Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-02-14
Deputy Coroner's Testimony.

Deputy Coroner'S testimony.
Deputy Coroner Glazebrook explained tt
the jury the nature of the injuries received
by the victim of the accident He told OF
the many broken bones the painter had sus
tanned and said that one bone tore the
heart and inflicted a wound which was
necessarily fatal.
John Jones. a painter, testified that he
was employed on the Cairo by Mr.. Charles
Ernst, jr. He said he was at work yester-
day morning and was about to get upon the
swinging ladder when the accident occurred
1t was the opinion of witness that the scat
fold was properly rugged, and it was his
opinion that somebody had tempered with
the rope.
81 smelled the odor of acid where the
break occurred" the witness declared.
Was there any acid used by the paint
ers?' the coroner inquired.
mo, SIR was his answer.
Witness said that there was only single
hitch taken in the rope and that he had
often worked on scaffolds put up in that
way. The hook in use yesterday, he stated
was not large enough to hold double
hitch. He said that the rope used was
purchased new about ten weeks ago. The
break, he stated, occurred at the top DOCK
Guy Monroe. another painter, testlned
that he assisted Handy, the victim OF the
accident, in constructing the scanoid. he
said the cornice was pointed, put ne
thought the rope had not been against IL
long enough to sustain any damage Inc
rope he thought, weighed about seventy
pounds. Witness said he had known MI:
Handy for about three years, and looked
upon him as being a careful man. lie
added that he considered the scaffold per
fectly safe, and had never heard any of the
workmen object to working on 1t;
At the suggestion of juror the witness
was asked if he knew about the condition
of a rope that is affected by dry rot. He
answered in the affirmative, and said he
saw no evidence of dry rot to the rope that
broke. Witness also said ne saw no evi-
dence of acid having injured the rope. lie
said he thought the rope had not been USED
on any work in which The front of build
ing had been cleaned with acid.
Monroe said it was the custom OF painters
to examine scaffolds and ropes every time
they made Preparations to go to work
Foreman Reynolds Witness.
Benjamin f. Reynolds. foreman for Con-
tractor Ernst, was also examined. He said
he thought the hitch in the rope had slip
ned. There was acid on the rope, he
thought and he said he could still smell
the acid this morning. Witness said when
a man was afraid TO go ION scaffold he
would put him upon other work and go
upon the scaffod himself.
Reynolds said he recalled case in which
one of these ropes had been cut. They
Spouse to questions asked by the coroner
the witness stated that he used to be a
union man, but had become "scab' to
continue in the employ of Mr.. Ernst
Are the other men scabs" he was
asked.
mo, SIR he responded. because they
We're never members of the union.
do they work at rates below the union
scaIe?"
"A margin lower" he answered.
Were you ever a member of the local
Brotherhood of Painters?" asked juror.
Yes, SIR
If I'm not too inquisitive,' continued the
juryman. will you tell me how you hap
pened to get out of the brotherhood?"
Because the shop was put on the unfair
list" he answered. Il had been with Mr.
Ernst a long time and he was one of my
best friends. so l thought I would remain
with him.
How long had you been in his employ? p
About sixteen years.
Charles Ernst, jr.. the contractor. testi-
fed that Handy was working for him at the
time he lost his life. Witness sale that his
father is superintendent for him and that
the latter purchases materials for him. He