The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-04-29

they were after it in the shape sf anybody they could find to fix the blame on.
 Such are some of the circumstances and the atmosphere in which the pribe has been conducted. In 1t has devel- oped a great mass of conflicting tes- timony on almost every major and minor point that has been raised in regard to the disaster. How anything can come out of it along the lines for which the probe has been held oeems impossible to the observer.
 Why the wall fell, as far as actual rroof or facts are concerned, is as deep mystery as it was 10 minutes after the catastrophe. Who. if any body, is responsible for it's fall seems IS great a mystery.
 There remain to be examined this morning the three or four employees of Mir. Matthews office. There may be at any rate this mornings session Is rot expected to last over n couple CT hours. or to develop anything of i'm portance.
 One thing can be said about the probe and that Is that it has been un- doubtedly fair to every faction and side. There was an impression among certain classes at first that the probe was held as "whitewash' for city officials who might be to blame for the disaster. No ''whitewash tactics, , however. have developed. Phares Cole man and Henry J. Martin, two of the best known attorneys in the city, were employed by the city to prosecute the case and they brought out every scrap of evidence that could be found against anybody. Anybody was at liberty to testify or cross-question witnesses who were testifying. There was absolutely no limit and 1t is understood that the public in general Is satisfied that tte probe has been open and above board, fair and square.
 Commissioner James Weatnerly opened the morning session by stating it had been suggested that the probe work might be shortened without any injurious effects if witnesses from now on were questioned only on new lines from those things which already had been apparently exhausted. Judge Lane stated he thought best to keep probe wide open"
 E. P. Triblett, marble setter, monu- ment manufacturer and constructor, Avondale, was first witness and asked that as others would be involved in his testimony he would like to be sworn. He was told his word was good whether sworn to or not; that the com- r;issioners had no authority as a court and no witnesses were being sworn. Witness stated he considered wall un- safe: that mortar was ruined by heat of fire; that he had never closely in. spected Steele-S Smith walls; that he had made no complaint because once be- fore a contractor working for him de- clined to tear down a wall MT. Mat thews had condemned; that he went to MT. Matthews who declined to have anything more" to do with the wal: that it was two inches out of plumb, was erected in 1909 and Is still stand- ing and occupied by himself; that he has no apprehension about this wall collapsing; that he thought wind blew down Steele Smith wall; that he could tell from the street that the mortar of the east wall was "crumbly"
 Matthews Takes Stand
 Building Inspector w. O. Matthews took the stand at his own request; he stated he had been building in spector eight years; that he was first appointed and afterward elected by the people; that his duties had been great ly enlarged when Greater Birmingham went into effect; that he issued about 2oJ building permits per month; that on request of MT. Mcleod, who wss his personal friend, he made inspec ton of Stee1e-Smith building, accom- anied by MT. Mcleod on day follow
 tContfnued on Page Nine)