Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-18
Special Correspondence Of The Star.

the clerk of the court finished reading the
report of the jury Judge Barley directed
that copy be sent to the city school
board, city council and the owners of the
buildings affected.
The jury stated that the Washington
Street School for Boys is In good cond1-
ton and that all doors opened outward
and 1t had broad halls and there was no
danger in case of fire or panic. Concern
ing the Hallowell building, adjoining the
above on South Washington street, the
jury's report was as follows:
I'VE find the walls badly cracked, stair
way inadequate for an emergency, cellar
full of trash, ceilings very low, ventilation
only through open windows.
Danger in Case of Fire.
There are 40 little boys from seven to
ten years of age housed in this buiI ding.
Should the building catch fire in the Stair
way but few on the second and none on
the third floor could escape. This building
is unsafe in every respect. and while an
outside iron stairway from the third floor
would improve conditions. 1t Is the opinion
of this jury that the building should be
condemned entirely. The superintendent
of public schools and all teachers who use
this building or have been In it concur
with us in condemning same. We recon-
mend that this building be closed imme
diately, especially SO far as the use of the
third floor is concerned.
The report on the Peabody building was
as follows:
This building we consider unsafe, and
we recommend that your honor condemn
the entire building for school purposes.
Certainly we would be derelict in our
duty to this court and false to our oaths
as jurymen If we did not recommend the
instant closing of the third floor. On this
floor 40 little tots, from seven to ten
years of age, are housed, and We do not
believe that the building can be made
Sa fe for these little ones.
Some doors open inward and others
outward, but to keep these little children
on the third floor for a single day is a
responsibility which this jury would re-
fuse to assume.
THE sanitary arrangements of Peabody
building are far from satisfactory, there
being no sewer connections The odor
from the wells, situated Immediately I'M
der the windows. and separated from the
building proper by but few feet, and
even on a cold day like Wednesday last it
was something fearful.
Many improvements could be suggest
ed which would make the building a little
safer. but nothing that can be done in the
opinion of this jury, to make the building
suitable for a school. We therefore rec |
ommend that this building. for school pur- |
poses. be condemned and a new school
building not over two stories high be |
built
In referring to the colored public schools |
the jury announced that they found them
in satisfactory condition, with the excep- |
ton of the DOORS. and they recommended
that all doors be changed to open out |
ward They also suggested that the sani- |
tary conditions could be much improved. |
The jury recommended that all school |
buildings be connected with sewers.
Other recommendations made by the
jury were:
Other tons.
That fire escape be placed on the east
side of the Braddock House, and that the |
stairway leading to Fairfax street. now |
closed. be opened: doors at Belle Haven |
Amusement Company opened inward, but |
have been changed to open outward. and
floor of operating box at this place should |
be lined with tin; Risheill e. Curtin's NOV
ing picture show. satisfactory: that fire |
escape be placed on the front side Of Sar-
eptd Hall.
The report concerning the opera house |
recited that: ''Stovepipe which runs |
through gallery should be changed, and |
front stairway should be widened and OBJ |
at top cut away; hose on stage |
not long enough; door should be placed |
in a partition in the southwest corner of |
gallery. making an entrance to stairway |
leading to stage. giving people in west |
gallery an exit by way of the stage fire |
escape on Pitt street; place needs a gen
eral cleaning
Report on McBurney Hall: 'Stove prop
ped up by bricks; liable to fall at any |
time; fire escape blocked Oil by railing |
We recommend that this hall be CON |
demned for public gatherings until such |
changes as are satisfactory to city en- |
gineer and chief of fire department are
made. We strongly recommend that all |
buildings used for public gatherings be |
required to have all doors open outward" |
The jury's report was received with |
qualification by the teachers and schol- |
ars at Peabody School. A copy of the |
roDOrt read in Of ba
For some time past the teachers at this |
building have been using their efforts |
toward securing new structure.
Indictments Returned.
The grand jury this morning returned |
indictments in the corporation court as |
follows: Frank c. Wilkins, larceny of a |
lot of rope and metal from w. A. Smoot |
G. Co, valued at $l2S.5O; John Penn, SINH |
lar offense: John McCuen. similar offense. |
No date has yet been set for the trial of |
the accused parties.
A petit jury is this afternoon engaged |
in hearing the case of Wilbert Cook. |
charged with holding up and shooting |
Thomas ]. Schneider. The accused is |
by Attorney j. NJ Johnson. |
and the prosecution is being conducted |
by Commonwealth Attorney Brent.
General Items.
Funeral services over the remains of |
Mrs. George E. Stewart, who died at the |
Providence Hospital yesterday. will be |
held at 3 o'clock tomorrow afternoon from |
st. Paul's Protestant Episcopal Church. |
Rev. P. P. Phillips. rector, will officiate. |
The interment will be made in the Meth |
odist Protestant cemetery. The deceased |
was the widow Of William Stewart and |
was a sister of Mrs Blanche Berkeley of |
this city.
Mrs. Margaret f. Green widow of Hen
ry II. B. Green. died this morning at her |
home 1907 Gibbon street. The deceased |
was a native of King George county, Va |
Arrangements for the funeral have not
yet been completed.
An interesting meeting of the Young |
Mems Senate was held last night in the !,