The Irish standard., 1904-01-30
VERDICT Of IRUQU0IS JURY
Long Inquiry Into the Awful Hor.
ror Is Ended.
Officials Charged with Crim-
tnal Negligence.

Mayor Harrison and other Prominent
Officials Charged with Crim-
tnal Negligence.
Chicago, Jan. 26.-Aftcr seven hours
elaboration, the coroner's jury, which
for nearly three weeks had been investi-
eating the lroQuois theater fire, on
Monday night returned one of the most
sweeping Verdicts ever framed, finding
the following eight city officials and
theater attaches responsible for the
catastrophe, and recommending that
they be held to the grand jury:
Mayor Carter H. Harrison, charged
with direct responsibility for the fire;
must face charges of malfeasance in Of
fee.
William H. Musham, chief of the fire
department, found derelict in his duty;
will be accused of malfeasance in office.
George Williams, commissioner of
buildings, charged with incompetency
and ineficiency in. the management of
the department he directs; will be &C.
cused of malfeasance in office.
Will ]. Davis, president and senior
manager of the 1roquois Theater COM
pany, will be accused of manslaughter
for permitting the conditions found to
exist in the building at the time of the
fire.
Ed Loughlin, building inspector, who
made an 20. K" report on the theater;
will be accused of manslaughter.
William McMullen, operator of the
food light, from which the fire started;
will be accused of manslaughter.
William Sallers, theater fireman, who
failed to report the lack of fire apparat-
us; will be accused of manslaughter.
James E. Cummings, stage carpenter;
will be accused of manslaughter.
The verdict on which these eight men
are held to the grand jury was returned
in the case of Mary Edna Torney, one of
the victims, but similar verdicts were
signed by Coroner Traeger and the jur-
ors in ST. other cases.
Every department in the city hall with
which the jury came in contact is found
to be grossly mismanaged. Laxity and
carelessness in transacting business
reaches the point, according to the
jurors, where revision is Immediately
demanded. The verdict deals sweep
ing blow at the present administration,
striking at the head and reaching to two
principal departments of city business.
Conditions that surprised the business
men on the jury were revealed as soon
as the inquiry into the city hall affairs
began. Incompetence and inefficiency
were found on every side, and the jurors
did not hesitate to drag into the light
those whom it thought to be accountable
for the conditions that made possible the
theater fire.
Chicago, Jan. 27.-Seven of the eight
defendants to the charges made by the
coroners jury in the lroquois theater
inquest were arrested Tuesday. All but
one Of them gave bonds in the criminal
courts. Mayor Harrison listened to the
reading Of the mittimus before he had
reached the breakfast table. He told the
deputy coroner that he would appear
to give bonds and was not taken into GUS
tody. At 10 o'clock he reached the
criminal court, accompanied by his
brother, William Preston Harrison, and
Heaten Owsley. They walked up the
stairs to Judge Walkers court, and
in chambers the court accepted bonds of
$4,000, as set by Assistant States's At
torney Lewis. Mr. Owsley and the may
or's brother signed the papers.
Will j. Davis was arrested at his home,
being in bed when the mittimus was read
to him. He dressed, ate breakfast and
then was taken to the Central police sta
ton to join six other defendants.
Commissioner Williams was arrested
in his Office, and Chief Musham went to
police headquarters before detectives
had found him. James E. Cummings,
stage carpenter, and William McMul-
len, flood light operator, were arrested
before daylight at their homes. Build
ing Inspector Loughlin was taken into
custody with his superior.
Sallers has not yet been found. Nc
Mullen did not secure bondsmen and was
taken to the county Jail The others
gave bonds as follows:
OAlol Auoiaul, po,OVu, slSueu Wy Ddu.
lei D. Healy and James Clare.
Commissioner Williams, SIS 900; signed
by West Park Commissioner A. ]. Ora
ham and Victor Falkenau.
Will ]. Davis, $4,000; signed by Will
liam A. Pinkerton.
James E. Cummings, $4,000; signed by
Harry ]. Powers.
Inspector Loughlin, $4,000; signed by
Alderman John Powers and William H.
Jung.
Sallers has been living with his wife
at Az Warren avenue. 1t was said that
he left home hastily Sunday night, say
ing he had been called to the bedside of
sick relative. The police have been
unable to locate either Sallers or his
wife. Friends of the fireman, however,
refuse to believe that he has fed to es-
cape arrest.
Morales Government Recognized.
San Domingo, Wednesday, Jan. 90
United States Minister Powell recog-
nized the provisional government Of
Gen. Morales Us the de facto government