Evening star., 1922-02-01

its fire protection, which inspections
are made periodically after compile
ton.
United States Attorney Peyton Cor
don today held a consultation with en-
gineers from the United States Army
detailed by Secretary of War Weeks,
at the request of Attorney General
Daugherty. They are Gen. William
Kelly and Maj. l.. E. Oliver. Corps of
Engineers. The Army experts will be
Knickerbocker Theater ruins, with
the view of arriving at the cause Of
the collapse of the roof of the build
ing last Saturday night. Maj Gordon
has not received the report of the
three Navy engineers who visited the
cutor expects to have a report from
the bureau of standards shortly as to
the composition Of the samples of ce-
ment work used in the building con-
struction.
Maj Gordon will present the reports
from these three government agencies
to the grand jury as soon as prac-
ticable. He will also lay before the
grand jurors the architects plans for
the building, the plans used by the
contractor and also the specifications
sent to the steel mills on which were
fabricated the iron beams used to
support the roof. From the inspection
of these plans and specifications it is
expected the grand jury, with the
aid of the Army and Navy experts.
will be able to discover the cause OF
the calamity.
Jury Ready to Hear Evidence.
Martin McQuade. foreman of the
grand jury, stated today that he and
his associates are prepared to take
up the consideration OF the evidence
concerning the fall of the roof of the
~
Mai. Gordon Is ready. I'VE will drop
all other matters" said the foreman.
"and give our undivided attention to
the Investigation of the disaster"
Mr.. McQuade said he realized that the
prosecutor would want to consider
and Navy experts and collate the tes-
timony before presenting witnesses
to the grand jury.
Until he receives the views Of the ex-
perts and has time to consider them,
Maj. Gordon pointed out, he will be un-
the formal presentation to the grand
Jury, There will be no unnecessary de-
lay the prosecutor declared empha tlcal-
ly, and If the evidences discloses any
criminal responsibility he has no doubt
the grand jury. will present indictments
have been criminally negligent.
Coroner fu8u00 1AQUGol F1a0Ds
DR.. J. Ramsay hewitt. District coro-
ner, today is continuing his arrange
ments for holding an inquest over the
body of Miss Ethel Atkinson, one Of the
victims of the disaster, in the board
room Of the District building, beginning
next Tuesday morning at 10 o'clock. An
earlier date would have been fixed for
the inquiry. It is stated, had 1t not been
that several days time would be re-
Quired to make certain inspections and
preliminary Investigations.
It is planned to begin the hearing
promptly at 10 o'clock, and because
of the large number of witnesses to
he examined it is thought the hear
ing will last at least one week. It
is improbable that night sessions will
be held.
Holding Of coroner's inquest, it is
pointed out, is far different from q
grand jury hearing or court ,t triai trial. OF =:
only one side is heard, but with q
coroner's inquest the jurors hear all
sides Of the matter under fnvestiga-
ton and, 1t is stated, legal author
tiles on coroners' hearings make 1t
clear that the ordinary rules OF legal
practice do not have to be followed,
hearsay testimony being permissible.
Coroner hewitt this morning stated
that no person or persons In any
way interested in the accident have
been summoned or otherwise direct
ed to appear at the inquest. This
will be done in the regular way by
members of the police department
serving summonses issued by the
coroner.
During the conference with Inspec--
that he was anxious to have the
h1rsIdfnc fnspactor who was in iOffce