The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1920-11-15
=oURTEEN.YEAR.oLD BOY TOOK
TWO YOUNGER CHILDREN.

OF filth"
FoURTEEN.YEAR. OLD BOY TOOK
TWO YOUNGER CHILDREN.
A. Mosapp and William J. Keleher.
agents OF the Society FOR the Pre-
vention OF Cruelty 10 Children, were
in court, having with them Carmello
Ollvera, fourteen years old, of No. 6s
oliver Street CarmellO, one OF the
victims Of the theatre panic, bore
marks Of his tramplingsupon the face.
lie stated that he went to the theatre
with his three year old brother SAL
vatore, and Salvatore Strazeri a four
year-old child OF a neighbor. He says
he had 20 cents and that he was
charged 10 cents and the other chill
dren an admission OF cents each.
He says they were not accompanied
by grownups. The society officers de-
sired 10 have Carmello Identify the
person who sold him tickets. but the
lad was unable to do so.
adjective Burns, who arrested the
picture theatre owners 9Nd managers,
had with him in CouR a paddock
fastened to two screw eyes. which
he took from the exit door, behind
which the children were tramplod to
death. Burns says the screw-eye
which had been attached TO the sash
was pulled out, but that the other
screw-eye was attached to the door
when he removed il. The lock and
Burns's testimony concerning it will
be offered by the prosecution.
When Fire Commissioner brennan
who has stoutly maintained that the
theatre had been regularly inspected
and no violations found, was in
formed concerning the lock, he said:
III the door was locked that is d
matter for criminal prosecution. The
Fire Department would never give
permission for the door to be locked.
One Of our firemen inspected the
theatre last Friday and found no
lock on the door"
II was last Friday that Weinberg
& Schwartz, owners OF the picture
house, took possession of the place.
Although city ordinances and state
laws limit the number Of attendants
in picture houses to the seating ca
pacity OF the theatre, It is well sub
Stimulated that the Catherine Street
place was filled beyond the legal ca
pacity and back spaces and aisles
were crowded with standing patrons.
Furthermore, in clear violation Of the
statutes, the larger proportion OF the
theatre crowd consisted OF children
under the age OF sixteen unaccom-
panied by parents or guardians.
Another aspect OF the case invOly-
ing the probable violation OF law was
the transfer Of ownership OF the pic
ture house, Commissioner brennan
states that the Fire Department was
not informed of the change in owner
ship. II is required by law that
whenever a change in ownership or
transfer of property occurs that the
City License Department shall be
promptly notified that a new license
DO. obtained.
e Commissioner brennan says the
license Department in turn makes @
report OF the change in ownership tC
the Fire Department and a member
OF the force is assigned TO inspec
1he theatre. In the case OF the Cath,
crime Street show house az wai
pointed out by the Commissioner tina
no license had been issued to tn
new owner and that the place wa
therefore being operated in technica
violation Of the law.
District Attorney Swami, after an
nouncing to-day that II he found tn
law In reference 70 the admission o
children to moving picture theatre
had been violated In the case Of tn
{Catharine Street place his omc
would prosecute TO the limit He said
'Srhis Catherine Street tragedy /
one Of the worst that has happene
in the city in a, long time. We hay
laws TO protect children, but, appar
entity, no attention was paid 10 then
The law specifically provides tina
children shall; not attend such place
OF amusement unless accompanied b
guardians, and II was passed by III
Legislature TO prevent just this sol
,of thing. But these grasping leeche
unwilling TO lose a cent or 10 Gel
Admission fee, apparently playe
with the lives of children"
II was AS o'clock yesterday who
smoke o: steam coming from the bas
ment furnace through cracks in II
floor caused a woman TO shout Fire
There was no hre and no danger, b,
everybody rushed for the doors. II
$50 dime seats in the gallery were a
hlled. mostly by children, and as thu
piled down the stairs they found Il
door that should have opened into Il
street jammed. When It finally WI
opened the children were piled SCI
eral feet doep inside, some dea
screaming from fright and pain.
THO DEAD,
AIPINO, EL.MIHlA. thirteen. No
Catharihe Street.
coAusAs. PAsoUAIE. ten. No. 80 o