The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-04-27

ley Allen had plumbed wall with tran sit and plumbing line and boy in au dience said he didn't. believe it.r Wit ness stated while he was working there he repeatedly saw MT Matthews come there and inspect the walls.
 Wind Blew It Down
 James Dodge. 21o5 Third avenue. asked what investigation was for; whether to fix blame or find out if wall had fallen or was going to fall MT. Weatherly explained. Witness stated he was standing at Nineteenth street and Second avenue; saw flash lightning; that wind was blowing hard; that wall was old; that no ce- ment could be detected in mortar; that there were SxS-inch flues Lightning didn't strike that wall" he exclaimed; the wind blew it down. The three com missioners. MT. Matthews, MT. Allen and Mir. Wheelock are responsible for tn s You didn't know, gentlemen, that God Almighty wasn't going to make the wind blow. You hold this inves- tigation after the disaster has hap tened. after lives have been snuffed cut. Why didn't you hold this investi- gation long ago, before these lives were lost? Before long we are going to have another meeting like this and that is after Twenty first street via duct falls in. Mr Matthews tries to do right: believe he tries to do right. l believe he Is able and efficient man. But he has been misled by MT Allen and Mir Wheelock. They fight him on everything he tries to do. There's no use in investigating now cfter these poor people are dead. re- spect everyone of you commissioners, hut all of you have made a mistai,e. It was criminal negligence
 Witness said he thought wall had |. IL. c.. .4r. own weight. He then told of flower pot being blown out of third story of Norton's corner and said this should be stopped as it was dangerous.
 Altman Questions Matthews
 John Altman here made his appearance and questioned Building Inspector Mat thews.
 John NJ Marriott stated he was an architect and knew Mir Matthews through coming in contact with him in a busi- ness way; that he considered Matthews competent and able: that in his judgment the walls should have been torn down to third story: that he based this opinion on knowledge of fires and buildings; that fire leaves wall in bad shape that he would question judgment of men wno reported the wall safe until he had inspected wall himself; knowing the circumstances; that he had never inspected wall; that he " lock- Allen. Matthews and Bostick in re- porting wall safe; that it is taking Hong chance to leave the wall stand, that Bir- building code was modern and as good as any he would have torn down wall until he had found good mortar IS strength of wall depends on mortar. which is liable to be damaged by fire; that old mortar is not effected by freezing; that he does not know that Steele-Smith wall was damaged by fire and never was in side building.
 J. E. Green, 119 South Sixty-first street. church architect. stated he saw walls after fire several times. but it never oc- cured to him that they were dangerous; would be inclined to opinion that wind blew wall down.
 Would Consider Wall Unsafe
 B. D. Whilden, architect, stated he had built quite few buildings here and had known MT. Matthews ever since he had been building inspector that he thought Matthews was competent and conscien- tious; that he had never examined Steele Smith wall: that wall similar to size of steele-Smith wall he would consider un- safe to allow to remain standing; that examination by competent par ties Is way to find out if walls are dan gerous and they must see if wall is in plumb, bent. cracked, shaled off or mor- tar Is damaged by fire; if none of these are found wall Is safe; if theyz.are found wall is unsafe; that If men like those who had passed on this wall were to say wall was safe he would not ques- ton their judgment; that MT. Wheelock's judgment in this matter he would con- slider extremely correct.
 O. D. Matlock, general contractor stated that he figured on proposed base ment in rebuilding of Steele Smith place: that he considered walls safe on account of his own examination and opinion of it's safety by Wheelock, Allen, Matthews and others; that he sounded mortar in burned parts of walls and found mortar good after going in about half inch
 Charges Biased Opinion
 Carey Thompson arose and asked about Aliens testimony. stating that MT. Aliens position in estimating wall as total loss for insurance was not reconciable with his subsequent statements that wall was good for use in rebuilding; that this is conflict in MT. Aliens testimony, and he believes his opinion was biased that he recommended building code be amended to require that all dead walls be torn down