The morning times., 1895-09-15
some One WAS TO BLAME
Verdict Of the 0oroner's Jury as to
Young Aoton's Death.
Unguarded Trap-DOor in the Flooring
of the New Library, but Responst-
biIity for 1t Not Fixed.

The inquest on Walter Acton, the young
man who met his death at the new Library
Building Friday afternoon, was held
at the First precinct station on Twelfth
street yesterday afternoon at O'Clock.
/, DR.. Hammett conducted the investiga
ton. After the jury was empaneled II
was found that only one witness had been
summoned, contrary to the express orders
| OF the coroner.
| His order was misiDterpreted and the
| coroner found 1t necessary TO commence
the investigation with but one witness
Mr.. John Chambers, local superintendent
OF the SDeed Company Iron Works, OF
Louisville, KY.
Mr.. Chambers was an eye witness to
young Acton's death.
| II was standing on the sea caffoldng
around the main staircase" said he,
| when my attention was directed to a
| falling body. / Immediately looked up
| and saw young Acton in his descent He
fell TO the ground floor and was instantly
| killed
"onr foreman was on the same floor
with him. but he did not see the accident -
II made inquiry among the employees
Immediately after the accident, and found
| that young Acton had been 10 the foreman
OF the painters garg and borrowed n lad
der. What he wanted with ladder is be-
yOUu lily tDDJctlurc, rs Hc WIS only eIu-
ployed as q water boy and had no possible
use for 1t.
The sppostion is he either tripped or
fell, and as there was no support TO catch
him his death was inevitable"
The jury al this point made a request TO
see the scene of the accident and were taken
to the new library building for that pur-
pose.
Abraham Jones, Jacob Krauskoff, Otto
Richter and William II. Suother, en-
ployes ON tue building, who were work
ing lear the scene OF the accident, were
the other witnesses examined None of
them saw the boy when he fell, but it
was the general impression that he fell
through an open trapdoor in the floor
of the scaffolding, through which mate
rial is hauled up.
The examination of witnesses occupied
two hours, the jury going out shortly after
3 O'Clock. They were in consultation about
an hour and half, and at 4.30 O'Clock
returned the following verdict:
THAT the said Walter A cton came to
to his death accidentally at the Library
building Friday. September 13, at about
1:30 O'Clock, while in the performance
of his duty. said building being In course
of construction by the government. The
Jury also states that he came to his death
through the negligence of parties unknown
to them, through the construction of the
scaffolding where he had been working
by orders of his superiors, by reason OF
an opening in the floor, which was not
properly guarded. The jury further rec
ommend that all such holes be properly
guarded when not in use"
Mr.. Chambers took copy of the verdict,
and steps viii be taken to prevent a re-
currence OF the accident in the future The
verdict blames someone for the death of
the young man. but no further inyestiga-
ton is contemplated.
Sergeant of Police Joseph Acton, an
uncle OF the dead boy. was present at the
inquest. After announcing the verdict DR..
Hammett issued certificate of death,