The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1917-03-06
|R0THACHER
INSTITUTES
FIRE PROBE
Coroner Swears In a
Jury of Building
Experts
TAKES CHARGE
OF WRECKAGE
Nj any Evidences of
Faulty Construction,
Saws Official

Says Ofhclal
Coroner Jacob w. Rothacher. who
has revolutioniEed the methods Of
conducting coroners' inquests IN
Wayne county by selecting as j1r0rs
well-Qualifed men OF high standing
instead OF court hangers-on. has he
cIded TO taxi a hand In the probe
OF the fre which cost the lives OF
Eve hremen in the building a. No
Isl woodward-ave. last Sunday
morning.
Four contractors and brick
manufacturer, all of them thuroly
familiar with every phase OF the
construction buslners. were sworn
In as jurors over the body of Capt
Alexander Cockburn. one OF tho Ave
victims. Tuesday morning. The
Jurors are: Joseph Trombley, No.
TAG Waserloo-st-. retired builder;
Daniel Lyons, No. 22o McLean-ave.
retired builder; Harry chppert. 20.
lsi virginia-ave.. BRICK manufacture
er: Otto Misch. president Detroit
builders q Traders exchange;
George d. Mutt. No iS7 LothroIs
ave. contractor: William MaIow. No.
$50 Heien-ave.. contractor.
DR.. Rothacher and the jurors
rent from the Cockbum home 10
the burned building on Woodward
ave. Photographs were taken Of
soists and other parts Of the busld-
ing material under the direction OF
Adclph Essen. architect and John
A Bryant. secretary and treasurer
81 the nrm Of Bryant q Detwiier.
contractors. These two men have
heen selected by the coroner to act
as expert advisors in the inquest.
workmen have been forbidden by
Coroner Rothacher 10 enter the
wreckage OF the building. despite
the fact that the representatives o.
one nrm are clamoiing loudly that
$4,000 In cash lies In a safe under
the debris.
Esen and petwiler are confinu-
ing their investigation. and until
they have eompssted their work. Dr.
Roshaeher sogs ne win not permit
any sslvAgfnE
i believe we win start the IN
quest early next week" said DIT.
Rothacher. II want 10Th the Gre
marshal, Gabriel Gofewater. and
chief building Inspector. Henry A.
Dupont. TO have an opportunity TO
get together all the data that can
be used Both have promised me
their hearty cooperation
One Of the questions which vii,
be brought up In the inquest is a
rumor az TO whether or not the
building at No is7 Woodward are
burned down about Is years agu
and was rebuilt m a measure from
the weakened timbers saved from
the ruins. Dr. Rothacher declares
he win 60 fully into all details.
II there has been negligence any
where" he said. ''the men whom
have drawn for jury service win be
better able to judge than those NO
connected with the building husI
ness. I'm confident that they'll
rlsce the blame In a most dennit.
manner
John @. McCAbe. city safety enxi
neer, reiterated his request for To-,
more inspectors Of elevators 10 hi
council committee on ways an,
means Tuesday. His action IL
result Of the IRE. Blame for IN,
IRE has not yet been conferred, bu
the majority sentiment seems 20 b
that some defect In elevator cor
struction caused re collapse OF tn.
Field store TIE city at present ha
pat two elevator inspectors, an,
one Of these or = rscsatiy was &C
CURED
Records OF the Gre marshsi, nov
1led with the city building depart
ment- show that q permit for tn
erection Of the Field store was "a
sued March 26. 1855. II was erec,
ed by Mason q Rice. and the valus
ton Of the structure then wa
placed at $1,000. Charles HaSsen
tusch, OF Boston. In the prcsen
owner.