Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1904-02-01

Chicago. Jan. 26.-The coroner S jury
which for three weeks has been listen
Ing 70 evidence relating to the fire in
the Iroouois theater returned a verdict
bv which the following persons are
held to await the action of the grand
jury:
CARTER n. HARRISON, mayor of
Chicago.
WILL J. DAVIS, proprietor in part,
and manager Of the theater.
GEORGE WILLIAMS, building com
missioner OF Chicago.
EDWARD LAUeHLIN, building in
spector under Williams.
WILLIAM n. MUsHAM, fire mar
shall OF Chicago.
WILLIAM sALLERs, fireman in the
theater.
JAMES E. CUMMINGS, stage car
penter.
WILLIAM M'MULLEN, who had
charge Of the light that caused the fire.
Verdict Unexpected.
The report Of the jury was not ex-
pected before morning and the an
nouncement that a verdict had been
reached at IL O'Clock last night created
much surprise.
The coroner at once decided that all
the men who should be held by the
verdict TO the grand jury should be TAX
en- into custody last night. He there
tors at once prepared warrants for
their arrest and calle>. upon the police
department for officers TO serve them
Arrest Them All at Once.
Il 10 not expect that some of these
men who are likely to be held, will try
10 escape." said the coroner, but some
who have not large property interests
might take il into their heads TO do so.
DO not intend there shall be any mis-
takes in that direction laid 10 my de-
uartment. II / cause the arrest OF
one. / am compelled TO cause the ar
rest OF all and there viii be no favorit-
ism shown. no matter who are the men
held by the jury"
As soon as the finding of The jury was
announced, details OF officers were al
once sent for the me- named in the
verdict. with orders TO bring them In
at once and IL they could not furnish
bail they were 10 be taken 10 jail FOR
the night.
Causes and Violations.
The findings OF the jury follow:
The cause Of the fire was a drap
coming in connection with a flood arc
light. the city laws were not com
piled with. relating TO the building or
dinances. regulating fire alarm boxes,
ire apparatus. damper or fiues on and
over the stage and fly galleries; there
was violation Of the ordinance requir-
ing fire prOOfng of scenery and all
WOODWORK on and about the stage; the
asbestos curtain was wholly made
ouate and entirely destroyed; the
building ordinances were violated in
that the aisles were enclosed on each
side OF the lever boxes, and in the alb
sence OF FIRE apparatus on the orches-
ira floor. and the ordinances were vio-
lated in that there was no fire appara-
tus in the gallery or first balcony.
Owner Held Responsible.
VIII J. Davis was held responsible
as proprietor and general manager. He
was primarily responsible for the OBJ
seryance Of the laws and was bound TO
see that his employees we're instructed
as TO their duties in case OF fire.
In relation TO Mayor Harrison, the
verdict reads:
We hold Carter II. Harrison, mayor
Of the city OF Chicago, responsible. He
has shown lametable lack Of force,
and for his efforts to escape response
bility. evidenced by the testimony Of
Building Commissioners Williams and
Fire Marshal Musham, as heads Of the
departments under Carter II. Harri-
son.
Following this weak course he has
given Chicago the inefficient service
which, such calamities as occurred
i'm the theater horror. a menace until
the public service is purged Of incom-
petents."
Commissioner williams was held
for gross neglect OF duty in allowing
ing the threat to open its doors when,
as he said, the theater was incomplete
and did not comply with build
ing ordinances.
Marshal Musham was held respon-
sfhHa @f0r grngS neglect OF duty In not