The Washington times., 1922-02-14
ON.
D|SAS 7 ER
IS ENDED
coroner's Jury Starts DeIibera-
ations to Place Blame for
Knickerbocker Crash.

Hearing of evidence to fix re-
sponsibility for the Knickerbocker
Theater disaster was concluded
shortly after noon today by the
Coroner's jury, sitting at the Dis
trict building.
The evidence Immediately was
turned over to the jury for delibera-
tion. The jury was permitted to
take q recess for lunch, and at the
conclusion of this lunch period its
members began q discussion behind
closed doors in preparation for their
findings.
Many Things Wrong.
Substitution of materials, lack Of
sufficient bolts, use of shorter
beams than called for In specifica-
tons, and insufficient fastening,
splicing, and bracing were made In
the construction of the Knicker-
booker Theater, according TO the
report Of Robert Henry Davis, en-
gineer Of the building inspectors
office, which was read at the in
quest this morning.
That one or another Of these con-
ditions was directly responsible for
the collapse Of the roof was the
opinion of Davis, as stated in his
report, which was read at the in
quest by John p. Healy, District
building inspector.
Truss II. for instance, Davis said,
was six inches less than called for
In the specifications that were
passed on by the building inspectors
office. The other trusses and
beams, II was said, were overloaded,
and web members Of the roof were
not OF the stock size called for In
plans as approved.
In his testimony as to the cause Of
the disaster. Healy declared he
could not give a positive statement
as to what caused the collapse of the
roof. He urged a complete revision
OF the District building code.
Would Hold Examinations.
II also believe 1t would be help
ful and in the nature Of a safe
guard" he said, that those en-
gagged In building should be required
before being licensed to demonstrate
by examination their competency.
IL also was developed that the
two inspectors who were detailed
to make daily inspections of the
work on the theater during it's
course Of construction received only
$1,000 a year.
Healy Says Masonry Good.
1t was at the suggestion Of At
torney Frank J. Hogan that Cor
oner hewitt asked John Iaitchie,
custodian Of property in the Build
ing Inspectors office, that the sal
aries Of the employees be brought
out.
Healy told the jury that the
masonry of the building was of
good workmanship, as were the
walls.
He believes, however, that the
snow weight, as well as the over
loading Of the trusses by the steel
structure, contributed to the COL
lapse of the roof.
Harry Sheetz. an iron worker.
of 113 II street northwest, declared
that while placing a beam in the
wall he heard the tile crack. Re
porting II to his foreman, Sheetz
declared that the foreman stated
that the tiles would be filled with
concrete.
TT could not have been done
certainly not in the tiles under the
beam"
Sheetz said he was taken off the
Job several days after that.
The last witness on the stand
was Charles e. Hardel, Of 700 Fifth
street northwest, structural
worker on the Knickerbocker. He
testified that he had found the wall
so weak that he was afraid IL would
fall over at any time. I'm sorry
I ever worked on 1.-THE commented.