The morning times., 1896-10-08
BAD BLOOD At THE INQUEST
Albert Building Inquiry Devel-
OpeS a Pretty Row.
JURy HAD TO PROTEST
Mr.. Holmes Sharp Talk Called Forth
Denials-Accusation and DenIaIs
frightened the Proceedings ana
But Little Light Was Shed on the
Subject OF InvestIga ton.

The Fitzgerald inquest, involving the
character OF the Alert building at No.
l2D9-11 Pennsylvania avenue, developed
sCL:e extraordinary features when II was
resumed yesterday and locked at times as
| II IL might enc in Il rough-and-tumble
fight. The inspection of the building which
preceded 1t was quite as unusual as the
inquest. Building Inspector Brady NJ the
'iose remarked: II don't think / ever
>'sw such proceedings before In my lifr-
Somebody yesterday morning induced
Foreman Lewis, who is doing the brick
work at the building under Contractor
Cissel, to cut into the wall at the end Of a
girdcr ON the fifth floor OF the structure
-yheD neither Mr.. Alert, Architect Brown.
nor any one else having any authority, was
present. He thought he was acting under
direction of one Of the jurymcn in thc case
hr. John Holmes. an inspector at he new
pUstOff flee and a District building in-
spectur, plumbed the east wall OF tie
building and Inspector Brady had Il tilt
with Mr.. Holmes over the result but the
facts were not brought before the jury in
tie testimony.
The Jury made gO-as- you please in
specuOn of the building with -only five
members present. and Throughout the
tour there was "A running fire of criticism
and argument between Inspector Brady
and Mr.. Holmes. wko represented McssrS
Beatty and Finley. Architect Brown and
Mr. Abert occasionally took hand IN Ties.
disputes, and once or twice a 1uryman ILL.,
teriorcd III the interest Of peace aud good
order.
LOTS OF SPEECRMAK!SG.
At the inquest Mr. Finley made a speech
ia the jury demanding his rights: Mr.
John Hewlett made a speech To the whole
crowd. complaining that the coroner
had allowed him TO be insulted when tcs-
Lying on the previous day; Mr. Albert
made an inpassioned appeal against hay-
ing his building subjected iHdcnuiteIy to
IrcSpasses under the nam;. Of iuvc>'ica-
'ion: Mr.. Holmes Indignantly Iepcllcd The
charge that he was trrspasser. and
ilung out su sharply at The jury that two
- them protested: AMI finally Dr. Ham
met adjourned the inquest TIL p Il!
Friday when lie announced that two more
witnesses and probably no more. VIII Ice
heard and ie case decided
Meaning z1r. William George Stcinu.tz,
an expert architect, and Mr. Adolph Cluss
Will, under proper circumstances, examine
the Abert building and be ready 10 give
their testimony. Attorney for the Dis
tEiCt Thomas was present when ne inquest
began, but asked no questions
L was half past O'Clock when the jury
reached the third floor of the Alert huIld-
ing yesterday afternoon. There Were pres
eDt Mcssrs. Keys, Kopf Brumweu. Lang.
ley and Van Syckcl. Mr. Shilling. it was
stated, had already made a Thorough. in
spection of the place and needed not e, bc
present. The others of the party were In
spertor Brady, Mr.. A bert Architect Brown.
Mr. holmes, by request Of Messrs. Finley
and Beatty, and two ne cwspaper reporters,
Mr. Holmes WAS not acQuain with any
a il. min nj
criticisms were at first received by In
spcctur Brady with the question: What
do you know about it? Are you al expert
or an engineer
i know as much about such thing, as
You do was the answer, several times
repeated pretty sharply.
wRANGLED OVER THE WALL.
On the third floor Mr.. Kopf noticed
that there were piles of brick scattered
about, and asked whether the wall had
been broken by the storm as low down as
tina, floor. There was a line of light rour
inches wide below the big iron beam that
runs lengthwise of the building. and the
plaster was damp, evidently put on re-
Gently, for three or four feet below the
opening.
There was long wra1ric over whether
this was where the wall lad been lam
aged by tile storm. or where the brick had
been removed by the contractor FOR some
purpose. Mr. Brown SAID he had that por-
ton or the wall taken out IN order In see
that the iron beam was not resting on
the masonry and likely TO wcakcn the
bul.uing in that way.
Mr.. Holmes was not inclined 10 acccp;
this explanation. i workman was brought
in, aud said the work had been done
SINCE The storm. The brick that lay upon
tlit floor had been thrown down when
taken out by the workIneu under Mr.
Browns direction.
on Sbe fourth floor considerable ex-
animation WAS made Of the mortar Mr.
Holmes declared il WIS very ppor Some of
the jurors examined ii and seemed la think
it was weak. 1t was explained. however.
ihat the walls Were green and the mortar
had not fully set.
What do YOU know ahout mortar?''
asked MIR. Brown Of Mr. Holmes Are YOU
an expert?'
L probably know a. much about mortar
rs YOU DO. sir. don't call myself an cx-
pert, hut know this is very poor mortar
Then dispute spranc up over the bond
ing of the west wall Mr. Holmes thrust
Il carpenters rule three feet into :: wide
cTevcc between the first and second
courses OF brick ,couutin. from ;viihin when
the hreak occurred i'll the wall that Was
thrown down. and asked Mr. Brady il that
was what he CIlIc l Il sa fe wall He pointed
for headers" to make bond at every
NTH course the wall before them showed
the bonding only every eighth course.
WENT AT IT AGAIN
Every seventh said Mr.. Brady.
NO; every eighth insisted Mr.. Holmes
Then he counted "one-lwu three -iuyr-ivc-
sixseveu courses between, without
header. That makes every eighth COURSE,
don't it?''
Let's take the photograph. said Mr.
Brady.
What do you want with a photograph:
Here's the wall itself. " .i-
Now, about the anchors said Mr..
Holmes to the jury. They cut into the
You suppose they found? An old piece OF
Scrap-iron three -eighths OF an. inch in
run into a hole matte for u seven
eieaths anchor. And yet you swore,'' lie
exclaimed excitcdly 10 Inspector Brady,
"tlIat the anchors Were all put III properly
and of the right size
Il uidn't swear anything of tie kind"
said Mr. Brady. II sworc that the anchor
bolts We're in the ends of these eirders when
came to inspect the building. l don't
know what is in the ether ends of the
girdcrs in the walls.''
We'll, it's your business 10 know -
One or TWO of the jurors and Il reporter
went up stairs with Mr.. Holmes to look mt
the anchor which had been disclosed, as |
alleged by Mr. Holmes, but the brick had |
been uiltover itagain. Mr.. Holmes pointed |
out the lines of fresh mortar to show where !
the cut had been made.