The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-02-19
GOG0LIN'S DEATH In
THE Y. M. c. A. RUINS
Coroner Conducts q Final Hearing 10
the Case.
VICTIMS NEGLIGENCE THE CAUSE
That was the Substance ofthe Verdict
Which was Quickly Reached.
street Commissioner Dunning and
Other City officials Gave the W ork.
men Ample Warning.-BuiIdi In
spector Nelson and PatroIman Nueis
Testified at Last Nights Hearing.

Street Commissioner A. B. Dunning
and other city officials have been re-
leased from all blame or responsibility
for the death of Michael Gogolin, the
street department employe, who was
crushed to death by a falling wall in
the ruins of the Young Mems Chris
tian association fire.
Coroner Longstreet last night con-
Quoted a continued hearing in the case
before jury in the arbitration room
at the court house. The concluding
testimony was heard from two inn
portant witnesses, Building Inspector
John Nelson, who carefully examined
the tottering walls of the association
building and the structures adjoining
on the day following the fire, and Pa
trolman Neuls, of the police depart
ment, who frequently visited the scene
and conversed with the workmen at
the ruins Friday night when Gogolin
was at work.
THE VERDICT.
Following was the verdict of the
jury:
After taking into consideration all
the testimony produced at this inquest,
we, the undersigned Jurors, find that
all precautions had been exercised by
the officials in charge in the discharge
of their duties. The walls had been
inspected; the workmen had been noti-
fed of their dangerous condition and
had been ordered not to go inside of
the ruins. We therefore find that
Michael Gogolin came to his death from
being crushed by a falling wall at the
site of the Young Mems Christian as
sociation fire, and that his death was
caused by his own negligence"
Building Inspector Nelson was the
second witness sworn. In response to
Coroner Longstreet's question he de-
fined his official duties generally, and
when asked particularly concerning his
duty in relation to unsafe walls and
partially demolished buildings read
Section "a, p. 11S, Laws and Digest of
Ordinances Scranton, 1890, as follows:
" 1t shall be the duty if the
inspector to examine all buildings re-
ported dangerous, or damaged by fire
or accident. and to make a record of
such examinations, including the ma
ture and amount of such damage, with
the name of the street and the num-
Der of the building, the name of the
owner and the lesse, and for what
purpose occupied, and. in case of fire,
the probable origin thereof.
Said record shall always be open to
the inspection of the public"
MIR. NELSON ON THE STAND.
Inspector Nelson testified that on the
morning after the fire, Friday, Feb.
4, he went on the roof of the Powell
building to determine the condition of
the Young Mems Christian associa-
tion wall. He found it "bulging" at
the center and partly sprung in front
near Wyoming avenue, and notified
Street Commissioner Dunning and the
fire officials that the wall was unsafe
and should be removed. He and Mr.
Dunning saw that a guard was placed
at the Wyoming avenue front to keep
any one from entering the ruins.
During the afternoon until o'clock
he and Mr.. Dunning We're in the alley
at the rear directing the work there.
1t was considered safe to work there,
but not in the ruins. When Mr. Mel
son left at o'clock in the afternoon he
and Mr.. Dunning told the men not to
go into the ruins, to leave the alley
IL d "lllu dIOSe anu u WdlCH the wall
at all times in any event.
Mr.. Nelson's evidence corroborated
that given by Mr.. Dunning at a pre-
vious hearing to the effect that the
workmen had been fully warned and
knew the walls We're unsafe.
Patrolman Neuls was first sworn
His beat was on Wyoming avenue on
the nights following the fire. On Fri
day night he frequently stopped at the
ruins for two or three minutes at a
time. He nearly always talked with
some of the men at work there. They
were directing streams of water into
the ruins
DID NOT SPEAK OF DANGER.
Once while patrolling the alley at
the rear he entered the ruins, and went
to where two of the men were holding
a hose. The spot was back of the wall
which divided the association structure
in two parts and was remote from the
point further toward the front, where
Gogolin was killed. None of the men
told Neuls of any danger. He had re-
ceived no orders to keep them from
going inside.
After hearing the evidence the jury
Immediately prepared the verdict
There was no division of opinion on
the matter.