The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-01-10
USHER GIVES AFFIDAVIT.
Padl0ckS Restrained tn
 Frenzied Audience.
Testimony Before Coroner Shows That Management of the Thea ire Had Been Warned of
 Danger of catastropA

Chicago, Jan. s.-It was discovered to- day that two iron gates, the existence of which has not been known to the public, and which were removed from the Iro- quois Theatre after the fire. played a deadly part in the destruction of life in the ill-fated playhouse.
 Fire Inspector Fulkerson. who knew of their existence, was not able until today to secure sworn evidence concerning them. Today Jesse N. Dusenbery. head usher of the theatre, admitted to Mir. Fulkerson that these gates were placed, one across an exit from the first balcony and the other across an exit from the second bal- cony.
 Gates Locked Securely. Both gates wore locked securely with padlocks, and were never at any per- formance unlocked until after the second act of the play. The day of the fire the second act had not been completed when the catastrophe occurred, and the gates were still standing. They were so strong that the firernen wero not able to- batter them down with axes after the fire and to the frenzied persons who sought safety through those exits they were absolutely impenetrabie.
 In his sworn statement. given to In- spector Fulkerson. Dusenbery declared that they were locked to prevent persons from entering portions of the house to which their tickets did not grant them admission. It was the duty of Dusenbery to see that these two gates were locked before every performance and unlocked after tho second act. When asked by the inspector why a man had not been sta tioned in front of the gates to direct the audience, Dusenbery said that he merely received his orders from Messrs. Powers and Davis, the managers of the theatre and carried them out.
 Resisted Firemen's Attacks.
 sT found those gates after the fire" and bent inward, but stiiI standing and both of them tightly locked I questioned Dnsenbeex about them ak tlzak tlrne, buf did not care to say Anythtng pubhcIy until ! had eef0fed his sworn StafefaeE1es and this I now havs."
 A meeting of the relatives of persons who were lost in the fire was held this afternoon to agree upon concerted action toward establishing responsibility for, the fire and for accomplishing the punish ment of the persons who should be found guilty of criminal negligence. It was held at the ofKice of Arthur E. Hull. whose wife and three children perished in the fire A committee of i've was ap- AAACC~AAAtl to be held Wednesday evening, the of1ces of MT. Hull having been found to be too small to accommodate all who desired to gain admittance Several of the speakers at the meeting urged that if the coro' nsr's jury fixed the responsibility of the disaster upon any of the city officials they should be attacked in the civil courts and made responsible for damages as long as their property should last.
 Pupils Lives Endangered.
 Miss Lizzie Haley, teacher in the pub. lie schools, created something of Q sen. sation by declaring that many of the pub lie achOol buildings are absolutely with out protection against fire, and that re- peated protests by teachers and principals had produced no result and had not even been honored by a reply. It was the sense of the meeting that damage suits would be instituted against Klaw anr Erlanger. who represent the stockholders in the theatre, and the manner of doing this will be decided upon at the next meeting next Wednesday night.
 The testimony taken before the coro- ner's jury to date shows that there were two previous direct warnings to the Irc- quois management before the catastro- pho. Joseph Dougherty. curtain manager, testified during the fire department in- vestigation that there was a flre on tke stage a week before the holocaust.
 The impression is rapidly growing among those who have followed the inquiry to date that the "Blueoeard' production was doomed from the first. Members of the double octette in the moonlight scene, to- day told the coroner's jury of the Cleve- land fire. which burned the big fans used as a part of the scenery in the second act According to the testimony on re- cord there were distinct warnings of the danger of fire in the production of the spectacular show. Adjournment was taken until Monday.