The Washington herald., 1908-05-05

Severe charges were preferred by E.
F. Gibbs. manager of a local fire escape
company. against Snowden Ashford,
building inspector of the District. at the
first days session of a public hearing be-
fore the Commissioners yesterday in the
District Building.
Six charges were preferred and more
serious accusations were intimated. 1t
was brought out by the trial that Mr..
Ashford acknowledged writing a letter
to a Baltimore firm, the Rittenhouse
Brothers Company, in which the build
ing inspector offered to make an ar
rangement with a former employe of his
Office with a view of having his own
patent fire escape used.
William Henry White represented Mr..
Gibbs, and Henry Z. Davis was counsel
for Mr. Ashford.
Lawson COntrRdicts Ashford.
A. NJ Lawson. formerly assistant in
speetor OF buildings under oath. testi-
fed that during a conversation last Feb
ruary, Mr.. Ashford had said to him that
he would have Gibbs sent 10 jail.
The charges preferred against Mr.. Ash
ford by Mr.. Gibbs are:
Exploiting patent fire escapes, for re-
munerative purposes. and discouraging
the construction OF other patents. par
ticularly chain fire escapes
Using HIS official position to this end.
Writing a letter TO Rittenhouse Bros.
Of Baltimore, for the same purpose.
Naming a price for the use OF his In
vention under his patents.
Naming a price for each balcony on
which his patent fire escapes We're 10 be
erected.
Each OF these specifications Mr.. Ash
ford denied. Mr.. White produced the let
ter written 20 the Baltimore firm. which
Mr.. Ashford acknowledged having writ
ten. To correct the Interpretation OF the
letter, the building inspector stated that
the words contained IN the letter local
trade" referred 10 Baltimore. and not 10
the District Of Columbia.
Mr Lawson, the first witness called,
controverted the statement of Mr. Ash
ford as to the Interpretation Of the words
sIocal trade" This meant the District
Of Columbia, Mr.. Lawson stated. He
furthermore stated that Mr.. Ashford had
once admitted u meant the District
While walking from the district at
torneys office 10 the District Building
Mr. Lawson testified Mr.. Ashford said
To me he was going to put Gibbs in the
penitentiary."
This was said in connection with a
check for SO, signed by Mr. Gibbs and
received By Mr. Lawson. This check was
called 10 the attention Of the Commits
sioners by Mr.. Ashford. Investigation
was made the case was turned over to
the district attorneys office, and II was
decided there was no case against Mr..
Gibbs.
witnesses for Ashford.
Several witnesses appeared in defense Of
Mr Ashford and stated they had never
heard the building inspector try 10 pro
mote his own fire escape or to defame
the invention of Mr Gibbs.
Commissioner Macfarland presided, and
made the following announcement outlin-
ing the reason for the Investigation:
when this matter was first brought TO
the attention of the Commissioners by
Mr.. Gibbs the Commissioners made an
informal investigation and as a result of
IL requested the inspector Of buildings 10
dispose Of his fire escape patent rights.
which he did. Now that Mr. Gibbs has
asked for a formal investigation. and
has made affidavit 70 his charges. the
Commissioners, according to their custom
Of making a public investigation when