The Washington herald., 1922-02-07
CORONER JURY
TO T,MOVIE
TRAGEDY. TO-DAY
Criminal Prosecution Is
Predicted by One
Official.
ACT TO PREVENT
SIMILAR DISASTER
District Chiefs Plan for
Legislation to Make
Buildings Safe.

First official and public steps to
determine the cause of the Knick-
erbocker Theater crash, resulting
in the death of ninety-seven per-
sons, will get under way today.
Criminal prosecution undoubted-
ly will be required when the full
facts as to the cause are learned
and the persons responsible named
by men who have conducted a sci
entific survey of the disaster" de-
clared one official last night who is
connected with the investigation
but not with its legal phases.
Il am prepared to name the
cause for the disaster and place
the blame" District Attorney Cor
don said last night announcing he
would appear before the coroner's
jury which conyenes this morning.
District Attorney Gorcon said he
quest and present the evidence CIV
en- him by the Joint board of army
and navy engineers appointed by
the Secretaries Of the War and
Navy Departments 90 determine the
cause Tor the crash.
Twenty-Five witsesses Called.
The inquest will open at 10
o'clock this morning in the board
room of the District Building and
will be open to the public. Twen-
ty-fye witnesses have been sum-
moped by the police department to
appear. The room will hold ap-
proximately 500 persons.
Among those summoned to ap-
pear at the inquest today by De-
tectives Mullen and Pratt are:
Harry NJ. Crandall, owner Of the
theater.
Reginald W. Geare. architect for
the building.
Frank Wagner. constructor, who
built the theater.
Robert Etres, manager OF the
theater.
J. p. Healy. r. l. Davis' and
J. r. Downman, OF the Building in
spector's once. -
Morris Hacker and Thomas l..
costigan. formerly in the building
inspectors Office.
John E. Dennison, 1857 Thirty
NTH street northwest, iron worker
on the building.
Ralph ]. Frankhauser. 3632
Eleventh street northwest, builder.
H. F. Bake, 1902 Euclid street
northwest.
H. S. Rich. 1910 H street north
west.
]. H. Ford, 212 Twelfth street
northwest,
E. C. Reubson, 10 T street north
west.
=. T. McCord. I'LL Euclid street
northwest.
wood place northwest.
northwest.
Ter, PAPA Eighteenth street north
west.
Coroner hewitt will outline a
plan of procedure to be pursued in
calling witnesses. He said last
night the witnesses would be
called as the course of the in
quest necessitated. Who will be
called today, he had not determined
last night.
The District govSrnment yester-
day set plans under way to out
line proposed legislation to pre-
vent a repetition of the disaster.
Sees $50 Many Defects.- -
Col. Charles Z. Keller, Engineer
Commissioner for the District, an
nounced last night he wound have
complete report today on the
investigation from District men de-
tailed to probe the roof collapse
He said he had determined satfs-
factorily in his own mind the cause
for the crash and was prepared
to go before the Board Of District
Commissioners with plans outlined
to prevent a repetition of the dis
aster.
The building way constructed in
correctly, from an engineering
point. There were so many defects
in this regard. it, is hard to name
anyone as the fundamental factor
in the crash" Col. Keller declared
This is believed to constitute also
the conclusions reached by the Dis
trict Attorneys office. Upon these
grounds it is believed the corohers
jury will be asked to place the re-
sponsibility for the ecrash. These
same factsare also expected to be
placed before the grand jury by
District Attorney Gordon when he
takes his evidence before that body.
Inquest May Take Days.
District Attorney Gordon refuses
to name the causes for the disaster
or declare any parties negligent. His
facts, however, will be made public
today or tomorrow when he lays
them before the Tcoroner's jury.
IT the coroner's jury declares any
persons are criminally responsible
for the crash the government is
prepared to lay its hands on any
persons in any way connected with
the crash" District Attorney Cor
don said last night.
The inquest BY the coroner's Jury
will be most thorough and nothing
will be left undone to assure a
complete Investigation into the dis
aster. Coroner hewitt said. He said
It could not be determined in ad-
vance how long the inquest may
take. 1t is expected by many
however, to be completed within
three days.
Inspector to Testify.
1t is the opinion of expert engt-
neers who have conducted an in
quiry into the construction Of the
theater and who have reported un-
ofiicialfy TO leaders of the investi-
cation for the District and Fed
eral probes that the details of con-
struction. outside Of the funda-
comttn~ed on Paa- pour.