New-York tribune., 1911-04-18
Verdict Charges Them with Re-
sponsIbiIity for Death Of Two
Victims of AsCh Fire.
nm LOCKED DOOR EVIDENCE
Jurors Suggest Many Changes
and Demand Responsible City
Department to Take Charge
Of Violations.

.rent in formulating recommendations
,or better building laws and fire protec-
i've measures the jury looking into the
deaths in tn Washington Place fire re
,urned verdict late Yesterday after
,oon Andins Isaac Harris and Max
slanck. proprietors of the Triangle
shirtusist Company. responsible for the
s.sth Of one Of their operators.
The verdict was handed to Coroner
r.inbers. sitting for Coroner Holtzhau-
,er. who presided over the inquest The
Herman. 2 Young operator. who was
,ssr running toward the door on the
Washington Place side Of tho building
m the ninth floor. and was seen 70 try
The knob Of the door, finding IT locked.
according 10 witnesses The jury also
considered the death Of Rosie Crasso.
vhoss body was found burned on the
ninth foor. near the locked door on the
NeellTEIHl -cLN SUI. dilO 1UiNNiN o.
-,vsd AZ q verdict finding Harris and
psnck responsible in that case also.
The Jury was concerned mostly with
framing practical recommendation
tending 10 prevent such disasters in the
rture On the fury OF ten men were
s-psrienced engineers. architects and
srilders and they spent much time get
ting AZ their communications.
The Jury. after the formal finding as
=. Harris and Blanck. criticises most
severely the crowding Of the room with
tables for machines. thus making ~
harder 20 reach FIRE escapes and stair
v,vs and says such crowding should
,s rreverted u recommends that the
Bureau cf Buildings have power 10 en-
arcs ~, orders. and that applications
sor permits for erection and alteration
fen be accomparied by statement Of
'ts Intended use of the building.
rire drills. automatic sprinklers and
o-. frequent inspections are recon-
nsndsd
Tne findings IN ful follow:
no end that the said Mary Herman
are to her death on the 23th day Of
March 1911 a. premises No. 23-29
Washington Place. by asphyxie by smoke.
rAa.red caused hv con1agration which
erirl1ated on the eighth. ninth and tenth
70 ~. m 2 manner unknown 10 the jury,
n ttat the body Of deceased was found
IN the ninth floor Of said premises close
~ the doorvav OF the stairs on the
nj l. f~l,
rordins % the evidence presented TO the
ilry. Vas found 20 he locked at the time
Of and during said conAa grafton.
We find that the deceased attempted TO
escape by the said door. and that her
failure - 60 escape from smoke and
fame which caused her death is due TO
The fact that said door was locked.
We find that Isaac Harris and Max
Blsnck, doing business under the firm
name and style Of the Triangle Waist
COMPANY. lessees and occupants Of said
floors, are responsible for the death OF
he deceased because Of culpahle and
criminal negligence in falling to observe
the required legal precaution Of leaving
The said door unlocked.
legislation cannot eliminate all loss Of
ne by fire or panic. but proper laws,
properly enforced. can certainly lesson the
loss OF life from these causes. The evi-
dcnoe submitted 70 this jury shows that
there were employed on the eighth, ninth
and tenth floors Of said premises about
Eve hundred persons of whom about 50
per cent were females. and Of whom
aoout 90 We're employed on the ninth
foor where nearly all the loss Of life by
flames and smoke occurred
We are convinced by the evidence that
no, only had no attention been given TO,
md 10 means provided for, the hasty
exit of those employed in the said prem
SIS but. on the contrary. their safety
had been utterly disregarded.
We find that one Of the tables on which
tle machines were attached, al which
the employees worked. was seventy-six
feet long that II extended from within
thirteen and one-quarter G3l4D inches Of
me front wall at one end, to within
sixteen d6) inches Of a partition at the
"ther end. thus leaving only two pas
ssseways. Of about thirteen and one
quarter 13h) inches. and one Of sixteen
10 inches. through which the said en-
poyns We're obliged 10 pass 20 reach the
s'sirs and elevator.
lau Should Prevent Crowding.
The foregoing is 4 condition that Ger
Gin.v should not obtain. II there is any
hW that permits il. IL should he imme-
0atsly repealed II there is no law gov
tlmng il. such q law should az once he
tnscted which will prohibit such A con
ti'ion: and the law should be so framed
tat Its enforcement should rest upon one
single department Of the city govern
mein. There should be no divided re-
possibility.
II is the opinion Of this jury that all
IRE escapes should he regularly inspected
oy the Fire Department and when such
Inspection reveals conformity with
,he law u should be Immediately reported
IN writing 20 the Bureau of Buildings.
which shall a. once order the owner Of
me building on which said fire escape is
installed 20 have such changes made as
10 make II conform 10 the law. and the
bureau ~ Buildings shall have power n
nj 9rce such order.
We recommend that where plans arc
nled with the Bureau Of Buildings for
NO erection of a new building. or for
.teTatiOns 20 building. the application
JOY such sets forth for what purpose
H,id building is 10 be used: that the use
VI ssld building. or any part thereot,
'houid not be permitted for any purpose
ollef than stated i'm such application
Nrhout the written consent ~ the Su-
penniendout - Buildings who shall not
give such unless the building shall ne
- constructed as to conform 10 the law
governing 'Htt class = buildings ana
q" which lI~i osc IL Is TO be used when
Ian.
We recommend that before any build
ns Or part thereof shall be used for
menufacturing purposes plans shall be
nied with the Bureau of Buildings show
Ne the location Of machinery station
iabloS. work benches etc. with
hs ana ating the number of en-
moves. that these plans shall meet the
y,pho'al ~ the Superintendent of
buildings. who. before approval shall
issue, shall fnd that the means If exit
''e such za viii enable the escape 81