The Washington herald., 1922-02-10
GEARE BLAMES
SPLIT In STEEL
FOR DISASTER
Says Faulty Truss May
Have Resulted From
Unloading.
Continued from Page Que.

Continued from Page OHs.
for me 10 he at the building and
examine every piece OF material
personally" he replied.
IF the steel was all right gen.
orally. how do you account for this
splitting?" Gordon questioned.
IT might have been caused by an
abrasion. which is apparent. per-
sonally believe this piece Of steel
was struck with a heavy object.
either by a workman in the shop or
while il was being unloaded. per-
hapS, from the truck conveying IL
10 tho building" he explained.
District Attorney Gordon ques-
toned Mr.. Geare as to his work on
the walls. the connection between
the stage wall and the curved Co
lumbia road wall having been
pointed out by Col Kelly as the
basic cause Of the collapse in the
theory Of the government engineers.
Was the stage wall connected
with the Columbia road wall?" he
asxd-
dicatiOns that the usual tile con-
rieSTions had Been made at this
tuICtuTe However, it is not neces-
saty to rIc these walls. az the stage
STRUCTURE is merely a partition wall.
It5 not H>ccssary to tie partition
vi Geare answered.
Rests on stage Wall.
fhe steel structure plans show
thh< three beaIms connected with a
~
staSe wall. on which all also a beam
frS the columbia road wall was
cod wheCted. the first resting on the
bo the plans specifically call for
ii n= Of these walls" Geare was
d.
10. but walls are usually con-
ed without specification" he
: Did you see that these walls
wcR connected" Gordon asked.
y don't remember that as super
Nising superintendent Of construc-
ton ) either ordered that the walls
he tied or not he tied Geare an
sweTed The plans indicated 1t
sh&ld be tied in
Then IT was your duty to see
that they were. was it nOt?" queried
Div duties called for a visit
evt ty day merely To- see that the
geeeraI plans were carried out and
can't see that l should have seen
rereonaIIy that this curved wall
anfs the partition wall were con-
neCted.' Geare argued
kftcr presenting his original
III l. nj in n
detaif his work on the structure.
which nc described a : most minute
and painstakinE in every detail"
poHting out the signature OF
TMmas T.. Costigan. Of the building
inspeclor's office in 1916. to the
pins. Geare was questioned closely
hM; District Attorney Gordon as to
h& relations with the construction
D q signing Of the building.
kea4 o. assumed all responsibility
"a ths designing. saying his plans
waJse rtIlned largely by his engi-
rEsr. y :. Rich.
NJ ElgInerr Given Praise.
VI 70 every confidence IN Mr..
Eirh. d think him the best enGi-
nSer o unable he added. lie was
AGED tell OF his connections
wfEh theater. and testified that
the original plans for
rrA--- malIwOnd and John l. Cas-
Siu. plans were approved and
Bern, was given by the build
in& inspectors office. This permit
vas received November %. 1915. he
~ c
sud Harry VI. CraudalI purchased
plans for the building. and he was
J. Htd as ar~hitect. The plans were
then. enlarged and changed in some
UInOr details. and again submitted
tdlthe building inspector and a per-
nIR received on these plans Decem-
haE l.. 1916 NJ 8. Rich. his engi-
u4er. drew the plans. he said.
Mr. Gcare pointed out that di-
mansions were shown on the nriCi-
no plans Robert Davis. OF the in
SISctor'S office. testified at the first
daE Of the inquest no dimensions
wgte shown on the duplicate plans
in,aithe building inspectors office for
thT- roof structure.
Nftcr receiving the permit. Geare
said bids wer. asked. The contract
was awarded To Frank l.. Wagner.
Il investigated the business OF
Nrf Wagner and found his COM
pa1k to he most satisfactory. and
hist Sub,"ntrarturs Of tho highest
or,ar was very interested in
~. ibuiIdfuG. and was vsrv anxious
trIf it hc perfect Job I fclt
vcrf proud that We had secured
sub comretont workmcn." Gcare