeared that Mr.. Mcintyre was
very angry because witnesses were allowed to be
cross-examined. He came over to the reporters
table and said: This IL farce. l had hoped to
get through In three on four days but will never
get through II this thing goes I'll get OF It,
though and take 1t up 70 the Grand Jury and get
all the facts In six hours"
The examination OF Mr.. Behrens developed the fact
that a number OF changes had been made in the
original plans Of the building. 1t also appeared
that in the original application to the Department OF
Buildings the specifications provided for granite on
Greenwich stone as part OF the foundation. After
ward this was changed as to make IT simply
granite. without any alternative stone The concrete
should. according to the specifications, have been
eighteen inches thick. but II only twelve inches
thick.
The foundation for the centre pier Mr. Behrens
said. was laid between November q and November
%. and Greenwich stone was used instead OF granite
moment later the witness took this statement
back and said he wasn't quite sure
Mr.. Behrens said that he had never made any
special examination of the soil before the foundation
was laid. He calculated that the floors would sup
port $50 pounds TO the square foot. OF which Nifty
pounds the weight OF the floor Itself. and IT
might require a pressure OF 100 pounds to the
square foot TO break the floor
The witness admitted that he personally superln-
tended the excavation and the laying OF the con-
crete yet he never noticed the Old cstern under one
OF the central piers. and his attention was not d.
rected to IT, lie said that the sub-contractor did
not get paid until he himself had certified that the
work properly done. although only twelve inches
building IL went up but supposed that the
specifications would be fo..Owed
THE JURY NOT TO VISIT THE RUINS NOW
Mr. Mcintyre said he would like to have an ad.
journment until Monday and let the Jury visit the
building In the mean time.
THE Coroner has decided" said Coroner Fitz-
patrick. SHARPLY. that the jury will not vsi, the
building unit. all the oral testimony has been taken
They VIII then be In better position to come 10 a
Mr. Mcintyre contended that the jury would be
better able Die to decide Il ,hy say; saw the building first
The Coroner will not alter his determinat on !"
said tho Court.
ton than ever before. Witnesses have been
a h C 10 De despite the ruling of
That Is because there y . practical man conduct.