Evening star., 1900-09-29
BLAMES THE CONTRACTORS
VERDICT OF C0RONER's JURY IN
CASE OF TIMOTHY O'CONNOR.
investigation Into Circumstances of
Death of q Workman From
Accidental Injuries.

Accidental Injuries.
An inquest was held this morning at IL
o'clock at the undertaking establishment
of George W. Wise, 10Th and Nj streets, to
ascertain the particulars attending the
death of Timothy O'Connor, an ironworker,
who was so badly injured Thursday by a
falling derrick at the government printing
office that death resulted yesterday MORN
ing at the Emergency Hospital. Upon an
order from the coroner the remains Of the
dead man were removed to his home at
1905 Market space Georgetown. After be-
ing sworn in the jury assembled at the
house and viewed the body.
The jury was composed Of Frank Thomas,
foreman; Thomas Muntz, Harry Burrows
Zachariah Boteler Samuel King and Chris
Talbot. After hearing all of the evidence
the jury returned a verdict holding the en-
ployers of the dead man guilty of negli-
gence. The verdict rendered was as fol-
lows:
THAT Timothy O'Connor came to his
death at the Emergency Hospital. on Sep
tember %. 1900. by, being struck in the
body by an iron beam, which caused COM
pound fracture of both legs. We find that
the contractors did not exercise proper
care in inspecting the derrick and in carry
ing on their portion of the work. said acci-
dent occurring at the government printing
Office"
The Evidence Submitted.
There was not much evidence submitted
at the inquest. Deputy Coroner Glazebrook,
who conducted an autopsy, described the
nature of the dead mans injuries. He had
suffered compound fracture of both legs,
crushing them fearfuly, the shock and loss
of blood producing death
Charles Wardell of 1850 Grace street, the
foreman in charge of the work. was the
next witness, and be offered in evidence
sketch of the boom derrick, which, at the
time Of the accident was lifting an iron
column weighing about 800 pounds In ALL
about nine pounds to the square foot.
This did not break, but the spring struck
the unfortunate man when the iron caDle
parted. Witness had been using the cable
for two weeks. but did not know how long
prior to that time 1T had been in use In
his opinion the cable was capable of lifting
twenty-nine tons, and he had lifted about
100 tons with the same rigging in one day
The end of the cable, near the place of the
parting. was wrapped twice around the
ten-inch iron beam. He could offer no
theory to why the cable broke.
The family of the dead man was repre-
sented by Lawyers Franklin H. Mackay
and Crandal Mackey. and. with the per-
mission Of the coroner, endeavored to bring
out facts for the consideration of the jury
1t was their aim to show that the constant
wrapping of the cable around the edges of
the iron beams weakened the rope ITSELF
because of the cutting Of the sharp corners
of the iron.
Samuel F'rizzel, who lives on the Canal
road. and who was working on the building.
was the next witness called. He was about
fifteen feet away from O'Connor. The de-
ceased himself hooked the cable around
the beam, and Foreman Wardell gave the
signal to hoist. He had been working at
the business for three years. I'm his opinion
the cable was rotten. The witness was un-
able to state just how long it had been in
use.
William Feeney was the next witness.
He stated that he was a bridge builder by
trade. and that the day of the accident
was the first he had worked at the build
ing He thought the cable was sufficiently
strong to lift ordinary weights and that 1t
broke near the point where 1t was wrapped
around the beam. He did not know how
the accident occurred. the cable was not
lifting an extra heavy load at the time
George Wells, who Is also an ironworker
residing at 416 18th street southwest was
standing at one end of the sill holding the
tiger of the boom. The sill raised and then
started to come down. He heard some one
yell and away, barely having time to
get out of being struck He did not see
OConnor, who was a little bit closer to
the point of danger than the witness. After
the accident he was one of the first to
reach the scene and help to extricate the
unfortunate man from his position. Witness
could not state. but O'Connor most likely
heard the warning which was given when
time to get away. According to the witness
the cable was wrapped twice around the
iron beam. I;
Foreman Recalled.
Foreman Wardell was recalled and asked
a few more questions. He stated that the
cable had been used in plumbing beams.
and described the work, but he did not
think that it was injured to any great ex-
tent. The piece Of cable was placed on a
stand in the room, and witness answered
questions put to him. Had the cable been
anyways weak or dangerous 1t would not
have been used. he said
The last witness was Samuel White OF
eO5 III street northwest. He Is an iron
worker, and is said to have charge Of the
setting of the beams at the new govern
ment printing office. The strength of the
cable he gave to be fourteen tons in lifting
weight and SO far as he knew the cable
had been in use for two three weeks.
but how long prior to that time he did not
know. So far as he knew the derrick had
never been inspected. He regarded the
cable before the jury as one practically
new one. one practically new, will
last five or six years. so the witness stated.
The wrapping at the time of the accident
was according to the usual custom.
The work was in charge Of Foreman War
dell, he stated, whom he regarded as
perfectly competent man. The witness ad-
mitted that extra precautions might have
been taken to avoid accident by placing
protec ton where the cable struck the iron
beams, but such precautions were not Gus
tomarily made.
The Evidence Closed.
With this evidence the jury proceeded to
deliberate on a verdict. and few minutes
before / o'clock rendered the decision an
nounced. blaming the company for not TAX
ing suitable precautions. During the course
of the testimony It was not ascertained
what corporation had charge of the work.
1t was understood. however. that the Phoe-
nix iron works had secured the contract.
and that the work Of placing the iron beams
in position had been sublet to Schneider &
M NJ this