New-York tribune., 1911-12-29
VERDICT DUE TO CHARGE
Triangle Fire Juror Declares He
Wanted Conviction.
BELIEVED DOOR LOCKED

- -
Another of Twelve Expresses
Sorrow He Did Not Vote Guilty
and Cause Disagreement.
judge r. G. r. Grain. of the Court OF
General Sessions. refused last night to
comment on the story told by one juror
who said he wanted to vote for conviction
in the case of Isaac Harris and Max
Blanck. but was prevented from doing so
by Judge Grains charge to the jury.
Asked If the verdict satisfied him. Judge
Grain replied:
Il have nothing to say; have no COM
ment to make"
Other questions brought nothing more
than the same stereotyped answer.
The Juror in question, Victor Steinman'
a shirt manufacturer. was seen at ms
office. No. 73 Franklin street. yesterday.
He at first declined to discuss the case
hut. persuaded by friends. one of whom
told him his conscience would feel easier
after he explained his attitude. he finally
told his story
"All night long" he began. II could not
sleep. because felt might not have done
my duty 20 the people. But ! could not
do my duty to them and obey the judge )
charge at the same time, although | once
voted for conviction.
81 believed the Washington Place door
was locked at the time of the fire But
could not make myself feel that Harris
and Rlanck knew il was locked. And be-
cause the Judge charged US that we could
not find them guilty unless We believed
that they knew the door was locked at
that time did not know what TO 90
Mr.. Steinman said he was confused when
he left the jury box and at first voted TOT
conviction. but was finally brought to the
other side by the majority, who reminded
him of Judge Grains charge. and asked
him 70 point out one shred Of evidence
showing that Harris and Blanck knew tnat
,he Washington Place door on the ninth
floor Of the Triangle Waist Company
factory was locked when Margaret
schwartz and 147 other girls and young
men perished.
Held by Judges Charge.
"Did all the jurors believe that the doof
was locked at the time Of the fire. he was
asked.
Il think they did but none could get
away from the Judges charge.
II Houston HERS. an importer. when
seen at his office, No. q Gold street. and
told of his fellow juryman's statement
said:
"NIv conscience is perfectly at rest.
voted for acduittal from the first. | can
see that any one was responsible for the
loss of life.
II think the Triangle factory was well
managed. and in as good or better condi-
+4on than most Of them ! think, also, that
the girls who worked there were, perhaps
not 50 intelligent as those who are to be
found in other walks OF life. and were
therefore more susceptible to panic
"Mr Ste,nman did not have anything 10
saw I'm the Jury room about Judge cram
charge. and hadn't must to say, any way
what arguments he did make were gen
eral."
Mr.. HERS said he was selected to take
the ballots. In the first ballot eight voted
for acquttal. Anton Scheuerman ana VIC
for Steinman voting for conviction ana
William f. Ryan and Harry r. Roeder re-
training from voting. In the second ballot
all save Steinman and Scheuerman voted
for acnuittal and in the third ballot all
twelve voted alike.
Mr.. Scheuerman said he regretted that
no had not stood out for conviction until
the Jury was discharged by the court be-
cause Of failure TO agree. He was Juror
No. and the oldest man on the jury. lie
West ll5th street.
"Mscarriaqe Of Justice"
81 believe the verdict to he a miscar-
riage of Justice" he said. II know 1t was
foolish of me not to stick TO my opinion,
and should never have given in to what
knew to be wrong. After this | have no
faith in jury trials, for the law is not un-
derstood by the jurors.
Some jurors believed the door was
locked by some girl during the excitement
and the key thrown away ! did not. be-
leved the door was locked by the owners
so that the girls would have to pass out by
the Greene street way to be searched. IL
was illegal to keep the door locked. But
have growth on my tongue; l am i'll;
speak with difficulty. and for this reason
could not maintain my position against my
associates"
There is no doubt in the minds Of the
District Attorneys staff that Harris and
Rlanck can be tried again. There are six
similar indictments Of manslaughter pend
ing against them. There is a somewhat
similar case to theirs. establishing a prcce-
dent. one man, with one shot. killed two
men. The courts at that time held that If
he was acquitted for killing one man he
could be tried for the death of the second
There was some criticism of Judge
Grains charge yesterday. Many contended
that II was not necessary for the jurors
to have found that the defendants knew
that the doors were locked at the time Of
the fire.
In a similar case. that Of Captain Van
Schaick of the excursion boat General Slo-
cum, the federal judge VINO tried the case
did not charge that Captain Van Schaick
ba n knoW that the life prpSerVcrG were