The Washington herald., 1908-06-11

. Judging from the testimony at the in
quest held at the morgue yesterday TO
determine responsibility for the collapse
Of the apartment house at Twentieth
and p streets northwest. on Tuesday
morning. the jury viii have difficulty in
placing the blame
Those who had charge OF construction
on the collapsed building. and who tesu-
fed, disclaimed responsibility, and were
inclined 70 charge the accident 10 negli-
senee on the part Of others.
Several witnesses were called who had
no connection with the construction Of the
building. They seemed unwilling 70 give
testimony that would aid in solving the
problem.
Those in charge Of the iron work main
tained their part Of the construction was
perfect, and put the blame on others
while various foremen held that their
work had been properly done.
Testimony OF Inspectors
The inspectors Of the building depart
ment who supervised the construction.
testified they had performed their duties
well and cOnscieuuously. and that The
work on the building had been In compli-
ance with the regulations.
one question asked each witness by
Coroner Nevitt was whether the work
had been done In a hasty manner. A
few admitted haste Others conteuded
plenty OF time had been taken Several
reasons We're advanced as to the cause OF
the collapse. Some said il was due 10
imperfect work on the concrete floor
support Others blamed the green walls.
and others said the piers were TOO thin
20 support the heavy iron beams
Commissioners MaCfarland and West
assisted the coroner and Deputy Coroner
Glazebrook in examining the witnesses.
Although they We're present in no official
capacity the Commissioners remained
until the hearing closed AT 4.31 O'Clock.
II viii convene again this morning at
1880 O'Clock
The men sitting on the coroner's jury
are George MULE Henry Hanforth. S G.
CornwelL Henry Kess, Frank J. Acker.
and A. j. Hanforth.
Assistant District Attorney Turner. who
was present at the afternoon session. on
behalf OF the government drew from A
freproofng on the building that he had
fears as 20 the safety Of the building. but
failed 10 report 10 the District authorl-
ties.
Walls Too Far Apart.
AR Reavis said he thought the walls
were too far apart 10 be properly sup
ported. and gave the opinion that the
building was rather slender.
The supports put up under my con-
tract were ample. but I considered the
bulges on the exterior Of the building as
dangerous, and called the attention Of
Mr.. Pickford to them. 1 must say right
here that the building was put up with
no idea Of cheapness- Mr. Pickford in
sisted on using the best materials.
and wanted the building properly con-
structed."
In answer 70 a question by Coroner
NeFitt the witness said he considered
the iron beams too heavy for the walls.
c. w. SomerviIe. computer IN the Of
fee of the building department. inter-
rupted the testimony At this point by
declaring the beams had nothing 90 do
with the accident.
John II. Nolan was called as an expert
on building operations. and submitted as
his opinion. that the cause of the crash
was that the pier OF the brick wall on
the Z street side was too small and thin
for the construction work. He said the
pier was the most important and should
have been thicker.
Mr.. Nolan said he had just come from
the scene of the wreck, and considered
the work fairly well done-"rough. but
strong He attributed the accident 20
the bulging of the walls. thus causing the
concrete floors 10 lose their support and
fall below. The witness refused TO place
the blame on the iron workers or upon
the concrete contractor. but said the con-
structiOn was not hrst-cIass
The next witness. Ellsworth king
brother of the dead mechanic. presented a
pathetic appearance. His head was COW
cred In several places with plaster and
his face was bruised where he had been
hit by flying pieces Of concrete and brick
as the fourth floor crashed downward.
Building Didn't Look safe.
King testified he was working alongside
his brother. and had just stepped on the
casing Of a window when the accident oc-
CURED. He said ne had heard other work.
men talking about a part OF the building
that had caved in before
THE building didn't look safe TO me-"
the witness said I'm answer 20 a question
from Coroner hewitt
King said the steel braces Of the heavy
floor were widely separated and appeared
not heavy enough to hold the concrete.
When he said he considered the beams
were not tied together sufficiently, Mr.
Somerville jumped TO his feet and cOntra-
dicted him.
Il am here TO protect the building de-
partment of the District. and I know tho
part OF the operations referred 20 by Mr..
King We're perfect"
William T. Hendricks, foreman of the
concrete laborers, testified that the work
ing Of the men upon the floor that caved
IN had no bearing whatever upon tha
crash He said the concrete work was
only half finished when the accident oc-
CURED. and intimated that the beams
holding the floor were not anchored or
fastened tightly.
l had heard talk among the labOrers
about the unsafety Of the structure. and
had asked George Portch, carpenter. who
was working near me. about Il, when