The Washington herald., 1922-07-11
URGE PARK ON site.
OF KNICKERBOCKER,
TO HONOR VICTIMS
r e s j d e n t s in Vicinity
Send Proposal to Men,
bers of Congress.
THEATER is URGED
Crandall Says His Action De-
pends on Wishes of
People.

A park on the site OF the Knick-
erbocker theater to perpetuate the
memory OF the ninety-seven per-
sons whose lives were crushed out
when the roof of the former play
house collapsed, is the proposal
a group of residents in the vicinity.
Rebuild the theater," is the re-
quest of the members of the Eight
eenth and Columbia Road Business
Mems Association. which will be
presented to Harry NJ Crandall,
owner of the ill-fated structure,
at noon today.
Meanwhile. District legal authori-
ties are proceeding with the prose-
cution of the FIVE men who have
been indicted on charges of man.
slaughter in connection with the
disaster
Conclude Arguments Today.
Arguments in the cases of these
men Will be concluded odly before
Justice Siddons in Criminal Court
No. 2. with both District Attorney
Gordon and Assistant District, At
torney OLeary. confident that the
attempts of the charged mems at
torneys to have the indictments
quashed will be futile. YesteT
days session of the court was
given over to arguments.
a representative of the Eroup
of residents who favor the eiimi
nation of the memories of the
night of January IS. by raZing tie
wrecked walls and establishing a
recreation park. visited the Capitol
yesterday to discuss the proposal.
After visiting several members
of Congress. the representative. who
refused to divulge his name. stated
that the residents whom he served
as spokesman. are planning a cam
paign to raise funds to be used to
purchase the site, and then to give
IL to the government. with the
understanding that it be converted
into a park.
started I'm Congress.
4 rumor was current in legisla-
tive circles to the effect that the
park proposal has the Endorsement
Of many members of Congress and
that the idea had its inception
there One member. IL is said, had
considered the introduction of a
hill for the park project. but with
held action upon learning that the
matter was being acted upon by
the citizens.
The advocates of rebuilding claim
to have petitions signed by 1900
persons. all residing in the section
surrounding the wrecked building,
asking the management to replace
the ruins with safe and modern
motion picture theater.
"I can't say definitely what
will do until I hear what the bust
ness men have to say" Crandan
declared yesterday IF the people
want il. I will rebuild the Knicker-
booker Immediately.
ZonInG Rules Prohibit.
''Zoning regulations make II i'm
sible TO build anywhere else In
the ighborhood. The location at
r Ghteenth street and Columbia
road is excellent. and the theater
can he rebuilt safely. II w do
build again we will replc the
wall on Columbia road a-d would
use a light fireproof construction
for the roof"
Crandau has been delaying ac-
lion. he saws, because a petition
signed by 25o persons living all
over the city was presented 10 him
opposing any scheme for a new
theater on the site.
The business Mems Association
has kept petitions at the members
stores and offices which people liv-
ing in the neighborhood might
sign. II was ny this means that
the 500 signatures were obtained.
according to r. ]. Abbatichio. sec
retary Of the association.
Two other theater companies.
Abbatichio said yesterday. are try
ing to get locations near the site