The Connecticut labor news., 1921-12-02
LEONARD
(Continued from Page One.)

in the property and on December 5 ot that year negotiated a lease with Sena- tor Leonard for the property. This lease is a voluminous affair and was filed in the town clerks office on Feb ruary II at 2 o'clock and two minutes Eafterward the lease was transferred by the lessors The Hamilton Theatre com pany of Delaware to the Connecticut Theatres Corporation, the lesseeS at the time of the fire.
 The lease to the Hamilton company was for six years at an annual rental ot 5000 for the first year, Sc, 500 for the second, 5000 for the third and $15,OOO for each of the three succeeding years. It was provided also that the company could purchase the property for $l55,OOO during the first year or for $l75,OOO ii 1t took 1t before 1923. It was also pro- vided that the lessees were to fully com ply with allfstate and local laws relative to the amusement places as to health, fire, etc, but were to be relieved of all re- sponsibility if they could not secure a permit to conduct the theatre as intended. Then clause eight of the lease provides that the premises so leased were leased and intended for use and occupancy as and for a motion picture theatre with privilege of vaudeville or other thea
 
 l fishing defnately what the building was l intended for. Any alterations neces- sary were to be made by the theatre company at its expense, with the prlV1- | 1ege of Senator Leonard.
 The lease then goes on to provide that l the theatre company was to carry lnSur | ance of $3O,0O0 to protect Senator Leon ard against loss of the building by fire and further 1t was to carry mSnrdnce 0f | $1O,O0O to protect him against damageS for "one casualty 7VithU the building aud 1 of $25,OO0 for more than 0ue casualty. l It then went on to relieve the company from any liability for the destruction of l the theatre through fire, act of God or l otherwise for which 1t was not responsi- ble. This lease was signed by Henry l.. | Salisbury of New York for the Hamil- l ton company and two minutes after 1t l was put on record another deed, trans ] ferring 1t to the Connecticut Theatres | corporation for $1 was placed on the fol- l lowing pages
 Although labelled as the Connecticut | Theatres Corporation so far as the rec ords show, there are no Connecticut peO- pie connected with it. The president and treasurer is Alfred S. Black of Rock land, Me, Ida H. Rokes of the same place is Assistant treasurer and Herman l y. Its outstanding capital stock, according to its last report on file here is $24,OO0, which, if that is all that can be levied against, will leave little for the many suits that are expected to follow the fire and panic. MT. Black is however re- ported to be head of a large theatrical trust with interlocking companies and some local lawyers are of the opinion that these can be connected up with the local company.
 There has been much ado about the re- modelling of the theatre and Building | Inspector Austin has been grilled sev- eral times by the coroner and some blame for the conditions apparently be- ing directed his way. There has never been any remodelling> done since 1917, | according to statements made at the city building department. If any remodelling or changes that would come under the supervision of the building inspector were made, they were made without off, | C1al permission, so 1t Is stated The as- | bestOs cone over the stage, which is said to have defected the flames out over the audience and was in place where | a slylight should have been, was not known of, so far as can be found out until after the fire was over.
 According to Chief Hurley of the state police the city ordinances and state law were not complied with at the theatre. The stage lacked the asbestos drop curtain required, the doors were not open as provided, the theatre was over crowded and there were other violations of the laws He winds up by declaring it seemed lack of enforcement of city ordinances. There is some dispute as tc this, the city authorities maintaining that they had nothing to do with the place as a show house, that being within the pow CTS of the state police after the building was constructed. No alterations were
 made to the theatre after the, permit was granted to the Connecticut company by the state police and therefore the loca
 building department discIains responsi-
 bility.
 The inquiry is expected to last severa
 days yet, as the coroner has many wit.
 nesses to examine. MT. Black has beer
 asked to come here voluntarily" as be-
 ing outside the jurisdiction of the state
 he cannot be compelled to come, and ht IS expected to throw much light on who is responsible for the doings at the show
 house.
 l RTTV ONT V TTNTONMADF COODc