Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1921-11-19

the case, Hiram e. Whiiams. who had /
had 80 years experience handling dyna- [
nite, testtfying that fifty pounds of I
dynamite was not an excessive a;rH.-
for the CASING of the wall. Mr.. Williams |
said 1t was not necessary to place an |
obstruction against the Jordan wall. The |
witness on cross examination said 1t was
not safe for people, 60 be close by when |
blasts we're set off, as q swaying wall |
took more dynamite to raze than did
wall standing firm.
David P. Ahern, contractor, who
had also, much experience handling
| dynamite. said that he saw the wall In
| question and that the work done there
was proper, the fifty pounds of dynamite
| in eleven holes being right amount. On
cross examination he said that the bot
| tom of the wall came out and the brick
fell in heap. He saw stones blow in a
southeriy direction from the building. He
would not have used any covering on
| job of this kind, he said.
/ Trank M. Lincoln. assistant engineer
of the Willisnantio Fire nepartnent, told
| Of attending the Jordan block fire, No
vember 229, 1918. and OF the activities
Of the hremen the next day. On the
morning of the 2zth, the east and west
walls fell In, the west wall falling while
| the hremen were at orlz. The condition
of the rear wall was reported to Chief
Richmond. Ropes were placed on Main
street and in back Of the building after
the fire, and while the men were at
work.
4 George H Millerd, a member Of the
fire police todd of the work dens in keep
h ing the crowds back. Twenty minutes
before the blast he was sent to Union
street to hold up traffic He noticed no
stones landing on Union street.
James Moriarty, member of the fire
/ police, testified that It was a hard JOB
to keep the crowd back on the railroad
property in the rear of the Jordan block
The rear of the building was roped off,
he said. Signs were displayed at the
Railroad street entrance and east Of the
Jordan building. On cross examination,
he was positive that signs marked
Danger" were placed where he said.
Michael P. Cronin, supplementary po-
liceman at that time, told of the crowds
edging near the building in spite Of the
efforts Of the police and fire police to
keep the crowd back.
John J. Kelley, one of the defendants,
testified that he was then working for
the city water department and had had
I thirty years experience with electricity
in connection with dynamite. November
d 20, 1916, he was assistant superintendent
Ol LIS WGlcT LIE JOld OF
] meeting with Superintendent of Streets
a John S. Sullivan and Mayor Daniel P
q Dunn. He fired the charge at the orders
8 of Chief Foley, The area was we'll rop.
ed off and danger signs Of large size were
displayed.
4 Thomas p Feiey, fsrzner chief Of thu
! fire department, and building inspector
said he had occasion to inspect the Jor
dan building after the fire. Only fou,
4 walls were left. The east ana west wall.
fell the following day. He spoke will
l Mr.. Jordan about the south wall and the
4 latter informed him that the buildinE
is now out of my hands, the matter is
now up to tn city" A conference wal
4 held at which Mayor Dunn, Chief Rich
mond, Mr.. Jordan. and witnesses wer,
4 present and it was agreed that the soutl
wall was d menace. It was decided tt
rope off the area. in the front and real
of the building and the necessary amour
Of rope was secured. Danger signs wer
i also placed. Following the blast ne said
he went to the RACED wall to see that n,
fire had broken out
III Daniel P. Dunn, defendant, said h
I was mayor Of the city at the time. Chic
1 Richmond came to his store and told hin
of the condition of the wall The matte
3 of discussing the way Of razing the build
ing corrS5ponded to that of previous ties
{ timony. He asked Mr.. Porcaro if dyna
4 mite would be safe in razing the buildfn,
and was answered in the affirmative
Every precaution was taken to keep tn
. crowd back. 1t appeared to him that tn
I people were well back toward Railroat
street when the blast occurred
III Cross examined, Mr.. Dunn said tina
he didn't know who ordered the dyna
I mite. Said that he did not know VIII
( was injured and saw no stones flying.
III Following recess he was recalled t
{ the sand and asked questions about ties
D timony given at the coroner's inauest
4 Any differences in testimony he state
B came because Of time and failure to re
I member exact conditions then prevailing
n Court adjourned at 4 p. m. until Tues
/ day morning at 10 O'Clock, when argu
1 nents to the jury will begin.
Ill 9. Arnold Peekham has been appoint
! ed probation officer TO I'LL the vacanc
I arising in the court through the sp
pointment OF Elmer NJ. Young as apt
Z cial officer on the state police force. NJ,