New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-12-20
SAW FACTORY DOOR OPEN
Witnesses in Triangle Flre'TrlaI
Help the Defence.
TELLS OF KEY ON STRING
Girl Declares She Went Out Into
Hallway on Hearing Alarm and
Was Driven Back by Flames.

Several witnesses for the.defence testified
Yesterday afternoon that the Washington
Place door on the ninth floor of the Tr-
angle Waist Companys plant was fire.
ouentlv used by them. one witness said
She found il open at the time Of the fire.
when Us girls and young men lost their
lives
But il was not altogether "A day of easy
sailing for the defendants. Isaac Harris
and Max Blanck. for Assistant District At
tornev Bostwick subjected the witnesses to
severe examinations when il came his turn
20 cross-questim them The wives OF tie
defendants listened TO the entire days ,es-
timony
May LevantiIu, OF No. % Christopher
street. testified she was at work on the
ninth floor when The fire started
II heard a Noise she said and went
to the Washington Place dpor, and opened
II by turning the key l looked over the
hanister and saw flames coming from the
floor below"
She said she then ran back into the
loft, shutting the door after'her and. with
another girl, slid down the elevator cables
70 the ground floor.
" nat was inc llISt lIIUldllon you ldQ
that there was fire." asked Judge Grain.
When I opened the door"
do you mean that you did not know
there wes a fire until after you opened the
door," asked The court
Yes. sir. I didn't know there was,a fire
until looked over the rail and saw thames
and smoke"
Why did YOU say in the corridor this
morning that nothing,could shake your tes-
timony that the door was open?" shouted
Mr.. Bostwick
Max steuer. counsel for the defence, was
on his feet protesting. and on his objection
the question was not allowed
You say the key was in the door,"
continued Mr.. Bostwbck.
Yes, IL was in the lock. and attached
TO the doorknob by a string about half
yard long-"
Did you ever see emybody go in or out
the Washington Place door,"
Yes; the forewomen, Harris and Blanck,
and I, too. slsed it,"
why did you say To- me on Apr1l Il that
you did not remember ever seeing anybody
going in or oIt that door save in sum-
mer? DID YOU tell me that"
Well" she answered. after pause. Il
ufi I 4filh-lIlttls i ~ t"'sl'if A'4s
Thomas Horton, negro, employed as a
porter in the building. tod Mr.. steuer that
he often used the Washington Place door.
saw others use It, and always found 1t
open.
Mr. BosTwick, armed with a statement
made by Horton last April, asked him il
he did not say then that the Washington
Place door was locked.
Z "a,
Didn't you say that to4me, in the pres
ence of a stenoGapher and other wit
nesses?'
so you were witness them" inter
rupted Mr.. Steuer.
40: the others we've. I'm looking for
ward to some other proceedings
S,euer ran from his seat until he came
abreast Of the Assistant District Attorney
and shouted:
Don't you make any threats in this
court / ask the court 10 caution Mr..
Bostwick."
Mr Bostwick mildly asked5the court TO
scrutnize his remarks, and Judge Grain
merely told him TO proceed.
Mr. Bostwick continued his questions,
until Horton blurted out. Il don't remem-
Der; may have said it," to question.
Then why do you say never them
shouted Mr.. Bostwick.
That's what I'm kicking about-this
never business" he replied. That's what's
got me all bothered up fSre-this never
business
Isaac Stern. who supplied the place with
steam heat, said he had been. on the ninth
floor at least two hundred times in the
year preceding the fire, and whenever he
used the Washington Place door found it
open.
John Williams state Labor Commits
sjoner. was also on the stand. He idenu-
fed reports made by his inspectors con-
corning the Triangle Waist Company. All
reported that the doors were found un-