New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-08-28

A.
never heard of him until he was mentioned here
other to assist him and be al the building all
the time This man was to get SV week
paid over and above wha, you paid to MIR. Behrens?
Ayes. sir, II vas.
MR. PARKERs BID FOR THE WORK.
Q-you made contract with Mr. Parker to do
The work for sGooo. including everything? A
Yes. sir
Q-You had several other bids? Ayes Some
of them were two or three thousand dollars under
parkefs bid
1.-The first bid Of rarker's was sG6cc? Ayes
q And when he undertook the job he was doing
Yes sir. but there were some Inducements offered
change of plans and lene thenns of time for com
q Were the changes in the pillars so radical IN
the plans that The, were worth reduction OF 5000?
O. I'm us what .hese changes were7 Al am
not enough " an architect to- do that
1 eq sfak to the oeff 'Sn'rsTs s'sr aSS s.
aocusiuined 81 constructing latee buildings, and.
inofeovef. nj the mason wgfk.
The witness said that John II Mrtullash bld
,lop", hui he preferred To have mar who ..ula d.
,hs mason w"'h sate ,ns egnies, A. W. rai.
,ins ~ large hyllinas
. M a. 'iafps, s"a Nc Mecoll alag, gg' ~ W
his building VAS 10 he larger one
d Ana ther buildings stand nfm to-day A
The witness said he yss at the building t two or
there"
4-Bid ' You see the cistern? A,-No' sir. The
hrst thing I knew about the cisteTn was what |
Q-But Murray swears that you went into the
cellar and told MIN to hurry up with the grouting'
A-No sir the columns were up when went there,
and Murray was mistaken. | spoke about some df-
ference noticed in some OF the columns;
ps2i -wn'' was the ''n''e"'s' Al o'"' 's'"'"-
A SUBSTANTIAL BUILDING WAS DESIRED.
The witness then denied that he gave any orders
70 change plans. He wanted to have sub
stantia building for drygoods purposes.
Q.-Didnt you beat down Mr.. Parker in the
price? A.-No sir l never beat him down.
QEAnd you had .othing to 90 Win the reduenon
Q.|And II Mr. Parker had not reduced the bid
The witness said that there was something spoken
OF which. II not insisted on, would enable Mr..
Parker TO do the work cheaper.
Q.-What were these something's? Al don't re-
Q.-wasn't one of them to reduce the concrete
rTm Vines tn saa he Knew the depth of the
concrete reduced from IS to II inches until he
Odd YOU employ an engineer to look At the
building after the collapse? Any son did.
Odd anybody intimate TO you that the twelve
inches Of concrete Mould be suiceh had MOI
been complied with until read 1t IN the news
papers.
The witness said he gave his testimony volun-
tariIy and was willing 10 have it stand on record
In reply TO Mr. Warren the witness said he had
never ordered any change in the plans af,er they
were filed with the Building Department
Odd you make inquiries about Mr. Behrens
as an architect? Ayes. sir He was recon-
mended TO me by MI McCulagh.
surance Company the building? A-fes, SIR:
and gave them the name OF the architect and
they were satisfied ,.. -,
Ibid you know the nature OF the SOIL? asked the
Coroner. Il did not, sir" was the reply
To Mr.. Clarke who represents Mr.. Behrens the
witness said that the contract with Mr. Parker
did not include the wiring. elevator. steam fitting
extra story OF the building
THE WITNESS CROSS EXAMINED.
Mr. Ireland was then cross-examined by Mr.
Goldman. who represents Mr.. Parker. He did
not remember telling Mr.. Parker to revise his bid
and predicate II the figures OF the Cornell Iron
Company, whose estimate for iron work was E,1OO
less than that OF the Parker man
did you not try to beat down Mr. Parker's
estimate. and isn't 1t a fact that week was lost
haggling t?' inquired II don't recol-
lect" said the witness.
Foreman COnover said he could not see what all
this discussion about the price Mr.. Parker re-
ceived from Mr. Ireland for the building had TO do
with the collapse. The matter was then dropped.
do you remember that Mr.. Parker declined to
be responsible for the iron work when you made
the changer asked Mr.. Goldman. Isn't II in the
responsibility for iron work.
u do not remember" said Mr.. Ireland.
Mr.. Goldman then produced copy or the con-
tract and read as follows:
And the builder hereby admits that said plans,
elevations specifications and drawings are sum