The Washington herald., 1908-07-25

Thomas H PickfOrd. owner OF the Pick
ford apartment house. at Twentieth and
P streets, which collapsed on June last
causing the death Of fwo men employed
on the building. was indicted on a charge
Of Hanslaushter. The grand jury also
called the attention Of the court 70 the
duties Of the Office q TIRE building IL
spector in the following terms.
I'D That the Office Of the inspector. OF
buildings IS now inadeQuately equipped
for the important duties required. in that
the number Of employees Especially field
iaspectors) Is too small 10 permit thor
ouga Inspection OF the large number OF
buildings being erected. and the salaries
PAID 20 beth field ard of8ce employees are
entirely Inadequate 20 command the nee
essary technical and practical ability.
go That as this Office Of building in
spector IS Of vital importance 10 the IN
terests Of the public. The greatest discre-
ton should be exercised in the selection
Of its employees
Employ Competent Men.
"t0 That some method should be adopt
ed 70 Insure the designing and execution
Of building work. especially the structural
parts. BY none but those fully competent
80 That prosecutions should follow Sc
riOus Violations Of the building reguIa-
tons wherever and wherever discovered.
whether accidents have resulted or not.
the jury believing that with competent
inspection such violations would be de-
uected
-l5j That some requirement for proper
supe-intenGence at the expense OF the
owner should be adopted in the case Of
4 important structures
The investigation before the grand jury
was conducted by Assistant United States
Attorney Turner and Special Assistant
/ Jesse g Adkins
Albert :. Rcavis. contractor for the
concrete work on the building. was joint
I ly indicted with Mr.. Pickford
Thc. charge made by the coroner-s Jury
Z against SnoW5en Ashford inspector OF
Z buildings. for the approval OF the plans
! for the building, Harry Blake. employed
by Barber & Ross. foreman Of iron con
strUcton, and John Frank Bayne, brick
contractor. was ignored by the grand
( jury Pickfo-d's attorney. George P.
/ Hoover. has arranged with the district
attorney 20 have his client in court Mon
{ day morning 20 plead 20 the Indictment
0AhEE
The grand jury also returned an IN
dictment charging enbezzlement against
/ Thomas G. Hayes. former receiving tell
I er OF the American National Bank. The
I indictment is in twelve counts. and
/ charges that on various dates between
I December 3. lsJ7. and December .. 1907.
{ Hayes appropriated more than $500
/ which had been deposited by the vari-
/ Gus customers Of the bank. 10 be entered
[ 70 their respective credits Il is alleged
Hayes failed 10 credit the money. but
/ applied II 10 his owr use
{ Other indictments were against Charles
/ L Schneider and Charles Knutson. for al
legged forgery. and Andrew Maxwell, al
/ legged seduction The latter. when indict-
{ ed pleaded guilty and sentence was sUs-
! pended
Ashford Is GratIhed.
/ Inspector Ashford made the following
/ statement
/ I have received many kind and sin
! cere congratulations from my friends or
/ the outcome OF the investigation Of the
] accident TO the apartment house.
I was greatly surprised az the time
( Of the inquest to hear I had been held
[ accountable. when the evidence showed
/ that was not connected with the case
/ and had spent the last six years in press
] ing recommendations for better reguia-
] tions and improved laws TO prevent such
/ accidents
With a confident feeling OF the utmost
| carefulness and devotion to duty. anC
Z