The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-04-25
Little Prospect of
 Fixing Any Responsi-
 bility for Fall of Wall
(Continued from Page FIve)

center of gravity; that heat will deteror- ate lime mortar-''will rot it" that he had never been inside building, but that from the street he could see the brick on the inside of the east wall shaled off, which was caused by water being thrown on the wall during fire; that ioist holes in wall tended to weaken it further; that he had never reported condition of wall to anyone in authority; that he had known MT. Wheelock, MT Allen and MT. Mat thews for good many years; that he would have confidence in their judgment. Witness tried to avoid saying whether or not he was on good terms with any If these gentlemen; that had he reported wall to them they might have told him ''to mind his own business; that he had heard that Professor Ellis had telehoned some one at city hall and said wall was dangerous
 Architect WheelOck Testifies
 Harry B. Wheelock. said that he was in lis office when walls fell; that he was employed by Mrs Hudgins about thi ee weeks after fire to take charge and make plans for new building; at that time walls Lad been declared safe; that he, after examination, concurred in this opinion that in his plans for the new building he contemplated using the old walls in tie new building; that on January 16 he lad plans ready and submitted them to client that for reasons which he aid not kn5p the plan to rebuild was abandoned and on March 15 he was released from his con nection with the place; that no wall is element proof; that he knew nothing about the adjustment of insurance; that he did not know how much of wall had been re- fused In insurance adjustment; that in his opinion some abnormal couuition' caused wall to fall that MT Moore's statements that wall was out of plumb or that brick were shaled off were incorrect; that he examined wall himself; that he had been In building and inspected it many times himself; that wall was 70 feet high and 140 feet long; that he had been architect for 25 years and had built many buildings in Birmingham; that it never had oc- cured to him that some particular stress" of weather might cause walls to fall; that he expected every day to Girder walls in work on new buildings; that four corners braced side walls, but that there are cracks in both front corners; that nobody ever suggested to him that wall was dangerous; that he had no control over walls and did not know why they had been left standing; that he has plans now in his office for two-story building on this place to be used for moving pic ture theatre.
 S. J. BOWle as attorney TOT MrS. IL. r. Hudgins questioned witness, who said that every part of wall considered dan gerous had been removed after the fire; that west wall of building did not fall: that he had been instructed to do what ever was necessary to make building nat dangerous; everything was done that wit ress and MT. Matthews considered neces- sary to make walls safe; that many othe. walls after fire had been left stand ing; that Mayberry building, next to Chamber of Commerce, was 40 feet longer than Steele-Smith building and was fit standing about three years before rebuilt: has seen other walls left standing after fire and have not fallen; that the May berry walls were being used in new building: that he considered old Steele Smith wall better than new wall.
 J. A. Schoedinger stated that he was standing in front of Goodyear Raincoat company: that lady's hat had just blown off; he happened to look up and saw walls falling; saw no lighnng or thunder or clouds only noticed wind.
 Contractor Allen Heard
 Charles Allen stated he was builder; that at noon on December 16 started to re- move dangerous Steele-Smith walls; on December IS completed work, which was