The Washington herald., 1922-02-05
FEDERAL ENGINEERS REPORT ON
ROOF CRASH INVESTIGATION
District Attorney Says Faulty Construction
Caused Collapse of Theater

the crash. The letter absolved Mr.
Crandan from any blame for the
tragedy.
| In closing the interview. Mr
CrandalI thanked the newspapers
for their fearlessness in trying to
learn the cause and placing the re-
sponsibility of the disaster. He
also thanked the police. fremen.
soldiers. sailors, Marines. doctors,
nurses and civilians for aiding In
the rescue work, the Red Cross, the
who furnished coffee to the rescue
party and the First Church Of
Christ. Scientist, and the Town and
Country Club who established first
aid stations on their premises.
Investigation Thorough.
The corps of army apd navy en-
gineers who have Investigated this
disaster have made a most thor
ough and scientific research" Dis
trict Attorney Gordon said. Their
summary report based on memo-
rands compiled during the course
Cf the six-day investigation, prac-
tically determines the cause from a
scientific viewpoint for the collapse
of the Knickerbocker Theater
roof"
Members of the Federal investi-
eating committee, upon( whose evil
dence the grand jury and. perhaps,
the coroner's jurs Eill act, includes
Comdr. G. W. Mckay. J. NJ. Michael
son. r F. Bessey, Col. William A.
Kelly and Maj. L. E. oliver.
BDlding Inspector Healy .has
completed his report, he said last
night. and will present Ii to Col.
Keller tomorrow. Mr.. Heary would
not name the cause for the roof
collapse. but said he expected to
make a complete report to Col.
Keller.
The District Commissioners yes
terday welcomed Congressional in
fvestigation into the crash and into
the work of the District In a letter
to Senator L. II. Ball, chairman Of
the Senate District Committee.
which follows:
IN compliance with the request
contained in your letter of Febru-
ary l, 1922, with which was trans
mitted Senate ResoIuation 22s. the
Commissioners of the District of
Columbia desire to state that a
thorough investigation of the COL
lapse of the roof structure OF the
! Knickerbocker Theater is desirable
not only in the interests of the
people OF Washington but also OF
those of the entire country. in that
- % n
lish at least the principal causes
that led to the disaster.
Would Probe "Commission."
while the Commissioners have
no evidence that would induce them
to believe that in the employees OF
District of Columbia have connived
in disregard of the law and have
winkeda- at careless and criminal
practices upon the part of building
contractors, they believe that this
aspect of the matter should also
be- looked into and that final juds.
ment should be had. not only as to
the integrity of the office of the
inspector of buildings of the Dis
trict of Columbia, but also as to the
sufficiency of that department for
the discharge of the heavy and i'm
portant dutiest hat come upon 1t.
While, therefore, the Commits
sioners believe that the above reso-
! luton or one having the same OBJ
ject should be passed, they suggest
that in its present form it incorpo-
rates an improved charge against the
honesty and faithfulness of public
employees and they recommend that
those portions of the resolution that
contain such charges he elimina I ed