The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-01-26
HELD TO THE
 GRAND JURY Mayor Of Chicago in the
 Crowd. CORONER'S JURY REPORTS Blame Fixed by the Ir0Qu0iS Theatre Holocaust. Building Inspector, Fire Marshal, Managers and Stage Hands Named as Being Responsible
 for the Disaster.

to evidence relative to the ure HI ehe Iroquois Theatre fire returned verdict by which the following persons are held to await the action of a grand jury:
 Carter H. Harrison, Mayor of Chicago; William J. Davis proprietor in part and manager of the theatre; George Williams building commissioner of Chicago; Edward Laughlin, building inspector under VII Hams; William Sallers. fireman in the theatre: James E. Cummings. stage car- penter; William Mullen. who had charge of the light that caused the fire.
 It was not generally thought that the jury would be able to make a report so promptly and when it retired to con slider the evidence, Coroner Traegar an- nounced that he did not expect a verd. t before tomorrow morning. There were over 750.000 words of testimony and each juror. according to law. would be com pelled to sign his name to the testimony of each witness which meant that each man would be compelled to write his name five hundred and seventy-two times. This work alone. the coroner estimated, would consume five hours. There was therefore considerable surprise when the jury announced shortly before II o'clock that it had reached verdict and was ready to report.
 Warrants for Accused.
 It was at once decided by the coroner that all men who should be held by the verdict, to the Grand Jury should be talk en into custody tonight. He therefore at once prepared warrants for their arrest and called upon the police department for officers to serve them.
 'T do not expect that some of these men who are likely to be heI, will try to escape" said the coroner. "but some of Al r.v aS.kz ests, might take 1t into their heads to do so do not intend that there shall be any mistakes in that direction laid to my department. If cause the arrest of one of them am compelled to cause thes arrest of- aiis and fiisrea will De no fav0ritagm 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 at once sent fCB the men named in the yer dict with orders to bring them in at once and If they could not furnish bail, they were to be taken to the county jail for the night. The findings of the jury were as follows:
 Findings of Jury
 Violation of the ordinance requiring fire proofing of scenery and all wood work on and about the stage.
 
 quate and was entirely destroyed.
 Building ordinances violated in that aisles were enclosed on each side of the lower boxes, and absence of fire appa- ratus on the orchestra floor.
 Building ordinances violated in that there was no fire apparatus in the gall lery or first balcony.
 Will J. Davis was held responsible as president and general manager He was primarily responsible for the observance of the laws and was bound to see that his employees were properly instructed as to their duties in case of fire.
 ''ln relation to Mayor Harrison as May or of Chicago, responsible as he has shown lamentable lack of force and for his efforts to escape responsibility, evil denced by the testimony of Building Commissioner Williams and Fire Marshal Musham. Heads of departments under the said Carter H. Harrison, following the weak course, have given Chicago in- efficient service which makes such calam- ities as the Iroquois Theatre horror menace until the public service is purged of incompetents.
 Building Commissioner Williams was held flor gross neglect of his duty in the theatre to open its doors to the public when the said theatre was in- and did not comply with the building ordinances of the city of Chi cago."
 Fire Marshal's Faul..
 Fire Marshal Musham was held respon- sible Tor gross neglect of duty in not enforcing the city ordinances and failure to have his subordinate, William Sallers, fireman at the theatre, report to him of the lack of the fire apparatus in the the atre. Sellers was held for not reporting the lack of fire apparatus; McMullen for in handling the light that caused the fire, Cummings as stage car oenter, for not providing the stage with proper fire protection.
 Later in the night, after the members of the jury had been discharged, it was decided by Coroner Traeger that 1t would not be necessary to arrest Mayor Harri- son. Fire Marshall Musham and Building Williams tonight, and no officers were sent for them. All three of hem will be at their offices in the city lall tomorrow morning and will then be | given q chance to offer bonds for their l appearance when wanted. Mltimusses were made out. however, for the arrest | ,f the other six men. special grand | ury will convene next week to reopen | he investigation and decide what action | Ihall be taken on the report of the cor | ,ner's jury. The charges as far as the 1 ,ity officials are concerned, which the | yrand jury will consider. is malfeasance in | office. Convictions mean their removal | rom office in addition to any other pen