The Washington herald., 1908-06-12

This sweeping verdict the coroner urv at the
orgue last night after three and half hours had been
deberatng upon the testimony given inquest remains
of Richard West the victims of the collapse OF
Pckford apartment house on Tuesday
Assistant District Attorney Turner who attendance at
the inquest behalf Of the government present the decision
made and Immediately gave Detectives Hean and
Grant to aPPreend the four accused and place them arrest
Coroner Neyir Immediately issued papers of commitment to the
United States Jail for all four Of the accused The papers
given Detectives Grant and Helan for service
After consultation between the detectives Assistant District
Attorney Turner, bond fixed $1,000 apiece
Ashford Bane, and Blake notified bv telephone that they
were wanted at oceadquarers and in short time they presented
themselves.
While Detective Hean trying to locate Pckford the fourth
defendant he also presented himself company with his attorney
give bond Detective Grant recognized Pford and told him he
the right place Attorney Hoover then called I'D Clerk Mckee of the
District Supreme Court and asked him accept the bond OF all four
Building Inspector Ahfords bond was furnished by Thomas H.
and Samuel Ross furnished Bake bond William and Samuel Pick
ford brothers OF Thomas Pckford furnished security
None the implicated present George Mueller
foreman OF the jury announced the decision but all represented
either by attorneys or by friends.
Verdict Provides Dramatic Climax
The verdict given 80 o'clock afforded
climax to the accident which two men were killed and several
verey injured.
Dr. J. Ramsey hewitt of the District conducted
inquest signed each Of the erdcts night which following
appended George Mueller Henry Hanfort
Cornwen Henry Kess Frank J. Acher and A. J. Hanford.
The testimony offered at the morning and afternoon sessions
IN several instances. startling and contradictory.
Probably ncrmnang given in the two days
of the Inquest offered the afternoon Richard l.
Humphrey engineer charge of the structural laboratories
of the Geological Survey testified that Investigated the col
apsed building upon his initiative and he
work "atrocious"
He said casual inspection of the might have pre-
vented the catastrophe
The law should prohibit that kind OF construction" he added
They the such construction
The pier thin, and the whole structure himsy.'
W. Somerve Compue in the office of the Inspector build
ng of the District caused surprise among persons inquest
when he asserted that the building which collapsed safe
and added:
g" don't think have safe building OF any type or shape
Washington.
Ashford and Beers Disagree
point developed in the testimony of Ashford
pecor of buildings that showed discrepancy with
by Deputy Inspector PoynOn and Architect Beers While ques-
ton involved shown have bearing upon the accident
considered by present show lack branch
of the local government which the Inspector preSides
When the asked Mr. Ashford he had given Mr.
architect of the fatal building permission place pasters the walls
above the fourth story previously stated by Beers Ashford replied:
q the plans for the paser and gave such per-
mission
Evidence then produced show that Deputy Inspector
pasters in the hands of Architect Beers who told them building
inspector had given permission install pilasters
Commissioners West Mcfarland again present re-
maned until the taking Of testimony ended o'clock last evening
on Page OIumn 3.
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