Evening star., 1896-10-07
The Coroner's Jury Visits the Albert
Building Today.
WHERE FITZGERALD LOST His LIFE
Strong Feeling Shown Between
the Opposing Sides.
YESTERDAYS PROCEEDINGS


in the inquest to determine the responsible
ity for the death Of James Fitzgerald. who
was crushed in the ruins Of the Beatty
building, which was demolished by the
collapse of the west wall of the Albert
building during the severe storm of last
week, at 80 o'clock this afternoon visited
the scene of the disaster for the purpose OF
making a PERSONAL inspection of the prem
ises.
The jury assembled On the sidewalk in
front of the Albert building and was about
to proceed within. under the guidance of
the inspector of buildings John b. Brady,
when Mr.. Frank H. Finley and Mr.. Charles
l.. Beatty called halt.
IF Mr.. Brady is to accompany the jury
said Mr.. Finley, I'VE should like to have
some one VINO represents us in the party.
VIII that he permitted by the jury?
The reply was in the affirmative, and Mr..
Finley thsreupon requested MIR. John
Holmes. assistant superintendent of the
new city post office building, who hoppened
| to be standing rear by, to he of the party.
! Il don't care to co. SAID Mr.. Holmes. Il
| have absolutely no interest in this matter.
and nd, do not ,t care to be mixed up in it." .,
We will consider it a favor if you VIII
| do so.' said Mr.. Beatty. Mr.. Holmes then
complied with the request.
Sharp Comments.
The jury. with Building Inspector Brady.
Mr.. Holmes, Mr.. Albert, Architect Brown
and a Star reporter, then went through the
! building. Mr.. Brady attempted to explain
| at some length concerning the construction
| of the building and the amount of weight
| resting on the beams. Almost from the
start the trip was of decided interest. Mr..
Holmes took exception to the majority of
| the statements made by Building Inspector
| Brady. and sharp words passed between
| the TWO. To one objection of iIr. Holmes
| Mr.. Brady said:
| AJ.. Won
Il am" the prompt reply, "and /
think | know as much about this building
| as you do
| While examining one of the walls Mr.
| Holmes remarked that the mortar was of
| exceedingly poor quality.
! Are you an expert in mortar?" inquired
| Architect Glenn Brown.
| Equally as good a one as you are, l be-
| lieve," returned Mr. Holmes.
| Mr.. II dimes called attention to the fact
| that in the upper stories the walls had been
| built up and aperatures Were left for the
heavy iron beams Later the beams were
| set in, he said. and then patched up with
| four inches Of brick on each side.
Earlier III the day. so Mr.. Holmes stated.
| he had had the brick work cut away from
| one of the beams and found there as al
! anchor piece of strap iron three-eighths
! of an inch in diameter running through an
| anchor aperture in the beam. which should
| have been filled by a seVenth-eighthS inch
| anchor.
| Lively Time.
| Almost continually Mr.. Holmes took ex-
| ception to the statements of Mr.. Brady.
| and he also pointed out numberless condi-
! tions in the building which he declared
| were defective. Mr.. Holmes also stated in
| plain words that SO far as he could learn
| and see, Mr.. Brady was trying TO cover up
defects and to convey to the jury wrong
impression of the true condition of things.
Words Were not minced and several times
| members of the jury interfered and re-
| quested Mr. Brady and Mr. Holmes not to
make the matter a personal affair.
| Il never saw Mr.. Brady before in my
| life said Mr.. Holmes. and l have no
| personal interest in this affair. AS build
er. mechanic and engineer of experience,
| however, | consider il an outrage the way
| this business is proceeding.
| In viewing the east wall Mr. Holmes re-
marked: THAT wall Is four inches out Of
| plumb"
In what direction?" almost shouted Mr..
| Brady.
| "Westward''
rs it?' continued Mr.. Brady. II have
| had engineer of the District government
survey that wall. I have not his fig
ures, but they will be presented at the IN
quest this afternoon, together with
sketch of the wall. You still claim, do you,
| that that wall is four inches out Of plump?'
Il most emph ticaily do" reiterated Mr.
Holmes. quietly. Il also surveyed that
wall half an hour ago. 1t so happened that
/ was on the roof at the same time as your
engineer and his assistants. 1t so hap
pened. Mr.. Brady. that your engineer and
myself compared notes and it SO happened
MIR. Brady. that our figures precisely
similar. l still claim. sir that that wall is
four inches out of plumb"
AS the party was leaving the building Mr.
Holmes remarked to Mr.. Brady LAS a pub
lie official you should do all in your power
to give this jury and the public the true
facts in this case. So far as l can see you
| are trying to shield some one, and are not
bringing to light what should be known"
| I,laS fi0p hon H.
/ viewing the wall, but when Mr. Brady
stated that he would have the figures pre-
pared by his engineer at the inquest the
jury decided not to ascend to the roof
viii you bring your figures. also?"
asked Mr.. Kopf. one fthe jury of Mr.
Holmes.
Il don't know whether 1 will or not"
! replied Mr.. Holmes. 1T seems that any
statement Mr.. Brady cares to make to this
jury Is accepted without question:"
Gentlemen. 1 consider that a sur upon
the jury" remarked Mr.. Keys of that
body Indignantly.
The members were scatteH Hd. however,
and the remark was not answered.
After viewing the rear wall from the
rear the jury, at O'Clock. proceeded to
the sixth precinct police station to continue
| the inquest.
Inquest Yesterday.
The inquest to determine the responsible
ity for the death of James Fitzgerald, who
/
| building. after a continuous session of
seven hours adjourned at o'clock last
evening to meet again at o'clock this af-
ternoon.
After The Stars report of the hearing
closed the examination of Mr. E. j. Brown
a carpenter and builder, was proceeded
with. Among other things. Mr. Brown was
( asked by the attorney for the District, Mr.
Thomas: Have you ever done any work
| for Mr.. Beatty?'
Il have" promptly replied the witness
Il erected the front of his building for
, | him.
Has he paid you for doing the work %
was the next inquiry of the attorney.
Yes. sir; he paid me promptly"
"Mr. Coroner" interrupted Mr Beatty,
Il object most emphatically to that ques-
ton. Mr.. Brown is here as an expert. and
Mr. Thomas is endeavoring by every means
, possible to convey to the jury the i'm
putaton that he is dishonest"
THAT is right" said a member of the
jury, rising. 1T is highly improper to ask
such a question as that
Il think order should be insisted on here
remarked Mr.. Thomas. II understand that
Mr. Peatty has some fenfipr in this ,pat