The sun., 1902-10-16
CROKER'S CONDUCT DEFENDED
WITNESSES TELL or THE PiRk
lJENlE HOTEL FIRE.
chiefs Trial Resumed and the defence
Beglns Its tase-FiremeO Say the
Hotel did Not Appear 10 he In Danger
Water supply NJ the Wicke Fire

BeGinS Its tase-Ftremen 6ay the
Hotel did Not Appear to he In Danger
Water supply at the wicke Fire.
The defence Of Fire Chief Edward +.
Croker vas begun yesterday, when his
trial was resumed at Fire Headquarters
after more than weeks adjournment.
Assistant Corporation Counsel Charles
$. Whitman superseded Capt. Cosby as
adviser 10 Commissioner Sturgs and the
examination went on without the wrangles
which characterized the ea.ly part of the
trial
Foreman John Kenlon Of Engine - was
called TO show that the accused Chief had
properly handled the Park Avenue Hotel
fire. The witness said it was difficult
for the fremen to approach the burning
Seventy-frst Regiment Armory because
of the platform erected over the Rapid
Transit tunnel. He said he had not con.
sidered the Park Avenue Hotel in danger.
as the wind was blowing the sparks down
the avenue.
AT the time these charges were being
prepared did Deputy Chief Purroy ask
you TO testify here, asked John j. Delany,
Croker's counsel.
NO. sir"
Did he not say that Chief Croker was
going to be broken?-
Not to me"
Did you not tell me that he had asked
you TO testify here about the Wicke fire.
NO. sir.
The witness said that when he arrived at
the arrnory fire the hotel windows were
closed on the Park avenue side.
Assistant Foreman Edward Levy Of
Eng gne declared that the wind was blow
ing straight down Park avenue at the time
Of the fire. and added that the snow and
slush prevented them from getting the
engine near the armory until he got a
number of citizens to help the horses
Under oss-eyamination he said that
Chief Croker had ordered him to inspect the
front of the car stables and also the hotel
about twenty-five minutes before the fire
started in the lat,er place. This witness
also said that the hotel windows were
closed previous To the fire.
Foreman Martin Coleman Of Truck 3
expressed the opinion that the fire in the
hotel originated in the elevator shan and
not from sparks from the armory. Fore
man John Anderiesse Of Engine l was
on the roof OF the stables opposite the hotel
and said that at no time was there any
danger to the hotel from the armory fire;
Foreman Hanlon Of Engine said he
was ordered by Chief Croker 10 go
to work on the armory from Thirty
third street, and when about to do so
citizen notified him that the hotel was
on fire and he went there and attacked the
fire. which was in the elevator shaft.
In answer to Mr. Whitman the witness
said that ha was the first fireman to enter
the burning hotel. and the first chief officer
he me, there was Croker. He afterward
saw Chiefs Duane. Burns and Winters.
Assistant Forman Galaxy of Water Tower
3 testified that the water pressure at the
Wicke fire. al First avenue and Thirty
first street, was poor and st ream Of water
only reached to the second floor. Several
other witnesses testified that the water
pressure was weak at that fire. which burned
for two days
Foreman Charles Sheridan Of Engine 3
testified that he and his men were ordered
by Chief Croker to get down from the
wall Of the burning armory moment before
il fell. and thus saved their lives,
Battalion Chief George Farrell eaid that
20 far as he knew the hotel did not catch
fire from the armory. However, he saw
some sparks from the armory light on the
hotel roof.
Former Deputy Police Commissioners
Thurston was a spectator at the trial in the
afternoon.
The hearing was ad journed until 10 o clock
to-day