Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1904-01-08
ALL HELD IN HEAVY BONDS.
Managers Davis and Powers and
Commissioner williams Held.


Managers Davis and Powers and
Commissioner williams Held.
Chicago, Jan. 2.-Formally charged
with manslaughter, Managers Will ].
Davis and Harry j. Powers, of the Iro-
quois theater, with City Building COM
missioner Williams, were held under
bonds of $4,000 each.
Col. Vim. Pinkerton and Chas. H.
Plamondon furnished bonds for Davis
and Powers.
Andrew j. Graham, banker, furnished
bond for Commissioner Williams.
Arthur z. Hull, whose family per-
ished in the theater fire, and who was
the complainant, was present when
the two theater managers and the city
official underwent the ordeal Of facing
the charges. The hearing of the case
was set for January 12.
Other Arraignn,ents.
Twenty men arrested in connection
with the Iroquois theater were ar
raigned before Justice Caverly in the
Harrison Street police court, Saturday,
on charge of manslaughter Five of
the defendants were members of the
chorus Of the "Mr. Bluebeard" COM
pany, and were defended by Attorney
Thomas Hogan. No testimony was Civ
en- in court, and 1t was Immediately
agreed that continuance be granted.
Most of the time was devoted to an
effort by the attorney to have the
bonds of his clients reduced to $4,000
in which they had been held. In the
end the bonds in each case were re-
duced to $1,000, and the cases gaced
on the calandar for hearing January II.
Pleaded For His Clients.
Attorney Hogan told the magistrate
that his clients had nothing to do with
the management, construction or hand
ling of the scenery.
He said they continued singing, even
after the audience became panic strick-
en-. Those who will be arTaigned before
Justice Caverly January II are: Ed
ward G. w. Wines, Victor Bozart,
Samuel Bell, VIM. Slack, John ]. Rus
sell and e. T. Mora.
The other defendants will have a
hearing before Justice Caverly Monday.
They are. w. D. Kerr, VIM. McMullen,
VIM. Plunkett, Max Mazzonivitch, A.
Bernard, Edward Eagle, VIM. Mcqueen,
William Olsen, F. Poland, VIM. Carl
ton, ]. Jandraw and F. P. Nolan.
Their bonds were placed at $4,000
each.
A mass Of new evidence which
throws important light on the Iroquois
theater fire was obtained from stage
employees by Coroner Traeger, Saturday
and will be submitted to the coroner S
jury when that body meets Thursday to
hear testimony. Coroner Traeger has
learned that Stage Carpenter Cum
mings is the man who superintend-
ed the fitting out Of the rigging loft and
was responsible to the owners of the
theater for the operation of everything
on the stage. If the city ordinances
were not complied with in regard to the
necessary safeguards against fire be-
hind the curtain it was Cummings du-
ty to notify the owners and managers
of the house. Joe Dougherty, who is
now in one of the hospitals suffering
from a broken leg, was the man who
attempted to lower the asbestos cur
tain. He says that the reason that il
CD
that it stuck on the arc spot light in
the first entrance near the top of the
proscenium arch.
That Mysterious Explosion.
From the stage hands Coroner Trae-
ger learned the cause of the mysterious
explosion which occurred shortly after
the fire was discovered. 1t was caused
by the falling of the big fan scene
which contained 80 incandescent cleo
trio lights. This scene was not in use
at the time of the fire, but was set il
the rear of the stage. The opening O
the double doors in the rear of thu
stage created a draft which caused thu
big fan scene to topple over and breal
the incandescent bulbs. This producet
noise like an explosion. The stag
hands deny that there was calcium
tank on the stage at the time Of tn,
fire.
Too Much Oily Rope.
Coroner Traeger has learned tina
each of the 1870 drop scenes in tn
theater was hung by new, oily, manil
rope. 1t is estimated that there wer
$4,000 lineal feet of this inflammabl
material used in supporting the drol
scenes and thai it added fuel to tn
flames in the rigging loft.
What Frank Poland Told.
McMullen is considered by the polio
to be one of the most important wit
nesses. He was in charge Of the spo
light which set fire to the scenery an
resulted in the large loss of life.
Frank Poland made vain effort +
have his bond reduced from $4,000, say
ing that he was off the stage when tn
fire started. He told the magistrat
that he and another employe, strang
er to him, were In the balcony abov
the gallery controlling the arc light
which made the pale moonlight" fo
the show. When the panic occurred, b
says, his companion jumped to b
death. He could not remember th