Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1920-09-23
GRAND JURY PROBE STARTED

der Of Judge William II. Wadhams of the
Court of General Sessions, was instructed
to divide It's inquiry into two phases:
first, to determine whether a crime had
been committed, and second, whether the
disaster was due to criminal negligence.
Judge Wadhams declared 1t was apparent
from early reports that the explosion was
due to one or the other.
The grand jury went into session i'm
mediately and was advised as to the leg
al phases and scope of It's prospective work
by Assistant District Attorney Talley FIX
pert chemists. who are trying to ascertain
the type of explosive used, would be sum
moned as witnesses he said The assistant
district attorney has requested the po-
lice to give him the names and addresses
of all the wounded and an effort will be
made he added to have members of his
staff interroRated--all of them personally
and then summon those who are able to
throw any light upon the mystery.
JURYMEN TSIT SCENE
The jury was taken to the scene Of the
explosion this afternoon. District Attorney
Talley pointed out the spot where the
automobile was found wrecked. the break
in the asphalt pavement in front of the
United States assay office and the spot
where the demolished wagon and dead
horse were found. Mr.. Talley explained,
however, that he had been informed that
the break in the pavement, which was
first reported to have been cause by the
explosion. was there previously and had
been there for some time.
Fifteen minutes was spent in an ex
animation of the exterior OF buildings
in the neighborhood. The guides called
attention to the iUprints of metal
slugs in the walls of the Morgan bank
and the United States Assay Office.
I The jury then was taken into the in
terror of the bank. where the spot in
which william r joyce. an emplove Of
the bank who was killed. was pointed
out to them. One of the departmental
heads told the foreman Of the jury
that Joyce was standing facing him
across counting room desk in a
small office on the Broad street side
I of the building when the explosion
/ occurred and that Joyce fell dead. A
number of questions were asked by
jurors as to whether Joyce died of
shock or was killed by a flying mis-
sile. but the jurors were informed that
medical authorities. who had con-
Quoted an autopsy on the body, would
! furnish them with the required in
| formation
The jury was then taken back to the
criminal courts building and a recess
taken until next Monday morning.
20 WITNESSES SUMMONED
| Subpoenas were issued tonight for the
appearance Of at least 90 witnesses. The
| first subpoenas were issued for Gilbert
c. Smith and John Furlong. employed If
| the financial district, and John Mich.
iejohn. chauffeur. who are reported
10 have made statements that they saw
powder wagon in the vicinity of the
explosion Just before noon Thursday
They Will testify before the Jury Mon,
day.
Two detectives also visited the offices
OF Prosser and Romans in the Equitable
building to obtain a post card dated
! Toronto. September IL. and giving warn.
ing Of the disaster. This postcard. like
some OF the other warnings made pub
/ lie. was signed Ed"
! Assistant District Attorney Dineen who
Is assisting In the investigation, also
questioned Durham s. Beldon Of South
Orange. n. J., whose car was wrecked
at the scene Of the explosion. Beldor
said he parked his car near the Nor.
gan bank about HAS a. m. Thursday ant
that there were three ur four other car.
parked there at tho time.
Another witness questioned by Mr.
Dineen was John w. Mulch of Astoria
y. Y, who said he also had parked hi.
car on the south side Of Wall street neal
the Morgan building just before noon anc
that as he did so. he noticed 20 or 81
feet east at the junction of Broad anc
Wall streets horse-drawn truck. facins
east He said there was no one on i
and he could not see It's contents TIL.
body of the horse, when found after tn,
explosion. was facing west.
\ ANOTHER DESCRIBES WAGON
Miss Rchocca Eppstcin. a stenographe
in Broi~;ay brokerage firm. told tn,
authorities she saw reddish wagon
Of the open truck" type being driver
east on Wall street a few minutes befor,
the explosion occurred. She said tn,
wagon contained either boxes or barrels
covered with white powder and tina
a red flag flew from the rear of tn,
vehicle.
when It reached point about opposit,
the Morgan bank and the assay office,
she said, the driver pulled 40 at tn,
curb and stopped. He then got off tn,
seat and walked west on Wall stree
toward Broadway. I had reached tn,
Equitable Trust building when the ex
ploson occurred. l was knocked sense
less, but I believe I would recognize tn,
driver II I saw him. He was of tn,
laborng type. about 40 years old and wa,
dressed in a suit of brown overalls. The,
were spotted with the white powder
saw on the boxes or barrels in tn,
wagon"
SHRAPNEL IN BODIES
Examination of shrapnel found lmbed
ded In the bodies of some OF the dead anc
OF fragments removed in surgical opera
tions on the injured has added weigh
to the belief that the explosion cam,
from an informal machine and was no
! accidental
An official conclusion to this effect will
be filed Monday by DIR. Otto A. Schultz
assistant medical examiner attached I,
the district attorneys office, he said to
night
DR. Schultz examined the bodies of sew
eral = ID and operated upon some of tn,
| injureI. Death in many cases, he SAT-
! was due to perforating wounds from
| pieces Of metal directly associated witt
explosive material" He insisted the,
| wagon.
In his operations, he said he observe,
fragments Of metal buried In the flesl
OF the wounded. Many of the slugs wer
about the size of walnut. he asserted.
$4,000 REWARD OFFERED
The city to-day offered $4,000 for in
formation leading to the arrest and con