Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-07-24
P|cKFORD IS INDICTED
Charged With Responsibility
for Building Collapse.
TRUE BILL AGAINST REAVIS
Inspector Ashford and Others In.
volved Go Free.
BOTH DEFENDANTS TO PLEAD
Attention Called to Conditions In
Building Inspectors Office and
Improvements Recommended.
BOTH DEFENDANTS TO PLEAD

Improvements Recommended.
Thomas II. Pickford, owner of the Pick
ford apartment house at Goth and p
streets. the walls of which cola psed June
last. causing the death OF two men em-
ployed on the building, was indicted to-
day by the grand jury for manslaughter.
The grand jury also jointly indicted Al
bert s. Reavis the contractor for the con-
crete work on the building. Mr.. Reavis
was not named in the report Of the coro-
ner's jury.
The grand jurors ignored the charge
made by the coroner's jury against Snow
den Ashford, inspector Of buildings, for
the approval of the plans for the building:
Harry Blake. employed by Barber G. Ross.
the foreman of iron construction. ana
John Frank Bayne. the brick contractor.
AS the result of the alleged neglect and
disregard of duty by both Mr.. Pickford
and Mr.. Reavis. the grand jury charges
that Lemuel Stoneking and Richard West
came to their death.
Attorney George P. Hoover. represent
ing Mr.. Pickford, has arranged with
United States Attorney Baker to have
his client in court Monday morning 10
plead to the indictment.
Improvement Of Inspection.
The grand jury called the attention Of
the court to its opinion and recommends
tons as to the Office of the inspector OF
buildings in the hope that such occur
rences may be avoided in the future. In
a report signed by Edward ]. Walsh. fore
man. the grand jury declares:
I'D. That the office of the inspector OF
buildings Is now fnadequateiy EQUIPPED
RNv <h4 mt drafi
the number of employees especially neid
inspectors) is too small to permit thorough
inspection of the large number of build
ings being erected, and the salaries paid
to both field and office employees are en-
tirely inadequate to command the neces-
sary technical and practical ability.
Co. That as this ONCE of building IN
spector is of vital Importance to the IN
terests of the public. the greatest discre-
tion should be exercised In the selection
OF its employees.
(a). That some method should be
adopted to insure the designing and exc
cution Of building work. especially the
structural parts, by none but those fully
competent.
a.. That prosecutions should fol-
low serious violations of the building
regulations whenever and wherever dis
covered, whether accidents have resulted
or not, the jury believing that with COM
petent inspection such violations would
be detected.
90. That some requirement for proper
superintendence at the expense OF the
owner should be adopted in the case OF
important structures.
The investigation before the grand jury
was conducted by assistant United
States Attorney Turner and Special As
sistant Jesse G. Adkins.
Charges in Indictment.
After detailing the application for a per-
nit to erect the building made by Mr..
Pickford, April 13 last. and the contents
Of the application in reference to the con-
crete work, the indictment charges that
Mr.. Pickford entered into a contract
with the A. S. Reavis Sheet Metal Cornice
Company, of which Albert S. Reavis 10
president and treasurer and has the man
agement, to perform the work of con-
structing certain concrete slabs.
1t was the duty of Reavis. declares the
Indictment, to construct the concrete slabs
in accordance with the application and
drawings on file in the office of the in
spector of buildings, and before any or
the wet concrete was emplaced to con-
struct proper falsework OF sufncient
strength and to firmly and securely sup
port the same by means of snoring or
otherwise to safely support the weight OF
the concrete to be emplaced thereon our
ing the process of its emplacement. and
L, support the weight of the workmen en-
gagged therein. and the weight of all loads.
materials and implements necessary to DO
used in the construction thereof during
the process of emplacement and during
the period Of setting and hardening Oh
the slabs.
1t further became and was his duty.
the indictment continues. to allow the
falsework supported as aforesaid 10 re-
main in place until the concrete SLABS
had been emplaced thereon and had OBJ
tanned sufficient strength to support them
selves and such weight as might be placed
thereon; and 1t thereupon further became
and was the duty of the said ReaV1s. IN
constructing the said concrete floor slabs.
to use cinders of a good quality. reason
ably free from ashes and unburnt coal Ii
thereupon further became and was the
duty Of Mr.. Reavis. the grand jury de-
clared, before proceeding with the con-
struction of any of the concrete slabs
which, according to the drawings. should
be supported by horizontal slots In the
walls. to require that such slots should
bs formed in such walls. as indicated on
anchor hooks should be built in the walls
as required by the drawings: and 1t
thereupon further became and was the
duty of the said Reavis to so conduct
the performance of the said work under
said contract and of each and every part
thereof. and to use and exercise every
precaution in his power necessary TO
render and make the performance OF the
of the work done hereunder safe and
secure and free from danger to the lives
of persons who should be in and about
the said building.
Criminal Neglect.
Mr. Pickford having undertaken to
erect the building in accordance with
the drawings and application the grand
jury declared that it was his duty to
construct the building and to see and
require that the concrete floor slabs
were constructed and that each and
every other part of the building was
constructed In accordance with the ap-
plication and drawings and to so regu-
late and conduct the performance OF
the work of constructing the building.
and each and every part thereof, as to
render and make the performance of
the work. and each and every part
thereof, safe and secure and free from
danger to the lives of persons who
should be in and about the building.
Notwithstanding his duty. and being
wholly unmindful and regardless thereof,
it is alleged. Mr.. Pickford neglected and
omitted to see and require that the con-
crete floor slabs were constructed in ac-
cordance with said application and draw
ings. .'but did carelessly, negligently and
feloniously permit and allow Albert s.
Reavis to. construct the corner floor
panels of the first. second. third and
fo,,,<1, Aooro of the ha,fldfu rolaealA