The Washington times., 1908-11-29
Inquiry Into Warehouse
Collapse Shows Very
Lax Methods.
ASKS ROOSEVELT
TO INTERVENE
No Responsibility Fixed for Death,
But District Attorney
May Act.

Scoring the Building Inspectors Of
fee for it's lax methods" d" and for the
lack OF cooperation among its en-
ployes, the COroner's jury, investigating
the death Of Raymond j. Hibbs, the
young iron worker killed in the col
lapse Of the building at the corner Of
North Capitol and N streets last Mon
day, brought in a verdict last night, in
which it recommends that the President
interfere in the interests OF the people
of the Capital city by appointing a COM
mission to investigate conditions in the
offfce over which SnoWden Ashford has
charge.
While in the verdict no one is eId
CTimiuany responsible for the death of
Hlbbs, the result OF the six mems de-
liberau0ns is regarded as one of the
most severe excoriatons which any Dis
trict official has received in many years
No Further Action.
Although it is improbable that any
further action viii be taken by Dis
trict authorities. pending the submis-
sion to the President Of the jury's find
ings. the office of the United States
District Attorney. represented at all
copies Of all the evidence and viii look
carefully over all testimony. If any
action is warranted, according TO the
attorneys. it will be ordered by the Dis
trict Attorneys office later.
The verdict OF the jury containing the
recommendation to the President will 90
through the regular channels and may
reach the Chief Executive next week
-F~
name some such commission as the jury
suggests
The verdict of the jury vas as fol-
lows:
RAYMOND l. Hibbs came to his death
on November 3. 1903. from fractures
caused by falling from one of tie four
trusses now in course OF construction
Xith the building of the new warehouse
at 10 n street northeast. in the city OF
Washington. District of Columbia, and
being struck by falling iron work form
ing part OF said trusses.
Guy Rope ShOrtens.
we further md that said trusses
and iron work were pTeCipitated toward
the ground IN a southeTIy direction by
The accidental shortening OF the south
guy rope running from the apex OF
the fourth Of said trusses to the drum
of the hosting engine.
eve further find that the death of the
said Raymond l. Hibbs was not the
direct result OF the criminal careless
ness Of any person or persons, but was
Que to accident.
We deem it our duty TO severely con-
denim the lax methods now and hereto
IN Fv4 gF ha In
spector Of Buildings of the District of
Columbia and the apparent absence Of
intelligent, well-diTected effort and
hearty cooperation between the differ
ent division and officials OF said branch
OF the District government, so essen
tial TO the welfare of the community.
We recommend the appointment by the
President Of the United States of an
unbiased, competent, and disinterested
commission for the purpose Of making a
thorough investigation of the methods,
system, adequacy, and efficiency of
said Office of the Building Inspector Of
the District Of Columbia" (Signed.)
Oscar J. Ricketts,. William II. Hooper,
Thomas E, Ogram. A. J. Sanford,
Thomas ". McKnew, James r Cess
ford. J. Ramsay hewitt, Coroner.
No One Responsible.
Notwithstanding the fact that no one
was held cTiminaIly responsible, the
jury stayed GU four hours, and it was
over the question Of the responsibility
of parties engaged in its erection that
the time was spent.
The testimony Of several witnesses
during the progress of the investigation
had tended to show that there might
have been some faults in the steel. and
il was not until the last few sessions
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