Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-06-10
HOLDS AN INQUEST TODAY
Interrogates Officials Of Building De.
partment.
TWO COMMISSIONERS ATTEND
Witnesses Express Opinion That
Construction Was Too Hasty,
Although Owner Was With.
in Requirements Of
Permit Issued.

While Coroner Nevitt is con.
Quoting an inquest today to de-
termine, if possible, the response
bility for the fatal collapse yes
terday at the apartment house
building being constructed at the
southwest corner of Goth and P
streets, other officials of the Dis
trict are informally investigating
the disaster that resulted i'm the
death of two men and the injury
of five others.
Mr.. Pickford, owner OF the
building. says he does not know
the exact cause of the collapse and
will not discuss the matter. at
least until experts employed bv
him to investigate have submitted
report.
Unanimous opinion that too rapid con-
struction of the apartment building at
10th and p streets was responsible for
the accident yesterday which snuffed
out the lives of Lemuel King. steam
| filter. and Richard West, colored
laborer. and injured many other work.
ers on the structure was voiced by at
| taches Of the District building depart
| ment at the inquest conducted at the
| morgue today by Coroner hewitt
Assistant Inspector Clark who had i'm
mediate supervision of the building; Dep
uty Inspector Poynton and Computer
Somerville were the only witnesses called
at the morning session OF the inouisi-
ton, and each of them stated that much
of the concrete was green" that is NOT
dry and set to its greatest strength
Defect in Regulations.
All three officials were positive there
is no section in the Districts building
laws TO regulate the speed Of concrete
construction work by builders. 1t WAS
stated the regulations are now i'm process
of revision. and this and all other points
| in concrete work will be properly covered
when the new laws are promulgated.
BY the testimony of Deputy Building In
spector Poynton it was developed that q
special understanding had been reached
between Building Inspector Ashford and
Architect Beers at the time a permit was
sought to increase the height of the struc.
| ture from five TO six stories which per-
mitted the use of 'pilasters'' i'm lieu OF
reinforced construction. such as would
have been required if the permit had been
issued originally for six-story building.
Mr.. Poynton was not sure whether
there was due authority in law for Mr..
Ashford to make such a concession. The
building inspector is out of the city.
though il is expected he will be called
upon 10 return at once and attend later
sessions OF the inquest. 1t is probable the
inquiry will continue throughout tomor-
row.
Although two men were killed in the
| disaster. the inquest is being held over
the body of Richard King. the colorcd La
borer.
Two Commissioners Present.
Before the inquiry began Commission
ers Macfarland and West reached the
morgue and occupied seats alongside Cor.
oncr hewitt. Botlr were interested OBJ
servers of every phase of the proceedings,
and their suggestions were frequently fol-
lowed in questioning witnesses Assistant
Corporation Counsel Francis III. Steph-
ems was also present on behalf of the
District government; Attorney +. W.
Brandenburg represented the A. S. LeaviS
Sheet Metal Cornice Company, and At.
torneys w. A. Coombe and James Z.
Padgett appeared for relatives OF Rich
! ard West. colored. one of the two VIC
Tins of the disaster.
The jury summoned by tine coroner 10
hear the evidence and determine respon-
sibiity for the catastrophe made up
of the following: George Muller. Henry
| Thomfordt S. G.. Cornwell. Henry Kess.
| Frank J. Acker and A. j. Sanford. They
were sworn over the body OF West by
Deputy Coroner GiaZebrook.
All the witnesses summoned TO TESTIFY
| were subcontractors. mechanics and Ia
| borers employed on the wrecked struc-
| ture Included i'm the number were John
Thomas Isaac Willis. William Green.
Richard Mahoney. Amos Ross. Joseph
Coleman. Joshua Lewis George w. Dan
| iels Henry Cain. Isaiah Coleman, Charles
Banks. Harold Morris, Frank Brown.
Nelson Brown. Arthur Brown, George
Brown. Ed Johnson. Henry Green. STAN
lev Branson Samuel Bacon, James Dor
sey. Samuel Collins. Arthur Willis. Louis
Grady. Richard Wheeler. Waynerbord
Jackson Ed Braxton. Frank Hayes,
John Nolls. Charles Weisser and George
PortZ.
Assistant Inspector Testifies.
The first witness was j. Blake Clark, an
assistant on the stan of Building lnspec-
tor Ashford. He stated he has been an
assistant building inspector since Septem-
ber of last year. and prior TO that Date
had been a builder for about nfteen years:
Mr. Clark testified his territory included
most of the northwest section of the city.
and under the rules OF the building in
spector il is required that all ASSISTANTS
in the office shall visit and inspect build
ines at least once n week. Concerning
the issue of permits for buildings. witness
said all of them are passed on by the
computer of the building department. Mr..
Somerville. and are PASSED upon finally by
Inspector Ashford or an assistant.
On this particular building how many
inspections have YOU made since May IL"
Coroner hewitt asked.
About seven or eight official insrec-
tions" Clark said
"WaS there ANYTHING pectAliar about thu