The Washington times., 1905-02-15

small pot of this fluid was overturned
en- the rope while If was coiied on the
| tk0 scaffoId.
Not Cut by Cernice
There's no question about it, said -
| man who attended the Coronerss ira aest
at the morgue yesterday and saw the
| rope. the corniee did not cut that rope
It was tampered with and acid which
burned it brittle bnt not black did the
trick. As TO howthe acid got on the
rope, or when the application was made
I do rot know, but I will voueh for it
that no sane man will say that any
thing but corrosive substance caused
the collapse OF that three-quarter incE
Irope which has been tested and shown
to be able TO stand strain Of ssU
pounds The scanoid used at the cssr0.
with Handy on It, did not put more tran
215 pounds on the rope at the most me
was q careful climber and had the rope
been worzS out he would have noticed II
for he had been painting too long az
dizzy heights TO run any chances
Nevitt Holds Witnesses
| Coroner Nevitt expressed the opinion
yesterday after the inquest and before
the verdict of TIE jury was received. that
a corrosive substance brought about
the break IN the rope Because of the
{
fact that some one had applied acid 10
the rope, Coroner hewitt deemed it best
and safest 10 hold the witnesses at the
ulorgue until Captain Boardn1an, chief Z
of detectives, could dispatch detectives
there 20 talk with them. This was done.
and the police investigation will be based
.1pon the statements made by the wit
nesses at the inquest and interviews that
Peck and Pratt had with them.
Captain Boardman said today, Tin
ners were working on the house with the
painters. and they use acid N the treat
/ r1ent of solder It may be that this
came in contact with the rope. the
breaking OF which caused Hamby.s
death 1t is possible that some outside
| party who sought to bring harm to
! Handy and the other men, tampered
with the rope. II all depends upon the
report of the District Chemist. | con-
| sidered il best to cut the ends of the
rope off and send them to the Chemist
| for examination, and l understand that
his report will be made tomorrow. If
| ne says that the coraice cut it in two
that ends the case SO far as We are con-
5erned. Should he report that acid was
instrumental in causing the rope to part
and bring about Hamby's death. then we
] will proceed and ascertain If possible
how the acid got on the rope. If malice
| played any part the guilty parties viii
be brought to justice.
i Talk of Labor Circles.
The verdict of the Coroner's jury and
| the testimony adduced al the inquest
was the sole topic in labor circles to-
| day. Members of the firm by wIzoTn
Handy was employed testified in such
| a positive manner at the inquest that
| the intimation that some person ..ofher
than a non-union man had figured in
/ the affair, could not be overlooked or
/ disregarded.
| Coupled with the fact that some
! time ago union men who e.e sore on
Il vi
| they do not belong to the union. / think
! the death OF Handy under these shady
| circumstances looks suspicious said
i one OF the employees of Ernst. Funny
| that All experienced painter used 70
working high above the ground ss:ad
/ knowing how much depended upon the
security of the rope would venture out
/ on d scafold twelve stories from the
| ground unless he thought his rope was
| safe. and would not be cut in two by
/ Il cofnice. That cornice did not do this
| job, but something that does not be-
| long on painters rope when he is
| dangling between the earth and the blue
I sky did it / know there are eTea cher
! Gus persons in Washington who have
no love for a non-union painter and
would Just as soon see him hurled into
eternity as not. Had we not discovered
i that cut rope some time ago possibly
| death two would have resulted then.
No one employed by Mr.. Ernst tamper-
I tampered with just the same.
Hamby'S body was released by ztas
Coroner after the inquest yesterday.
He lived at 149 jefferson street. Ana
| costia but the body after being pre-
pared for burial, was sent TO SRithburg.
! Md, for intermeEr.
Facts About the 'ope.
The police say they have ascertained
| from Hamby's employers that the rope
from which the scaffold on the Cairo
was suspended was comparatively new.
having been purchased about two
months ago. 1t was the usual sized
| rope used for swinging scaffoids, and
I was in perfect condition when 1t came
| into the possession of the contracting
painters.
| It had been used on several jobs since
| il had been purchased and showed no
| Weaknesses. On Saturday afternoon
the large coil of rope and the ladder
with a plank nasssSSt 20 i were taken Go