Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-01-06
CLOSED DOORS
Is Now the Rule With Theatres
Of Chicago.
The City Fathers lock Doors After
Horses Are StoIen.
Investigation in Prosress-Witne.ses
Tell Strange Stories.

| Chicago, Jan. 5.-The special COM
| !nittee composed of members of the
| city council appointed. last night to
| investigate the condition of the local
| theatres and to report upon what alter
| atlons are necessary 10 make them con-
form to the building ordinances held
its first meeting, today. ta
According To the statement of Alder
man Friestedt, one of the members of
the committee. ii is doubtful if So per
cent. of the theatres ever open their
doors. Strict adherence TO the build
ing laws would require that every one
Of the playhoUses in the city be of fire
proof construction and this would re-
quire the demolition and rebuilding of
the majority Of the theatres.
Alderman Jones. chairman OF the
committee said. tonight:
we will first revise the building
ordinance. Then we will visit the
theatres and decide what alterations
will be necessary TO make the buildings
conform to the law"
Lat" this afternoon. the attorneys of
the fire department caused the arrest
of four employees Of the Fuller Con-
struction Co. David Jones. II masonry
kauSrh and John Kingston, iron work
crS. The attorney for the Fuller Co,
took Jones. who had been held by the
police for several days, to the fire de-
paTinent. 1t was charged that Jones
and his men broke the skylight on the
theatre after the fire in order to destroy
possible evidence. 1t developed. today,
that the skylights We're blocked by
s. antlinEs and tied with wire to pre-
vent their opening and that neither
had been opened since the theatre was
built.
Jones in making his statement to
the fire department, said:
Il took the iron workers with me IN
through an adjoining building and out
upon the theatre roof over the stage
First | removed the wooden scantlings
which blocked the skylghts. Then I
broke two panes of glass to get ut the
wires to unite them. finally got the
wires off and opened the lights"
Jones was asked why he went to the
roof of the theatre and replied that he
had been told that the north wall had
been cracked in the fire and went to
sec d il WAS true. He declared he he'd
lo"sened the stylights because he fear
ed they might fall through and injlre
somebody on the stage
'Why did YOU take ironworkers with
you to inspect u brick WALTZ" asked
Attorney Fulkcrson of the fire depart
ment.
Jones was confused but finally ans
WcrCd that the men went through Gu
rin*ity He admitted that they helped
him open the skylght and worked with
him about tho roof for half an hour.
Although he said he went to the
theatre without orders from the Fuller
'"nctruct'Gn CO.. he admitted that he
should ut the time. have been I'm
another building where he worked.
When asked how he was going to-
explain to the company that employed
him why he had taken three of their
employees and kept them with him for
practically an hour in order to satisfy
his curiosity, Jones could not make a
reply.
When pressed for an answer. Jones
said that the men were not employees
Of the Fuller Co. but men he had met
on the street. .r,.
He denied that he had used any tools
in forcing open the skylights. but this
statement was denied by George
Mueller, who witnessed the breaking
open of the skylightS from an adjoin-
ing building. Mueller declared that
the men carried and made use OF
crowbars and "a hammer
Numerous witnesses testified that
the skylights were not open during
the fire. .''
coroner Traeger said. tonight, that
he was almost ready for the inquest
which would commence, Thursday
II wish it understood" he
said. that this is simply an inquiry to
determine the facts of the fire as far
(cuutinnal IN papo ~