South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-01-30
SCHNEIDER
BLAMED FOR
ACCIDENT.
COroner'S Report on Collapsed
Building Places Responsible
ity for Disaster on Architect
Who Planned improvements.
UP TO GRAND JURY NOW
THE VERDICT.

THE VERDICT.
]. Thomas j. Swantz, coroner
OF II. Joseph Co, do hereby find
that the collapse OF the Shively-
HOFncr building at 1f2-111 -.
Michigan 81, on Jan. :, 1911, in
which Wilbur Churchill. Deibert
Ihbberd. Long Hong, and IhcO-
dOre Metzgcr lost their lives. was
due TO the improper distribution
of loads placed upon columns
resting upon plates on the base
ment wall: that such loads were
sufficient OF themselves tO crush
the bricks and mortar directly
beneath the plates, being at least
two or three times too great for
such bricks and mortar aS were
in basement and foundation walk
to carry. 1 further find that the
blame should rest upon Walter
". Schneider. the architect who
drew the plans and had entire
supervision of the work OF remOd-
cling the building, and L hereby
make a prcSentment' of these
facts To the prosecuting attorneys
Office to- be used for further inves-
tigatiOn by the grand jury which
meets in session Feb. 4.
Declaring that the blame should
rest upon Walter Schneider. archi-
tect." Coroner Thomas j. Swantz Fri
dav returned his verdict on the
deaths Of the four persons killed In
The collapse OF the ShiVely-Horner
building Jan. 3.
With the verdict the coroner ap-
pends a statement of facts disclosed
10Y his inquest which Is in practical
accordance with the report of the in
Nestigating commission 10 Mayor hel-
Ter Monday. Unequal distribution of
.l..v, ,F na
ports caused the collapse in the opin-
ion OF the coroner. Other facts en-
DhasiZed in the statement are;
That the building had never been
condemned TO the knowledge or the
owners.
That the Independent Five and Ten
Cent corporation haG meyer limited the
architect TO any stipulated sum in re-
modelling the building. The only
40 10 the lowest bidder VINO would
carry out the contract i'm the manner
approved by the architect.
Grand Jury Probe.
The reports of the two invcstiga-
tiOns which Immediately followed the
collapse Will not close the matter. The
grand jury. which meets Monday Feb.
8, will take mp the case according TO
Prosecutor Montgomery, VINO said
Friday:
We have a great deal o. infOrma-
ton well IN hand SO the work viii
not be difficult for the grand jury. All
the facts and the law will be submit
ted 10 the jury for disposition"
The report Of the commission sub
mitted 90 Mayor Keller Monday Will
probably be turned over To the prose
cutor according TO the mayors state
menC
The verdict of Coroner Swantz
though finding that the blame should
rest on Schneider" does not definitely
place any criminal responsibility. The
statute provides that in case where a
cOrOner's inquest develops that parties
came 10 death through a felony the
coroner shall order "a warrant 10 be
served for the arrest Of the respOn-
sibIe party who shall appear In court
and the case is prosecuted in the reg
ular manner.
such action. however. was not
taken in the case. the matter being re-
ferred TO the prosecutor and grand
jury for further action.
schneider Thought Plans safe.
The coroner's inquest was held at
the same time the commission was in
Vestigating and practically the same
witnesses We're heard. Architect
schneider testified before the coroner
and said thai he considered the alter
ations as he had planned them. 10 be
safe lie furnished blue prints of the
plans and the specifications To the
coroner.
The grand jury inVesugation, how
ever. IL was said. would not be con-
ined 10 Schneider's liability. but con-
tractors. owners and lessons respon-
sibility viii be probed as Well.
GOrOncr's Statement.
Here is the statement appended To
his verdict by Coroner SwantZ.
The structure at 1l2-l14 :. Michi-
gan ST.. which collapsed Jan. g, 1914.
at about 4.10 p. m. was composed of
two buildinEs-the one on the north
side was % three-stOry brick. known
as the H0rner building; the one on
the south side was fOur-story brick,
known as the Shiyely building. The
total width of the collapsed building
hetW Ween the north and south walls
was approximately rs feet The length
~ the collapsed building from east TO
west. u feet four inches
The north wall of the Horner build
ing was a party wall being the north
half and the south half This was
the wall which was removed in re-
modelling the building I'm order to
throw the two store rooms into one
for the use OF the independent Five
and Ten Cent corporation.
Center Wall Removed
This wall consisted OF 17-inch brick
IN the basement 15-inch brick wall
Ia the first. second. shird and fourth