New-York tribune., 1922-02-15
Jury Holds Nine
In Washington
Theater Crash
Coroner's Verdict Blames
Uoss of 93 Lives on
Architect. Engineer.
Builders and Inspectors
Men TO Give Bond To-day
Jurors Would Close All
Gathering Places Until
Their Safety Is Tested

NAcHINGTON. Feb. 14-Ninc men
verc ordered held for the Grand Jury
bv tAe coroner's jury. which brought in
verdict tonight. in connection with
+he collapse Of the roof Of the Kncker-
hooker motion picture thestcr on Janu-
.rv oS, resulting in the death Of ninety
eight persons.
The inquest was begun last Tues
dav. and scores Of witnesses were heard
before the jury began its deliberations
behind closed doors. 1t WAS out seven
hours before it returned its findings.
The niue men. all of Washington,
were Il. G.. Gcarc, the architect Of
the building; ]. II. Ford. the engineer r
who designed tho roof structure; Nor
ri. Hacker, building Inspector when
the thcater WAS constructed Frank J..
Wagner, the builder: Donald Wallace,
general superintendent OF construc
ton; K. G. Fletcher. superintendent of
the Eammett Fireproohrg Company
which built the walls, John l.. McDon-
sld the contractor who erected the
steel, Thomas l.. Costigan. engineer.
and com0uter for the District of Colunl
ba Building Department. who passed
on the plans, and Julian r. bowman,
the Assistant Building Inspector when
the building was constructed
Blame Design. Building. Inspection
The Coroncr's jury in it's verdict de-
elared that the COLLAPSE of the roof
vas due to faulty designing and CON
struction and inadequate supervision
and inspections.
1t also submitted number Of rec
ommendations, ono being that "all
theaters and places where the public
assemble be closed and kept closed
until such time ss their safety is as
sured.'
District Attorney rcyton Gordon
said tonight that the case would be
submitted to the grand jury "as soon
as possible That body is in session
row. and the opinion was expressed
informally that il would be in posi-
ton TO take up the Knickerhocker find
ings By the last OF this week Those
vino were recommended held for the
grand jury were not taken into Gus
.odv tonight, hut it was said they
would have an opportunity to appear at
.ne District Attorneys office the first
thing in the morning. Their bond, Mr..
Gordon SAID, would pc 80 900 each
The coroner's jury in its findings
recommended that there be a thorough
revision Of the building code in the
District OF Colum bia, with heavy pen
aties provided for violations Of any
Of its clauses.
Inspection Assailed
I, noted that mo special quahdca-
tions are essential in filling the posi-
ton in the Office of building inspectors
that the testimony Of witnesses from
the Office Of the building inspector. With
one exception, shows d lack of knowl-
eoge OF conditions and proper super
VISION of buildings erected in the Dis
'uct; that the reports made by field
lspectors we're unintelligent and that
little or no attention was paid to them
hey apparently being made only as a
matter Of form and not with any idea
Of following up or checking any de
fects. showing the lamentablo lack OF
spprecation of esponsibility"
1t is also noted, the jury added. that
many of the witnesses testifying il
the case "have done so with much evi
cent unwillingness and mental reser.
yaticn
It was recommended that the city
lisc Department he equipped with oxy-
acetylenc torches and tanks, jacks
searcaligh,s and such other equipment
as would be needed by a wrcckine
crew IN an emergency. the lack Of
which equipment seriously handi
capped the rescue Of the victims of
'ne knlckerbOcker disaster"