New-York tribune., 1911-12-09
SAYS DOOR WAS LOCKED
Cousin OF Wife Of BIanCk De-
CIareS He Tried 1t.
DEFENCE SHOWS ITS HAND
Will Apparently Attempt to Show
II Was Locked in Panic and
Key Thrown Away.

Nj teSicldaN spectators III faFt oi
General Sessions. where Isaac Harris and
Max Bsnck are ON trial for manslaughter
before Judge Grain. listened to former en-
ployes OF the firm describe the scenes of
horror when rs OF their fellow workers
persisted iu the Triangle Waist Company
Ere. All swore the Washington Place door
on tho ninth floor was locked.
The crosS-eNdmination Of Louis Levy. the
ragman. who took away 925e pounds OF
rags from the factory moro than two
months before the fire. as testified on Fri
day. was so favorable TO the defence that
Assistant District Attorney Bostwick asked
him II he had visited either of the de-
PENDANTS overnight.
Yes" said Levy. Mr.. Blanck. I was
with him an hour. Then we went to M.
Steuer's Office. l stayed there five min
utes."
Max Steuer counsel for the defence. had
tho witness say he received a telephone
message from him and brought his books
10 the lawyers Office.
Broke Window and Got Out
The first l knew of the fire." said Mrs.
Mary CISCO. OF NO. 0VS west III SNltVh'
was when I was leaving my machine. on
the ninth floor. There were girls punched
around the elevators. saw a lot of girls
In the rear OF the loft. said TO myself.
They'll all be killed and ran to the
washington Place door. 1 grabbed the
doorknob. I tried to open it, but could
not. then jumped on table near the
fire escape, broke the window and got out
on the FIRE escape"
Was there watchman at the Greene
street door?'' asked Mr.. Bostwick.
Yes. He examined our pocketbooks and
handbags TO see if we had lace or en-
.broidery every night before we left
Wasn't there large number OF girls
IN front Of you when you tried TO get at
the Washington Place door, asked coun-
eel for the defence.
"AIl WAS confusion I cannot tell you.
All saw was mass of flesh They were
screaming. crying. shouting, pushing and
kicking"
Did you push or kickF
Certainly" she replied as though
amazed that any one could think of ask
ing such a question. "I was pushing them
down wherever ] met them. ] was trying
10 save my life"
Of the defendant, Blanck, living az No 30
vast 4th street. said ho was standing Al
hts machine on the ninth floor when he
heard cries OF "Fire,'
AT the Green's street door" said Bern
r,e,n II saw great crowd Of girls try
ing 70 get out They were falling on top
~ one another. All over the loft could
ne heard the cries Of girls. ! leaped from
table 70 table until 7 got 10 the Washing
.rr Place door 7 grabbed the knob
rYllAd with both hands turned II in every
direction, hut ~ would not open.
What DID vow 10 them asked Mr.
Tcttwick
.1 wont 20 the Washington Place WIN
d.v- looked out and saw the nre en-
zines. thought I'd get down by some
q. tie fremen's ladders. When 50"
couldn't ran around the shop. ! got
,o,,~bt ir = crowd and pushed into inc
Washington Place elevator.
Defence Shows It's Plan
Didn't you talk with the lawyer for The
union OF which you're member sSNe1
Mr. Steuer.
NO, never
wasn't each ono told what 70 say about
the Washington Place door when on me
stand?'
NO ons ever told me
Didn't you tell Mr.. Blanck that II ne
didn't give you $500 YOU would be VII
ness In court against him.
No. ! asked him for the money for my
CID father and mother. My brother Nor
ris was killed in the fire. lie was single
and their only support The rest OF us
were married Ny brother Hyman is now
suing for 500
Isn't 81 a fact that a girl opened the
Washington Place door when the cry of
fire was first heard, and didn't she smut
tbe door when she saw the names an"
wasn't it then that the girls ran 10 the
FIRE escape2"
II don't know.
oFron, this question It was apparent that
.he defence would seek TO show that the
Washington Place door was open put INA,
IN the excitement a girl locked II ana
threw away the key.