The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-11-17
SIX DEATHS PROMPT
REFORM IN MOVIES
Catharine Street Disaster
Arouses Public Indignation
Over LaXity.
CITY OFFICERS TO CONFER
law Barring UnaccOmpanled
Children Is Ignored or
Circumvented.

Although investigation by the police
and District Attorney has failed to as
close evidence of lawbreaking in connec-
ton with the Catharine street theatre
panic, which caused the deaths of SIN
children. storm of public Indignation
has been aroused and there was gem
eraI demand yesterday for reform OF
conditions that permit the possibility OF
such q tragedy.
Assistant District Attorney Taliey said
last night he would call conference OF
the heads of the various city depart
ments that have been conducting IN
vestigations. This includes Police In
spector Coleman, the Commissioner OF
Buildings, the heads of the Bureau OF
Fire Prevention, Fire Commissioner
brennan and Fire Cnief Kenlon. me
meeting probably will take place Friday
More rigid enforcement of the law
barring children from motion picture
theatres will be taken up, Mr.. Tale!
said
The Child Welfare Society will recon-
mend to the next Legislature that GER
tain changes be made in the law. The
commission created at the last session
will investigate conditions. and where
need is found for stricter requirements
new legislation will be asked.
Bernard l.. Shientag, attorney for the
commission, said the law is not OBJ
served and in its present state is DIM
cult to enforce.
In some cases the management com
petely disregards the law he said
IN others they make an effort 10 obe[
Il OF
around the law by pleading with stra
gers entering the theatres to take them
in 1t is this craving for recreation ana
amusement that the city will have 20
satisfy in some more wholesome way
Ernest *. Coulter general manager
of the Society for the Prevention of
Cruelty to Children, said the society
has twenty-five agents constantly in
81 Getting movie houses, and that since
last September there has been drive
conducted against those places that ig-
rore the 16 year limit rule.
The society has got twenty convictions
since September 13, Col. Coulter said
Each OF these was reported to the city
License Department. The average fine
for a first offence is $25. for second
$50 and for repeated offence 500.
The motion picture exhibitors, he said
are doing everything they can TO cheat
the law" One instance he cited was the
custom Of encaging n grown woman or
man to chaperon groups of children INTO
the picture houses This practice, Col.
Coulter said, has been pronounced I'M
lawful by five test cases recently
brought up by the Children's Society.
3 Convictions In Panic Theatre.
The New Catharine Theatre. where
iii ahOnt
twenty hurt Sunday in a mad rush to
escape after cry of Fire !" had been
raised. has been convicted under diff
ferent Arrangements of three violations
Of the law banning children, according
to records OF the society. These con-
vlctions were in February. 1913; Janu-'
airy. 1918, and May, 1919. The present
operators of the theatre were not CON
cerned in any of these convictions.
Max Schwartz and Barnett Weinberg,
proprietors of the theatre, raised bail
yesterday in amounts of 10000 each.
They will be further examined in the
Tombs Court Friday. Assistant District
Attorney Benedict u. Dineen. head of
the Homicide Bureau. said they are still
held on suspicion of homicide.
A detective attached to the Oak street
station was assigned TO question children
in the neighborhood in search of evidence
against the theatre to show tickets were
unlawfully sold. The building. exits
stairs. doors &c, were examined by Bat
TALON Chief William Purdy OF the Fire
Department and passed two days before
the accident.
Two of the funerals of the six victims
will be held to-day i'm St Joachim's
Church in Roosevelt street
Funeral services were held yesterday
afternoon for Almro SALVATORE AlpnoA
Through a dismal rain six playmates
carried the body on their shoulders. The
Italian quarter. when the procession
started from the childs home in Cath
airline street. temporarily suspended bust
ness
Many Joined the funeral cortege
which, led by an Italian band, wendell
is way slowly across the Bowery int
Mott street. thence to the Church OF tn,
TRANSPORTATION. in the heart Of China.
town.
Joseph Leo. one of the boys hurt. was
discharged from Volunteer Hospital last
night. Another boy will be discharged
to-day the hospital authorities said. Two
children at Bellevue Hospital are still
in serious condition. 1t was reported.