The Scranton chronicle. (Scranton, Miss.) 1897-19??, 1904-01-30
THEATER MANAGERS
DISCLAIM GUILT
Davis and Powers Refuse To Accept
Responsibility For IrOquois Fire.
eNDeAv0R TO SHIFT BLAME
Mr.. Powers Places the Responsible
Ity On Davis For the Fire ana
the Consequent Loss of Hun
dreds of Lives.

Chicago. Jan. 23.-Will j. Davis and
Harry J. Powers. managers of the
Iroquois theater, made their appear
ance before the coroner's jury Friday.
Neither of the gentlemen was disposed
to accept any responsibility In connec-
ton with defective construction, faults
of management or neglect TO provide
proper fire protection. Mr.. Powers
placed the blame for the fire aud con-
sequent loss of life rpon Mr.. Davis,
whom. he said. was the active man.
ager. while he was but passive in the
conduct of its affairs, and also upon
the employees who did not perform
their full duty.
Davis on the stand.
When Mr. Davis took the stand he
was first questioned concerning the
formation of the company, which he
declared was a New Jersey corpora
ton registered with the secretary of
state of Illinois, to empower 1t to do
business in this state When asked
how long before the fire this regis
tration had taken place, Mr.. Davis
said. oh, several months"
He was asked If II was not fact
that the registration was not made
until after the fire, but denied this.
The Fuller Construction Co, he
said. mad the contract for putting up
the theater, and sublet most of the
work. lie was asked by the coroner:
when the theater was opened No
vember 30, was 1t completed?
For the purpose of giving a pres.
entation. ! should say yes"
.sere there any signs over the
exits designating that they were ex-
lts?'
Il don't know that there was"
When asked whose duty II was to
see that fire extingulshers were in
stalled. he replied; I'VE had a fireman
there who was sent to us by the city
fire department"
Il do not want to place the respon-
siblity on anybody"
"If there was deficiency of fire
protection In the building. the respon-
sibiity must rest ON somebody for not
having IL there.
THAT may appear, but ! don't want
TO place IT,"
"As president of the company. do
you want to assume the responsibility
yourself?'
Il do not"
Coroner Trager asked: Previous
10 the FIRE you were satisfied, we're
you not, that there were ample facili-
tics for taking care of the fret"
Il had every confidence In the world
In the theater."
But since the FIRE you have found
differently, have you not?"
since the fire most anybody could
draw conclusions"
DO you not think as general man
ager of the Iroquois theater. that II
was your duty to see that those fire
appliances were placed there TO pro-
tect She public when you were taking
the publics money!"
II had employees there in whom
had every confidence that they would
do what was required Of them"
did you not, as an experienced
man, know that those appliances were
required?
Il do not know what the ordinances
| call for"
when you opened the Iroquois the
ater for the first performance did you
consider the building absolutely fire.
proof?"
II did. It was the safest building
OF the character ever constructed"
Mr.. Davis declared that few days
before the theater opened he had
talked with Building Commissioner
Williams after the latter had inspect
ed the theater, and said that Mr. VIII
Jams declared 1t was the safest ana
most complete theater building ne had
ever seen.