The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1904-01-30
JURY FIXES BLAME
MAYOR CARTER HARRISON AND
oTHERS ARE HELD TO THE
GRAND JURY.
TO ANSWER ron IRoQUOIS FIRE
coRoNER's JURY FINDS VERDICT
AFTER A THREE WEEKS
INQUIRY.
MAYOR HARRISON IS ROASTED

MAYOR HARRISON IS ROASTED
HAS SHOWN LAMENTAeLE LACK
OF FORCE IN HIS ADMIN
!sTRATIoN.
Chicago, Jan. 81. - The coroner's
jury which for three weeks has been
listening to evidence relating to the
fire in the Iroquois theater, last night
returned a verdict by. which the fol.
lowing persons are held to await the
action of the grand jury: =
Carter H. Harrison, mayor Of Chi
cago.
VIII ]. Davis, proprietor in part, and
manager of the theater.
George Williams, building commits.
sioner of the city.
Edward L.augl.,in. building inspector
under Williams.
William Sallers, fireman in the
theater.
James E. Cummings, stage carpen-
ter.
William McMullen, who had charge
of the light that caused the fire.
William H. Musham, fire marshal.
Warrants at Once Issued.
1t was at once decided by the cor
oner that all men who should be held
by the verdict to the grand jury should
be taken into custody last night. He
therefore at once preparey warrants
for their arrest and called upon the
police department for officers to serve
them.
AS soon as the finding of the jury
was announced details of officers
were at once sent for the men named
in the verdict, with orders to bring
them in at once, and if they could not
furnish bail they were to be taken to
the county Jail for the night.
The findings of the jury were as fol-
lows:
"The cause of the fire was drapery
coming in contact with a flood or arc
light. City laws we're not complied
with relating to building ordinances,
regulating fire alarm boxes, nrs ap-
paratus, damper Of fiues on or over, the
stage, and fly galleries.
Violation Of the Ordinances
requiring fire proofing OF scenery and
all wood work on and about the stage;
asbestos curtain was wholly destroyed
and was wholly inadequate; building
ordinance violated, in that atsles were
enclosed on each side OF the lower
boxes and absencA of are apparatus ON
the orchestra floor; building srdi-
nanees violated in thai there was no
nIe apparatus in the gallery or Arst
balcony; Will ]. Davis was held ~
spoosibls as president and general
manager. He was primarily respons+;
BILE for the Observance Of the laws, and
was bound TO e that his employer
were properly instructed ~ to their
duties IN cas- Of fire."
In relation to Mayor Harrison the
verdict reads as follows:
1--WE hold Carter H. Harrison. a.
mayor of the city Of Chicago. respoar
sible, as he has shown a lamentabls
lack of force, and for his efforts
To Escape Responsibility,
evidenced by the testimony Of Build.
ing Commissioner Williams and Ttfo
Marshal Musham. Heads Of depart
ments under the said Carter H. Mas-
rison. following this weak course, Aavo
given Chicago %inefieient service.
which makes such calamities a. the
Iroquois theater horror, . menace, un-
til the public service 10 purgsd Of H.
competents."
Building Commissioner Williams
was held for gross neglect of hts
duty in allowing the theatery to opsa
it's doors to the public when the said
theater was incompetent and because
he did not comply with the building
ordinances Of the city Of Chicago"
Later in the night, after the mem.
bers Of the Jury had departed, 1t was
decided by Coroner .1raeger that it
would not be necessary to arrest May
or Harrison, Fire Marshal Musham
and Building Commissioner Williams
last night and no officers wore sent
for them.