Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-02-21
MANY WITNESSES HEARD
IN HOTEL INVESTIGATION
Grand Jury Will Continue
Probe Into Lexington Trag.
cdy Details Today.
POLICE CHIEF TAKES STAND.
Former Manager. Night Clerk mud
Engineer nf Ilostciry Tell Whnt
They Know Of Fire Which Took
Toll of Twelve Lives.

Following day OF probing into
conditions incident TO the Lexington
Hotel fire. the liuStincs Court grand
jury. called To consider the matter.
adjourned last might AZ o'clock TO
meet again at IL u'C'oCk this morn
ing. Foreman stephen r. E"vcriIcc
r.oiitied Judge Richardson that one
"f the jurymcu. X. y. Lancaster. Jr..
would be unable TO attend the scs
sOns today. because of AN sut-uf-
town engagement. and that the jury
would like To work tomorrow.
even though it b" holiday. Judge
Richardson informed Mr. beverage
that this would be in accordance with
law. as ,hcr" would he sufficient
number present 10 legally transact
business.
Tho jury made up practically Of
the members Of the tody who sat
IN the fiist day OF the term en-
braces number Of practical bust
Ness men, including two Insurance
agents. Mcssrs Lancaster and Meade
The othe:s are engaged In general
business operations.
Guests Included In List.
The list OF witnesses called by
Clerk christian embraced q number
o. the guests OF the hotel, employees
and former employees. police officials.
81 Public safety. chief OF TIA" Fire
Department, and the chief @: the Bu-
r"au OF Ere Prevention.
Director Myers. Chief JoyncS. chief
Jones were not present yesterday,
having been excused by tn" judge
because OF an Important business trip
TO Roanoke. wher" u water tUwSr
similar la one under cons idcratiom
:"r this city. was yesterday being
demonstrated. They VIII b" called
today
Among thu witnesses uuizzcd yes
i"rday was former Manager James
ponahUc; chief sherry Assistant
chief Jack Ratio. nf the Fire Depart
mcnt; II. seldom Taylor, Thomas u.
Frey, former clerk; +. l.. Burns.
former engineer al the hotel. win"
was superseded by u Colorci fire
man. employed because of Il general
policy 81 rctrcnchmcnt in overhead
expenses. y c"iorcd man. whose
lame was no; divulEcd. followed
Buns 1t was believed he was TIN.
'coior"d engineer who supplantcd
Burns
That The jury is going fully into
every angle Of the tragic occurrence.
VAS evidenced by the long list OF Wit
ucss"s. embracing every one known
To have any Knowledge OF conditions
before, during and after the nre.
turi"u~ Crowd Gathers.
Nmonc those TO lee heard arc the
ncwSmcn who delivered papers at
I'll. hotel iu the ,a~ly morning houl $:
policemen vino hay" gou" into the
EUtcl at all hours unnutiCcd and I'M
m"l'stcd: insurance men; the Huila-
ing Inspector: 'NorNmon engaged ia
laiutiug and decorating the build
ing; electrical workers and guests
Vhc had opportunities To notice the
general conduct Of these who con
Quoted the hosiery ana their en-
p!oycs.
~ during the dan the curious in
CiN!dU"!s gathered la the coarr-
room Many wcr, present merely
out Of curiosity. while others were
more "r lass interested IN the pro-
"c,diugs. having friends or relatives
employed II tn, hotel or being assn
stated with some OF the guests.
Sergeant Saunders and deputy Fat
Bowls kept vign over the jury,
permitting mU one not authorized to
engage in conversation with wit
nesses. ana placing themselves at the
door of the jury room "a :. human
larricndc. TIL" private oi,iCc OF Com
iucEw.a!th's Attorney Sattcriic.d IS
Icing used by the jury during !ls
authorizations
Members OF the jury. besides Fore
man BcveridEc. are j. T. ralmatary.
T. iowar,iin. H.;;\. Lapcaster, Jr.
los"rh r. Sor=. ~. y. Meade. l.. +.
Harucs and Ware T. Cay.
~ delivering his charge 10 the
jury juig, Richardson admouiShed
Il en- TO go iuIly into every phas,.
81 The case. to dcrcrmin, ii Their.
Lad been criminal evidence on the
part 90. amy orc-city uiicial, en-
I.DN,s. lnAMM EnLmnMt OF nihnrS