Evening star., 1922-02-01

at the time of the erection of the
theater building and his assistant who
nesses. He also said he wanted Mr..
Crandall and the manager of the
theater summoned.
John McEvily and Charles Keller.
2424 18th street. who were in the
theater whom the roof collapsed and
Sunday morning, will be the only two
victims of the crash examined. Coro-
ner hewitt said to Inspector Sullivan.
The coroner said he saw no reason
for summonfng a greater number to
tell Of the crash.
1t is probable that the list Of wit
nesSes Will be completed bv tOmor-
row. Members of the District en-
gineer department participating in
the Investigation probably will sub
nit the names of several witnesses.
DR.. hewitt said he had not yet been
furnished with Il list of witnesses by
the police. He probably will confer
with Commissioner Oyster. who has
supervision over his office. late to-
day or tomorrow. Today he con-
ferred with Inspector Daniel Sullivan,
acting superintendent of police. and
other officials of the police depart
ment.
1t is the desire of the coroner to
who are in possession of facts which
will assist the six men in reaching a
just verdict.
Will Fix Responsibility.
THE responsibility will be fixed ir-
respective of any particular interests"
Corner hewitt remarked this morning.
ut will be conducted without fear or
favor, and the scope of the hearing
will be broad enough to cover every
detail.
Legal representatives of dead per-
sons will have no legal status at the
hearing. the coroner said, and will not
be permitted to cross-examine wit
nesses. Their position in the affair
is obvious. They will have a perfect
right to be in attendance, he said. and
get the benefit of all the testimony
given.
Capt c. p. NJ Lord of the tenth
police precinct. in which the disaster
occurred, is assisting in the prepara-
tion of a list of witnesses to appear
at the inquest. 1t is planned to have
owners Of the building and all per-
tion appear before the jury.
Representatives of the District
building inspectors Office. Army en-
gineers. representatives of the bureau
of standards, several persons who
were in the building when the roof
called upon to give testimony.
hewitt to Conduct Hearing.
Coroner hewitt will conduct the
Of representatives of the office of
United States District Attorney Cor
don and Corporation Counsel Ste
phens. Counsel for other persons di-
rectly interested in the hearing also
will be in attendance.
of the federal and District govern
ments and those representing inter-
ested persons will be permitted the
widest possible scope in the matter
of examination OF witnesses.
1t is unlikely that. the coroner's
inspections or be brought together
again until they meet Tuesday. They
made a careful inspection of the ruins
yesterday morning and another visit
will not be necessary unless it is
prompted by testimony.
Hope Plans VIII BE Help.
It is the hope of the District Com
missioners that the survey now being
made of the plans for the Knicker-
booker Theater and of the structure it
self will finally make it possible for
definite conclusion as to the cause of
the cave-in.
Preliminary to a report of the find
ings Of inspections being made by the
Engineer Commissioner and his as
sistants. the civilian Commissioners are
taking no active part in this feature of
the probe they are conducting.
Col. Charles Keller. Engineer Com
missioner, and Maj. Cary Brown, as
sistant engineer commissioner, have
spent considerable time carefully ex-
amining construction material and
pieces of the steel frame work which
formed the truss support for the
mammoth roof of the theater. Also
they have been carefully examining
in great detail the plans and specifi-
cations from whiSe the theater was
constructed, their aim being to sat
isfy themselves that the plans were in
strict accordance with the require
ments Of the building laws Of the
city. and, If possible. to determine
as it now stands, and from the pres
ent condition of pieces. If the wreck
age indicates the construction work
was also in accordance with the ap-
proved plans.
Silent ON Probable Cause.
Col. Keller today. in answer
to questions regarding the possible
cause Of the disaster, said he was
not at this time prepared to discuss
Lno mAtLSEs AhulCdlSu, hO"6SSTs
that he has not changed his opinion
that the weight of the snow on the
theater roof was only secondary
cause and that the real cause must
have been due to some defect in
either the material or the construc-
tion Of the truss. supports.
Col. Keller declined to express any
opinion regarding his examination Of
the plans, but John P. Healy, inspec-
tor Of buildings, for the District, who
has been working with Col. Keller
and Maj. Brown in the Investigation.
has no hesitation in saying that. SO
far az he can determine. the plans
answered all requirements and that
from other, Investigations made by
him he as yet has found nothing to
indicate any discrepancies or VIOLA
tions. Mr.. Hea1y, however, is more of
the opinion that the extra weight of