Evening star., 1896-10-03
HOLDING AN INQUEST
Attempting to Fix the Responsibility
for Fitzgerald's Death.
MANY WITNESSES ARE SUMMONED
Mr.. Hewlett Reiterates His Charges
Against the Albert Building.
CRITICISM OF THE CORONER

Coroner Hammett is holding an inquest.
which began this afternoon at 3 o'clock at
Wright's undertaking establishment, 1897
10th street northwest, into the death Of the
late James Fitzgerald, who was instantly
killed in the Beatty building, 1215 Pennsyl-
vania avenue, when that structure was
crushed by the falling of the west wall of
the newly constructed Albert building, which
occl pies the adjoining lot on the east.
The inquest is attracting more than ordi-
nary attention because it is regarded in the
light of direct inquiry into the terrible
accident Tuesday night, and as an en-
deavor to fix the responsibility for the
catastrophe on Pennsylvania avenue where
it properly belonged. In accordance with
this intention Coroner Hammett ordered
summonses issued for all the parties who
were present in the Beatty and Kelly build
ings On the night of the storm. as well as
the contractor of the Albert building, the
architect of it and number of builders
and contractors. The witnesses who have
been summoned include Mr.. Charles l..
Beatty. the proprietor of the wrecked
building where Fitzgerald was killed; Mr..
Bruce Beatty, Mr.. q. w. Mccormick, Ser
geant Joseph Acton, Mr.. William Baker,
Mr.. and Mrs. Frank Finley, Charles Cole
man, George Sutton and Mr.. l.. w. Blount
Of the interstate commerce commission,
VINO were III the building at the time or
the collapse; Contractor Cissell, who is
building the Albert building: Mr.. Glen
Brown, the architect of that building; IT,
spector Brady and a number Of contr
tors and builders, including Charles l. -
monston, Robert |. Fleming, Frank l..
Hanvey, John II. Hewlett and others.
Funeral Postponed.
The dead man was a valuable and popu-
lar member of Troop A, DONG, which or
gJJ liza oh of I,
was the desire of Troop A to send their
comrades body to his former home in
Lewiston, Ne, this afternoon, and Coroner
Hammett was requested to hold the inquest
at 1 o'clGck, or, at least, to have the jury
view the body at that time, and then al
low 1t to be sent away, as described. The
coroner, however, declined to grant either
REQUEST, and accordingly the funeral serv-
ices mad to be postponed until tomorrow
afternoon at O'Clock, VIXEN they will be
held at Wrights establishment, after which
the remains will be escorted by Troop A to
the pennsylvania depot for transportation
to Lewiston. Friends OF Fitzgerald express
much Indignation at the coronerS action,
as the body Of poor Fitzgerald was already
decon posing when found and taken to the
morgue, and it is claimed that its inter
nent should not have been delayed further
than absolutely necessary.
Builder Hewlett Repeats His Charge
reporter, Mr.. John H. Hewlett took issue
with recent statement of Inspector OF
Buildings Brady.
Il would like to say a few words in reply
to remarks made by Inspector Brady tc
your reporter in last Thursdays issue
said Mr.. Hewlett, wherein he says, There
is absolutely no truth in the charge. The
building regulations have been compiled
| with in every particular in the construc tior
of that building Again he says, 'Thi.
morning made careful inspection of the
building and plumbed the walls. l fount
everything properly constructed
Now" said Mr.. Hewlett, this seems tt
settle the matter. SO far as fixing the re
sponsibility Is concerned. But when
stated, over my signature, that the wall.
were not properly anchored to the floors,
told the truth. l again say they were not
| Had they been properly built, Mr.. Fitzgerald
would have been alive today. 1t is ques
| ton, in my mind of what public good tn,
| inspectors Office Is to the public, when in
spections always occur just after a calami
| ty and seldom before
Mr.. Lewis Lost Heavily.
| One of the heaviest losers in the Aber
building disaster was E. ]. Lewis, who fur
| nishes nearly all the dentists of Washing
| ton with their dental supplies. He had jus
| refitted his quarters, and had on hant
| about $4,000 worth of dental instrument
and supplies, nearly all of which was lost
False teeth are scattered all through th