The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-01-26
CHICAGO'S MAYOR
HELD BY VERDICT
CorOner's Jury Condemns a
Number of Officials.
SEQUEL OF THEATRE HORROR
MANAGER IS AMONG THOSE
BOUND OVER.

CHICAGO Jan 25.-The corouer's jury
Il which for three weeks has been lis
tening to evidence relating to the fire
in the Iroquois theatre tonight returned q
verdict by which the following persons
are held TO await the action CT The grand
jury:
carter r. Harrison mayor OF cAi-
cago.
William IT. Musham. fire marshal
Win J. Davis, proprietor in part. anG
manager q tile theatre.
George Williams. building commissioner
Edward Laughun. building inspector
under AVi5liams
William sallers. fireman iu the the
James F. Cummings. stage carpenter.
William McAUllen who had charge or
the lights that caused the fire
Findings Of the Jury.
Tho findings were as follows.
Tho cause ct the fire was dra0ery com
ing in contact With flood OF aic Aeht
City laws We're not complied with rPiat-
ing 10 building ordinance. regulating
lire alarm boxes. tire apparatus. camper
OF flues on and over the stage ana iiE
galleries. requiring firepTo1fing 81 seem
cry and all woodwork on and about the
stage The asbestos curtain which Wa
wholly Inadequate Was entirely dcs-
troyed. The building ordinances were VIC
lated in tnat aisies were enclosed on.
each side of the lower boxes that Tire
apparatus was absent from lte orcneSIr2
floor and that there was no fire ar-
i'aratus IN the gallery or the liTst bdi-
conV.
VIII J. Davis was held responsible on
the ground that as president and gen
erat manager, bee was primarily reSpon-
sibie for the observance OF the laws aud
was bouuG 10 see that his employees were
properly instructed as to their duties IN
case of fire.
Mayor Condemned as Weak.
In Relation 20 Mayor Harrison the YER
dict raads as follows.
we hold Garter u. Harrison as mayor
OF the city OF Chicago. as he has shown
a lameWable lack OF force and for eff
forts 10 escape respoDslblllt5-. cyidenced
by the testimony.
Building Commissioner Williams and
Fire Marshal Musham, as heads 81 de-
partueufs under said Carter IT. HarTi-
son, following his weak course, have given
Chicago inefficient service which makes
such Calamities as the lTOquois theatre
horror q menace until the public service
IS purEed OF lncompeterce.
Building COMMISSIONS Williams was
neid Tor gross neglect oI his duty ~
allowing the theatre To open It's doors
To the public when TIE said theatre was
incomplete and did not comply with the
huilding ordinances IF the city OF Chi
Fire Marshal Musham was held respon-
Siblc for gross neglect Of duty i'm not
enforcing the city ordinances and failure
10 have his subordinate William Sallers,
fireman at the theatre. report 10 him
Fhe lack at fire apparatus in he theatre
Saiiers was held for not reporting the
lack nf fire apparatus McMulien for care
lessueSs in handling ire light that caused
she fire. stTauliil g., as stase aTi1- l,ef.
Cor net praNilius The stage with proper
fire protection.
Arrests to Be Made Today.
Late I'M the might. after the members
OF the jury had Departed it was decided
by Coroner IFaeger THAT 81 would not be
necessary To- arrest Mayor Harrison. Fire
Marshal Musham and Building Commits
sioner Williams tonight. and no officers
were sent Tor them. All three of them
viii be at their offices In the city hail
tomorrow morning and viii then be given
= ehance 90 offer bonds for their appear
auce when wanted AliIimusses were
made out however. for the arrest Of the
other six men.
= special grand jury viii convene next
week 10 reopen the investigation and de-
eide what action shall be taken on the
report of the coroner.s Jury The charge.
far as the city officials are concerned,
which the grand jury viii consider. IS
malfeasauce in office Conviction means
their removal from office. in addition TO
other penalties.