New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-12-16
'DOOR LET IN AS EVIDENCE
Defendants Lose Stiff Fight OVer
Waist Factory Fragment.
MAKER OF LOCK ON STAND
Bolt, He Says, Gould Not Be Shot
Exccpt by Kcy-Prosecutlon
Closes on Monday.

After an almost all-day fight Assistant
District Attorney Charles f. BoStwick sue
cecGed I'm having accepted as evidence inc
fragment q what is alleged to he part OF
the locked Washington Place door on the
ninth floor Of tho factory OF the Triangle
Waist Company. behind which many OF '"e
rs victims persisted.
Max d. Steuer, counsel for Isaac faFI''
ard Max Blanck. owners ~ tho factory
adopted every tactic known TO legaI pro-
cedure to keep out tho chawcd stiIe win
its 0rc-blackened lock Particularly did ne
object 70 the testimony of FRANCIS >
Kelly. of so. 81 18th street Brooklyn
manufacture Of the lock. who sworr the
oft I'm the lock could have lccn shot Only
with key
Before Judge Grain would admit the l'ch
Er. Postwick was compelled TO show the
condition OF The lot from the day OF the
, ire until the lock was found fifteen days
, later. by two Italians working under John
- Moore. q consulting engineer employed
by the state. and Detective Francis Flynn,
# Headquarters Then he mad to put on
tie stand the manufacturer Of the lock. the
iobbcr and the contractor who put it in
/ I.Of years d-b iOllpNll1 lI' ~ l'''''
& DlancL5 rii IN floor loft.
The prosecution next called several girls
who worked On the eighth floor, where the
Gre started All testified that the Washing
ton lace door on their floor was also
licked and was opened by William Braun,
tho machinist.
Minnie Wagner, Of No 236 6th street one
Of these, tcsJinod she ran to the Wash
ington Place door.
Whom did you meet there" asked Mr..
Eostwick.
Eva Harris"
rs she a sister Of the defendant"
Yes"
Stcuer whispered to Harris and the latter
nodded.
What did Eva Harris do?'
She grabbed the door, tried TO open 1t,
and cried out: My God! the door Is
Josephine Nicoosi. Of No. $50 Elizabeth
street, testified she saw the fire start near
a cutters table.
1T was just like a match being Lighted
at first she went on. II ran to the w ASH
ingtOn Place door. There were thirty other
girls there. The door was locked. All the
girls were screaming. Braun, the machin-
it, was washing his hands, lie called OUT
Wait girls. I'll open the door lie came
over, took key from his pocket ana
opened It."
Did you ever try the door before that?'
Yes, often, at lunch time. II was always
locked"
Nathaniel l.. Clare. an inspector EN-
ployed by the Consolidated Gas Company
testified he visited the ninth floor lott III
1910. on or about September 10.
II went there to read the meter. | tried
to get ont by the Washington Place door,
but couldn't. 1t was locked
do you swear that you went IN there
and saw girls working a that time?' asked
counsel for the defence.
Yes. ! do
Don't you know that there was not a
Girl a work i'm Harris & Blanck's establish
ment from September l TO October l. 1910?
NO"
Did you ever try the door before
Yes. about six months prior, and II was
then locked also"
Cristina Lang, VINO testified on Thursday
that she had seen the Washington Place
door on the ninth floor frequently used
CORRECTED her testimony at the close OF yes
terday's session. saying she had been in
error and did not understand the ques-
lions.
The prosecution will close its case Mon
day.