The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1921-12-27
CORONER PLACES RESPONSIBILITY M
 RIALTO DISASTER
HBY THE A P.)


 l New Haven. Dec. 27.-City Build | ing Inspector Joseph E. Austin, Lawr-
 ence E. Carroll, manager of the thea- i Ire and Alfred s. Black. President ! at1on, which controlled the theatre, l are held crininaIly responsible for l the deaths of nine persons in the I Rialto Theatre fire on November 27, l in 8, finding by Coroner Eli Mix, to- 1 day.
 The Coroner criticizes all persons who were connected with the opera | ton of the theatre and the presen- tation of a prologue which he holds was the direct cause of the fire. Chief of Police Philip T. Smith and members of his department are also criticized for having failed to see that the theatre was legally licensed and in permitting the prologue to have been given. The coroner found that at least one police captain and poIlce sergeant, who had not paid admis- sions. were in the theatre and saw the prologue being given in violation or the Sunday laws and of the law re- garding standing on the nrst Iioor and in the gallery. The coroner points ont that these officers took no ac- tion.
 the burning of incense, during the prologue. The conditions in the thea Ire and on the stage, which the coroner finds, were in direct violation of city ordinances and state laws, permitted the fire to spread.
 Coroner Mix bases his finding upon the alleged failure of Building Inspeo- tor Austin to' enforce the building code.
 The coroner finds that violations of the law in the theatre included the absence of an asbestos curtain, lack of water curtain, an automatic | sprinkler casks of water on the stage, l hose connections, lack Of 1reproof
 scenery and woodwork. The only hose on the stage was garden one. Dealing with the duties of City Building Inspector Austin the coroner l says that the officer visited the Rialto theatre in June to look over proposed changes in the arrangement Of the balcony. He had noticed a section of | the roof of the stage had been remov- ed. ''SuspectinE that this was the purpose Of installing fly gallery, says the coroner, ''he (Austin) inform ed the management that no Such acuon would be allowed He declared that stage unless a boxllke structure of metal lath and adamant plaster be placed over it." The coroner says l that the building inspector never
 visited the theatre again to see if his orders had been carried out. Coroner Mix says:
 l Had he done his duty, I am quite certain that this particular fire could and would not have occurred, for 1 there would not have been the condt- tions present that made ii possible. l therefore find Joseph E. Austin ortrnf- l nalIy responsible for said deaths re- sulting from the neglect and omission Of duty aforesaid"
 Coroner Mix finds that 1t was the legal duty of Alfred S. Black, pres1- dent of the Connecticut Theatre Cor Iporetion to see that all the state and city laws were complied with and ieverything possible done to make the theatre safe for the public and in fail ing to fulfill this duty he made him. tself criTQin8lly roSDQnSibl6,
 l Lawrence B. Carroll. manager of the theatre, is found directly responsi- ble for the conditions which brought labout the fire and the presentation of the prologue in such a wantonIy reck- less and negligent manner.
 Harry A. and Bertha E.. Leonard, owners of the Rialto theatre building, are absolved of all blame ln the find ing alterations and changes made, lit is stated were made without their knowledge or consent
 1 In regard to the state police the Icoroner finds that no inspection of Ethis theatre was made by that body Iafter December 13. 1920. or nearly a
 year before the fire. The coroner says
 This is stated as a fault of the sys- Item which allows so few men to this
 york; and he suggests that the state
 police make more frequent tnspec-
 tions.
 In dealing with the city police de-
 partment the coroner says that the
 theatre was not only never legally
 licensed but no attempt was made tc secure a license between January l
 E1e21, and June 21, although the thea
 tre was in operation during all thit
 time. He adds that the prologues
 iwere given unlawful1y with the knowl edge of censor Frank Callahan an6 Chief Smith.
 While find that said Chief of Pc, . lice and members of his department detailed to supervise moving picture theatres have failed in their duty, dC
 not find him or any of them crinafnall, . irresponsible for the death of the de ceased.'