The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1921-12-27
INCENSE FOR
ATMOSPHERE
HELD AS CAUSE
Coroner Also Finds Many
Alleged Violations of the
Law Regarding Equip
/. ment at the Theatre
New Haven Police Also
Criticized

View Haven. Conn, Dec. 21.--Clt,
Building Inspector Joseph T. Austin
Lawrence Il. Carroll, manager of tn
theatre. and Alfred S. Black, president
os the Connecticut Theatres corpora
fion. which controlled the theatre, arr
held criminally responsible Tor I'M
deaths Of nine persons in the Rialtt
theatre fire Of Nov. 27, in finding BY
Coroner Eli Mix, to-day.
The death of Everett I. Case, which
was typical Of all the fatalities in the
fire. served as basis for the coroner
inquest.
The finding criticizes other persons
connected with the operation OF the
theatre and the presentation OF pro-
Z looue to film which, it is declared,
Mas the cause OF the fire. These per-
sons are held to be negligent but not
criminally responsible. Burning os in
cense on the stage for atmosphere
was said to have ignited the fiimsy
draperies from which the blaze spread.
The coroner finds that violations OF
the law in the theatre included: ABB
eence Of an asbestos curtain; lack Of =
water curtain: an automatic sprink-
Ter: casks Of water on the stage, and
hose connections and also lack OF fire.
proof scenery and woodwork
Chief of Police Phillip I. Smith and
ltembers of his department are criti-
cized FOR having failed to see that the
theatre was legally licensed and for
permitting the prologue to be given.
Coroner Mix says that had Building
JAspectsr Austin done his duty in ap-
plying the building code Of either 1914
or 1920 when alterations were being
made at the Rialto theatre in June, Il
am quite certain that this particular
fire co,li and would not have occurred,
for there would not have been eondi-
tions present that made it possible.
J. therefore. find Joseph i. Austen
criminally responsible for said death
resulting from the neglect and omis.
sion Of duty aforesaid
Coroner Mix finds that it was the
legal duty Of Alfred 5. Black, presi-
dent of the Connecticut Theatre cor
poration, to see that all the state and
city laws were complied with and ev-
crything possible done to make the
theatre safe for the public, and in fail
ing to fulfil this duty he made him
self criminally responsible
Lawrence u. Carroll, manager of the
Meatre. is found directly responsible
for the conditions which brought about
the ERE and his presentation of the
prologue.
Percy b. Maxon, general manager of
the Connecticut Theatres corporation;
John +. c. Kelley and James Carter, (
employees, and Moses A. Coan. a con-
tractor, who made alterations in the
building, are said to be worthy Of "the /
Just criticism of their fellowmcn."
The coroner says. that at least one
police captain and one police sergeant,
who had not paid admissions. were in
the theatre and saw the prologue be-
ing given in violation OF the Sunday
laws and Of the law regarding stand
ing on the first floor and in the gallery. /
The coroner points out thai these Off
GERS took no action.
The duties Of the fire marshal in re-
gard 10 FIRE protection in theatres and /
the inspection of theatres. the coroner \
SAYS, -are discretionary" and this Off /
Ger could only be held for wilful neg
lect after notice.
Az to the state police the coroner
ends that there was no inspection Of
the Rialto BY this BODY after Dec. Is.
1920. The fault was due to the system
which allowed too few men for the
work, the report states
Coroner Nix finding. which was
filed in court to-day. embraced about
5000 words. a digest from about
quarter Of a million words Of evidence.