Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-26
HARRISON ARRESTED
Chicago Mayor and Other
Officials He'd
BY CORONER'S JURY
RESPONSIBILITY FOR IROQUoIS
DISASTER THE CHARGE.
Gases Will Probably Go to the Grand
Jury, Which is Now
Sitting.
BY CORONER'S JURY

in the Iroquois Theater returned a verdict
last night by which the following persons
We're held to await the action of the grand
jury:
Carter H. Harrison, mayor of Chicago.
Will J. Davis, proprietor in part and man
ager of the theater.
George Williams, building commissioner
of Chicago
Edward Laughlin, building inspector un-
der Williams.
William Sallers, fireman in the theater.
James E. Cummings stage carpenter.
William H. Musham, chief Chicago fire
department.
William McMullen, who had charge of the
light that caused the fire.
Finding of Jury.
The finding of the jury follows:
The cause of the fire was drapery coming
in contact with a food or arc light; city
laws were not complied with relating to
building ordinances. regulating fire-alarm
boxes fire apparatus, dampers or f1ues, on
and over the stage, and fly galleries.
There violation of the ordinance re-
quiring fire-prooflng of scenery and all wood
work and about the stage.
Asbestos curtain was inadequate and was
destroyed.
Building ordinances were violated in that
aisles We're inclosed on each side of the
lower boxes and in absence of ire apparatus
on the orchestra floor.
Building ordinances were violated in that
there was no fire apparatus IN the gallery
or first balcony.
Will J. Davis is held responsible as pres
ident and general manager. He was prl-
the laws, and was bound to see that his
employees were properly instructed as TO
their duties in case of fire.
Charge Against the Mayor.
In relation to Mayor Harrison the verdict
reads as follows:
I'VE hold Carter II. Harrison, as mayor
Of the city 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 Com
missioner Williams and Fire Marshal
Musham; and, as heads of departments
under the said Carter H. Harrison, follow
ing this weak course, has given Chicago
inefficient SERVICE which makes such calam-
ity as the Iroquois Theater horror a men
ace until the public service is purged of in
competents."
"for gross neglect Of his duty in allowing
the theater to open it's doors to the public
when the said theater was incomplete and
did not comply with the building ordinances
Of the city of Chicago"
Fire Marshal Musham was held RESPONSE
BILE "for gross neglect of duty in not en-
forcing the city ordinances and failure to
have his subordinate, William SaIlers, fire.
man In the theater. report to him the lack
of fire apparatus in the theater." Sallers
was held for not reporting the lack of fire
apparatus; McMullen for carelessness In
handling the light that caused the fire;
Cummings, stage carpenter, for not pro-
viding the stage with proper fire protection
Implied Charge of Homicide.
Although the coroner's jury did not make
any specific charge against the persons
held, the implied charge is homicide, as
each was held to be responsible in a meas
ure for the death of the Iroquois victims.
and the coroner had no authority to fix a
bond. If arrested the defendants must re-
main In Jail until released on bonds fixed-
by some court.
There is a possibility that the present
grand jury will hear the charges. Two
days time is estimated to be all that will
be required to present the matter to the
grand jury, and as the present grand jury
has five days of it's session left it may
find time to dispose Of the matter.
Eight Warrants for Arrest.
Bearing the eight mittimi issued as the
result of the inquest into the Iroquois thea
ter disaster, Coroner Traeger and a number
Of detectives today left the city hall with
authority to arrest Mayor Carter H Har-
rison, Manager VIII j. Davis and the six
were ordered held to await action of the
grand Jury.
The first persons taken into custody were
William McMullen, operator of the flood
light from which the Iroquois fire is said
to have started, and James E. CUMMINGS
the stage carpenter at the Iroquois, under
whose direction, it is alleged, the apparatus
was constructed which interfered with the
descent or the asbestos curtain. The mitti-
mus for Mayor Harrison was. taken in
charge by Coroner Traeger in person.
The coroner ordered that as the other
mlttlml were served the accused should be
taken TO the Central police station and held
until all had been arrested. The prisoners
We're then to be taken before a Judge to
furnish bonds
VIII ]. Davis was arrested in bed at his
nome on Grand boulevard. Mr.. Davis was
allowed to dress and eat breakfast Mean
While his attorney. who had been telephoned
for. arrived and the party left on the ele-
waited railroad for the business center.
Where are you going to take Mr.
Davis?" asked his attorney.
ITO the city hall and then to the county
jail" responded the arresting officer.
You don't have to do that" said the at
torney. You can take him to the sheriffs
office in the county building
I'VE have our orders" replied the officer
"and can show no favors. 1t Is planned to
bring all the accused to the city hall and
county Jail, where the question of bonds
will be taken up
Mayor Harrison Gives Bond.
Some time after the arrest of Manager
Davis, Mayor Carter H. Harrison presented
himself at Coroner Traeger's Office in the
criminal court building. The mayor was
accompanied by his brother and cousin and
by former Mayor Hampstead Washburne.
The coroner greeted them, and the party
then went to Judge Walkers court where
bonds of 5000 were furnished. The mayor
left then for his Office in the city hail.
which is half mile distant from the Jail
and almost within a stones throw Of the
Iroquois Theater.
Fire Marshal Musham was served with a
mittimus at his office. A similar course
was pursued with City Building Commits
sioner Williams and City Building Inspector
Loughlin. In custody of two detectives
Messrs. Musham, Williams and Loughlin
walked to the criminal court building and
gave bonds to answer any action by the
grand jury. The stage fireman, William
Sallers, was the last of the accused to be
ts-A>