Evening star., 1922-02-23
GRAND JURY PROBE
IN THEATER CRASH
|SSTARTED TODAY
Inquiry Into Roof Collapse Ex.
pected to Consume About
Five Days.

Inc District grand jury today began
Its probe into the question of respon-
sibility for the fall Of the roof of the
Knickerbocker Theater, which caused
the death of ninety-eight persons. The
inquiry, it is expected, will be before
the grand jurors for four or five days.
Col. William Kelly, U. S. A, was the
first witness to testify. He will be
followed, United States Attorney Cor
don announced, by Commander George
A. Mckay, U. s. N. These officers,
with three other government engin-
GERS, made an inspection of the build
ing.
Model Of Theater.
Commander George A. Mckay, U. S.
NJ, this afternoon brought to the Office
of Uniter States Attorney Gordon
model Of the Knickerbocker Theater
prepared in the Office of yards and
docks Of the Navy Department. The
model shows all the details of the
building, with the location Of the iron
girders and beams which supported
illustrate the testimony of Com
mander Mckay, and Maj. Gordon Will
probably have the representation Of
the building before the grand jurors
throughout the session of the probe
into the cause of the collapse of the
roof of the theater.
Col. Kelly testified before the coro-
ner's jury, and 1t was expected his
evidence before the grand jury would
be substantially the same as given
before the coroner's jury, with prob
ably more minute detail. Commander
Mckay was expected to give similar
evidence, as the report of the five en-
gineers is signed by all. showing they
are in accord as to the cause of the
disaster.
The engineers have submitted a
supplemental report to Maj. Gordon.
which covers thirty-one typewriter
pages, and which is replete with pho
tographs and drawings supporting the
theory of these experts. The details
of the supplemental report were not
in possession of Maj. Gordon when the
coroner's inquest was held.
Maj. Gordon also has received Fe-
ports from the bureau of standards.
showing the results of examination
by the experts of the bureau as to
the tiling and cement work, of which
samples were submitted by the prose-
cutor. These will be read to the
grand jury.
The prosecutor expects also to call
witnesses who did not testify before
the coroner's jury. These witnesses
are understo tood to be persons whose
attention was attracted to the work
on the theater at the time of it's con-
struction and who will tell the grand
jurors what they noticed and COM
mented on at the time.
Not to BE Called.
None of the nine persons held by
the coroner's jury as responsible for
the disaster will be called before the
grand jury unless they or their coun-
sci should request the privilege under
waiver Of immunity. Maj Gordon
said it had been suggested to him
that one or two of the accused might
want this privilege, but he has not
yet determined whether or not he
would grant specific request which
has not yet been made, he declared.
The prosecutor wants the grand jury
to have all available information, but
questions the desirability Of having
persons accused of crime appear be-
fore the grand jurors.
Martin McQuade is foreman of the
grand jury and his associates are:
w. E. McReynolds, Herbert Herch-
berger. Edward W. Mintee, Snowden
Keys. Paul B. tum. George G. Du-
ster. John Millard. Henry E. Stringer,
J. E. Ferguson. George T. Harper, l..
8. Lipscomb. John Donnelly. Philip
+. Medley, William d. Leetch, Fred
w. Kneessi, C. E. Langley, w. b.
Miller, John T. Jones. James E. Con-
roy and r. w. Ballard.
As the sessions of the grand Jury
are secret, the details of the testi-
mony will not be available for pub
lication.
The management of Polls Theater
announced today that the playhouse
will not be ready to open on March
as stated yesterday. The opening
probably will take place a week
later