The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-21
CORONER'S INQUEST INTO B., R. & P. FIRE ID RESUME FRIDAY
Nothing New Brought Out by Witnesses Examined Yesterday = Bennett's
 Testimony a Feature

There was nothing of a sensational na- ture bro lght out bzy the 15 witnesses examined yesterday in the jury inquest of Coroner C. L. Spain. Into the fire which destroyed the general offices of the Bir- mingham Railway, Light and Power com- pany several days ago in which two lives were lost. The hearing adjourned at 5 o'clock yesterday afternoon and will re- convene tomorrow afternoon at o'clock when it will likely be brought to a close
 From the testimony submitted yester- day 1t was stated last night by the cor oner that the jnAy will find 1t very dif- ficult to arrive at verdict which will place the responsibility of the deaths of Moody Chhdress and H. H. Kyser on the shoulders Of any particular individual or individuals as the testimony was very contradictory and in the main was tc the effect that if Childress and Kyser had realized the seriousness of the fire they had ample time to leave the building in safety
 The afternoon session of the inquest was featured by the testimony of Fire Chief A. V. Bennett, who gave a very impressive account of his actions and that of his men at the fire. The jurors listened to Chief Bennett with close attention and were apparently impressed by his con else account of the fire and the deaths of Childress and Kyser
 Other witnesses at the afternoon ses- sion were Charles Allen. contractor: Thomas Lambert, an employe of the Bir- mingham Railway, Light and Power com paDy; C. l.. Gaines an embalmer; J. B. Bell an employe of the Birmingham Rail- Light and Power T Black and D. E. Frank, and two negroes, Sandy Sutton and Fred Lewis, janitors in the destroyed building. In the main their testimoW was featureless and brought forward no new version of the fire
 At the morning seson of the<ipeflest the principal witnesses were>sthe off cers of the Birmingham Railway. Light and Power company, who frankly stated that 1t was impossible that the ire ould~>nave been started by gas. and also that Chldress and Kyser had plenty of time to save themselves if tne,y had realized the seriousness of the ,sftuation they were in The five wit nesses examined at the morning ses- sion were: J. H. P DeWindt, general manager of the Birmingham Railway. Light and Power company; J. E. Mont gomery. superintendent of the gas de- partment of the company, and F. V. Underwood, head of the electrical de- partment. H. L. Brown. a local trans fer man, and Arthur Finey of Wood lawn, eyewitnesses of the fire, also testified.
 All the witnesses yesterday agreed on one particular and that was that from the moment the fire was discovered it quickly flared up and that by the time the firemen arrived the entire build- ing seemed to be on re~There was no testimony offered to show just what was the cause of the fire
 | The jury that is investigating the | fire at the instance of Coroner Spain is
 composed of the following well known l citizens; Robert McLester J. D. Sruggs, I g. F. Teague, A. D. Bagby, J. I. Stock
 dale and w. w Bussey.
 'f hope to close the inquest Friday
 afternoon,". said Coroner Spain last 1 night, but the jury will investigate l as long as there is any hope of find 1 the fire or whether there was any actual | the fire or whether they was any actual negligence in the deaths of Childress and Kyser. So far the hearing has been very mild and there are no sen sational prospects in sight. It is quite probable that the inquest will close Friday afternoon"