New-York tribune., 1906-07-25
RUTLER INQUEST BEGUN
FITNESS IN BANDAGES.
Policeman Identifies Men Who
TLresC Bolts ip Neso Plaza Hotel.

An inquest into the death OF Michael Butler
.he special policeman, who died as the result Of
s,iuries received while on duty on July ii az the
new plaza Hotel. being built at 58th street and
rgfth avenue, was begun yesterday by Coroner
arriteli in the Criminal Courts Building. Dep
r,v Assistant District Attorney Turnbuu an
,sared for the people. and c. NJ. Keifer. OF the
1au firm of Townsend & Keifer, represented the
seven defendants. Mr.. Keifer said that he was
employed by the Housesmiths and Bridgemen's
Structural Ironworkers Union
me Jury empanelIed by Coroner Acritelli is as
gollows: Mortimer Hyman, of No 355 Broad
vav: J. H. Hershfleld of Broadway and Barclay
street: r. c. Haas. OF No. 1884 Second avenue:
Tsaaore J. Pocher. Of No. 40 West Bath street:
wan L. Jenkins. OF no. 931 Broadway: S. Cross
man. Of No $50 Broadway; John p. Kelly, OF No
"a nassau street; Patrick ~. Clennon. OF No. 403
West 46th street: Fred c. Cruger. OF No. 35s
west 57th street; Joseph B. AIensching. Of No
sss West 49th street: Joseph Walgeming, OF No.
g23 west 4Sth street. and s. Belts. Of No. 1928
Second avenue.
The Allied Iron Trades Association, OF which
the Fuller Construction Company, the firm hav-
Sng the contract for the iron work on the hotel
Is a member, was represented by Eidlitz g.
Hulse. William T. oTOole. his head done up in
bandages. who was employed with Butler as a
special policeman on the building was the first
witness 10 take the stand. He said that he was
injured at the time Butler was killed and had
not yet recovered. Witness said that he was
standing talking with Butler on the seventh
floor. when a bolt was hurled at Butler fol-
lowed by another. He identified William Kufen
of No 1876 East 18TH street, and George Smith
Of No 60l East 146th street. two Of the pris-
oners being the men who threw the bolts.
Edward II. Beinecke, of No 1863 West S1st
street, the material man on the building. testi-
ned thst he knew OF no openings in the doorway
through which Butler could have fallen and have
received his injuries
John j. cullen. the other special officer who
injured at the same time said that on the
DAY Of The assault he and Butler had gone from
floor 10 floor Investigating the conditions. When
they reached the fifth floor, the witness said a
boH was dropped. and Butler remarked to him
that IL was queer They continued on the
Eay 10 The seventh floor. however and there
net some men who We're members Of the same
lodge as themselves. They stOpped for awhile
ana talked with their brothers. and in a few
minutes were Joined by OTOOle. the witness
continued Cullen said that Butter wanted to
descend but the wOrkmen would not allow him
10 use the ladder. O'TOOle and Butler walked
oa together. the witness said That was the
last he remembered. for Immediately afterward
he vas down and out Cullen identified two
Of The defendants as his assailants but was not
sure about the others, as he said his eyes had
been weak ever since the assault
The next witness was Joseph Wilson sub
foreman Of the derrick on the seventh floor He
sWore that he had not seen any fight and that
az me time of the alleged assault every man
was in his right place. Witness said there was
no hole in the floor large enough for a mans
body n fall through
Charles snyder an irouworker. said that he
saW OToole and Butler before the fight. and
that there was 10 hole through which the latter
could have fallen. The witness said that he
knew nothing Of the fight until half an hour
after II was over as he had quit work at noon
Patrick Flynn of No. 354 West 4th street tes-
tifed that after the fight he saw O'Toole and
that MS nose was bleeding. Under examination
by Mr. Turnbul Flynn said that from the
seventh floor he Butler lying on the fourth
floor directly beneath the ladder hole on the
seventh floor.
half dozen other witnesses were called
Several ~ them said that il was a frequent
occurrence for a bolt 10 be dropped while being
tossed from one man TO another They all said
that they had no grievances against the special
onoers. Only about quarter of the witnesses
we're examined yesterday. when an adjournment
was taken until 1870 O'Clock this morning. The
courtroom crowded with friends and reIa-
lives of the seven prisoners.