New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-10-05
1OHN B. IRELAND CENSURED.
scATHING PREsENTMENT FROM THE
GRAND JURY.


WITH THE PROSPECT OF SUCCESSFUL PROSE
cr-rIoN-oTHER PREsENTMENTs.
Grand Jury yesterday filed the Indictments or
.-od against the five men he'd responsible Tor inc
rs,.e of the ireland building. The indictments
.ers ordered on September p. They were against
Ttomas Murray. foreman OF masons' Thomas
r.,ker superintendent: John II. Parker. contrac-
,o- Dennis T. Buckley. former inspector or the
p,,ljng Department; and Charles r. hemehs' ar
Infect The indictments are for mansiahghter IN
the second degree
The Jury recoasldered the Indictment ordered
ssalns, Edward j. Youdale, the architects assist
an, and decided 20 dismiss i.
A. o'clock yesterday afternoon the Grand Jury
s,as with Judge Fitzgerald. in Genera Sessions,
,our nrcseatnents. One was on the collapse OF the
,ol,rA building another the deficiency OF the
,romNs Prison. another the Ludlow Street jail,
and the fourth the premature publication of In
dlctmenis.
resout on was passed urging the october Grand
,r,, 70 INSPECT the condition OF the Ludlow Street
I.u which is said TO be in need OF sanitary re-
pair 49,, ,A,,
tho law prohibiting officials from disclosing the faci
mat indictments have been founG before the per
cans indicted have been apprehen led be extended
- az 70 include within It's prohibition all private
persons and newspapers
THE IRELAND PRESENTMENT
The presentment in connection with the collapse
n, the Ireland building was in part as follows;
1t is manifest that this terrible disaster ', causing
the death OF fifteen human beings, could never have
hapucned had the officials Of the Building Depart
neni proper peFprT hs rSnd Tv IL appear
that the inspectors OF the Building Department are
thai their Huperors have re led blindly upon the
honesty ana hlelity OF the Inspectors themselves.
-gch lack OF precauti1n and prrotnce would not be
tolerated for an instant IN any concern managed
rorrect business principles. With view to pre-
sn a1e ,Se Grand Jury fcs?ecfy presents that
in ts opinion the inspectors OF buildings should be
According 10 the circumstances. to thc compliance
OF the builders with the require OF the .aw:
These reports should not only relate to VIC atiors OF
law but should also contain affirmative and dcta led
Pn the part OF me Inspector to ne erect
safe and proper manner These reports should be
and then checked or vsed by the superintendent or
c,lanse IKE thai OF the ireland building would be
oa{cias "''''' '' "e'"S'"'e at 'eA' TWO
The provisions Of the building law as 1t now
stands permit load OF four tons Ia the square
foot any soil In the opinion of competent
perts II Is not safe TO impose upon soil OF weak
and yielding character a load OF more than one
ton or at most one and half tons per square foot.
building law IN this particular should be amended
Also. inasmuch as a building with faulty founda-
at all times unsafe. the Grand Jury recommends
have the soil upon which the proposed building IL
TO be erected examined by a competent engineer
the uni, OF pressure per square foot the soil
will sustain before the erection OF the building IL
In addition this precaution 1t is further recon-
nended that the Building Department exercise a
Foundations of buildings and that after the laying OF
superstructure such experts be required 20 file with
The TIM writer sta Is to The h
present number Of inspectors appears TO be insuff
% be
out the suggestions embodied in this presentment.
ssature or aidfona approprs s1t on the part
OF the Board OF Estimate and Apportonment Is re-
Seren S mi" he Grand s y it's
earnest desire that prompt acton should be taken
The Grand Jury further desires to present the
Court thef empheiie and severe censpre Of ,i, he
ing In question. According 10 Mr. Ireiands own
testimony he se ,S the b 6a b Of the
responsible contractor, and aterward forced or In
duced the contractor TO reduce his BID by a large
csed no personal supervision over the building; and
was unable to give the attention TO me DHi dinE
that il deserved. he employed as ms assistants Two
Inc duties OF such great importance and paid them
4 insufficient and niggarily salary
LIABILITY OF OWNERS.
The ownership of property in the opinion OF the
Grand Jury, imposes liabilities as well as II con-
fers privileges, and the conduct of Ireland in this
transaction mas been, IN us OPINION such as 10 nihi-
but little regard for those duties. and on the
contrary, only desire drive the best bargain
possible without concern for the safety ana
lives of the imperilled by his penuriousness
The Grand Jury regrets that ii is Impossible 10
fiEd any Indictment against him with q prospect
OF successful prosecution.
Judge Fitzgerald said he would forward a copy
OF the foregoing presenment TO the Legislature
The Grand Jury called the attention of the Court
TO the overcrOwded and unsanitary condition OF
the Tombs Prison and recommended the erection
- - ~ MIA mad N m cot s. 1E
qurement.
In addition TO the four presentments, the Grand
jury recommended that legislation be enacted which
saall make the secretary OF the Grand Jury a sal
q ed officer Under the present law some MEM
Der OF the Jury is compelled 10 aci as secretary.