The Washington herald., 1922-01-31

beard Of dissatisfaction with condi-
tions as shown.
Neither District Attor..oy Gcrdoo
nor Col Keller. who Is in charge OF
the District investigating commit
tee. would authorize any opinion
as the probable bism~ for tho dis
aster or as TO what action they
would recommend. Both yer.
clearly displessed with conditions
OF the building and the nature 80
material used IN the construction.
osesties OF NeriIs~.~e.
District Attorney Gordon said
criminal action rests upsn fndInes
OF any 'wsntop or gross npy:.-
gence. II any negligence is rsuH'
he said. either in the matter ii
construction. the ?lanria- ~ the
building, the manaH- IN wh.ch D.
was operated, or ~ the manner IN
which inspections o,,'--.s4 BY law
were conducted. a. Parties in AIRY
way concerned would he prosccuted.
Involuntary manslauchter is thc
charge IL was stated. which Wai.lG
be placed against any part e. foand
wantoniy or grossly negligent. .-cn-
viction on a charge Of involuntary
manslaughter carries with 4:
penalty OF fifteen years in the Ds-
trict.
Coroner Impanels Jury.
A second source or prosecu: .oI
rests with the District csrunr-'s
office. The coroner's jur.. vs.
sworn in last aisht ever ;'e hos
OF Miss Mary Ethel Atkinson. .,
victim Of the crash. by Dr. He:..etr
r. Martin. ,'cartv Uo.onS~. -,.."-
under orders Of Coroner hewitt. IN
the ~. l.. S:""-c IAILrtskIcs ..--
lors.
TIE luz. -. IL .-.slsi u s.
testimony - tt c>s"> ne=i T. 10
dag nIo:..'.< - :" o'cio,L az ls..
boardrooEi = :Lc Distract . I-d-
ing. Tn.s late vaS s-t - ..Ne
| time for the D;s:ri.t Nestl-st
committee 9. r"Ssr - sg-ycy
( and prere'- H.t II :. :trcS>cs 70
I be sumElO".
Recommendation Of the jury VIII
/ be made Immediately following con
/ slderation Of the testimony ntescnt-
I ed. This is not expected 10 take
more than a day. To tho coroncr's
I jury tho reports OF Col. keller's
/ investigation. in which police and
fire deraremcnt officials will take
part and in which prominent engl-
neers and others NJ the District
government and city vii work. will
be made. Upon their rccommcnda-
tions and testimony before the jury
4 prosecution may be ordered by the
coroner's jury.
Inquiry WIN Take Week.
District Attorney Gordon >sId
last night that his Investigation.
which he intends to be most
/ thorough. will consume most o,
the week. However. Il is entirely
! possible that il criminal action g.
20 be instituted. IL may come from
this source before action is taken
by the coroner's Jury.
In the meantime no arrests or
precautionary methods TO detain
parties thought by the investiCs-
tors 20 be responsible in any way
I for negligence have been ordered.
II Is not likely that any such a.
ton will be taken until all investi-
cations have been completed. off,
cials say.
Investigations yesterday were
| centered on the nature of material
used in the roof and the manner of
! construction. The party under d.
rection of Maj Peytou Gordon ex-
amined closely the wills Of tho
building as regards the supports
| OF the roof and the manner In
which they were connected with
the side walls.
Not Riveted Co Walls.
II was pointed out 20 the COM
mittee that the steel beams were
held in the walls by hanges OF the
beams resting on the brick sup
ports and covered by brick and
/ plaster. The beams were not rig-
| eted to the walls. The steel beams
were badly bent. IL was said by
members Of Maj. Gordon's PARTY
that the heavy beams overisrred.
il seemed, as much as two inches
in parts. causing an unnecessary
weight. apparently.
IL was almost tho unsnin,c..s
| opinion % the committee foliow-
ing the survey OF the grounds :--s-
| terday and following consuitaJ.ca
with experts that the wUtEht o.
the snow on tho roof could not
! Continued on Pogo Ttco.