Evening star., 1922-02-15

Severe arraignment of the methods in
iSe office OF inspector of building of the
s1nstrict is contained in the verdict Of the
soroner's jury into the Knickerbocker
:"heater collapse. watch last night
ordered nine men held for the action OF
the grand jury. The verdict found the
collapse due to faulty designing and
construction and inadequate supervision
and inspection" and held all OF the prih-
cipals who had anything to do with the
designing and erection Of the building.
They are. In the order in wlich fnelr
names are written on the jury 8 verdict: ::
Reginald W. Geare. architect. who de-
signed the Knickerbocker Theater and
who approved Of the redeslgneo plans
for the steel roof framing.
John Howard Ford. president Union
Iron Works. successors to Z. A Schnei-
der's Sons, the latter of whom were con,
tractors for the design. Ford designed
the roof framing which collapsed.
Morris Hacker. supervisor OF city reI-
use disposal and at the time OF tne Son
struction Of the Knickerbocker Iheater
inspector OF buildings of the District.
Donald Wallace, general foreman IN
charge of construction of the building
for Frank l.. Wagner. the generai Gull
tractor
Frank L. Wagner, general contractor
for the construction of the theater.
Richard G. Fletcher, at the time OF
the construction of the theater gen
eral manager for the Hammet FIRE
proof Company, contractors lor en- one
tile wall construction ana the Gun
crete roof slab.
John L. Mcdonald, contractor ior
erecting the steel roof framing at the
theater.
Thomas L. Costigan. superintendent
of city street cleaning. and at tne
time of the construction OF the
Knickerbocker computing engineer IN
the Office of building inspector.
Costigan approved the plans for the
steel roof framing
building department, and at the time
of the erection inspector OF concrete
and concrete reinforcement.
No Special Qualifications.
The jury pointed out that there are
no special qualifications for positions
in the building inspectors office. and
that the testimony showed, with one
exception. lack of knowledge of build
ing conditions and proper supervision
OF buildings erected here; it asserted
the reports of building inspectors
were unintelligent. little or no atten-
tion being paid to them, and o<ddts no idea
y
..showing lamentable lack of appre-
citation of responsibility.
The verdict took cognizance OF the
mental reservations of witnesses, ana
recommended a thorough revision OF
the building code with heavy
penalty for violation of any of its
clauses.
Recommends Full Inspection.
The jury recommended also that all
theaters and places where the pubic
assemble be closed land kept closed
until such time as their safety Is
assured"
1t also recommended that the fire
department be equipped with oxy-
acetylene torches and tanks. jacks.
searchlights and such other equip
ment as can be used in emergency
rescue work.
quired by the jury to reach its YER
dict, and another hour was taken IN
conference with Coroner hewitt and
United States District Attorney Pey-
ton r. Gordon to frame 1t. and an
nounce it shortly before $3.50 O'Clock
last night.
Corridors Are Crowded.
1t was just .1:S5 o'clock when the
jury returned from lunch yesterday
afternoon, and William SehenebeEger.
district morguemaster, locked the
doors to the boardroom of the District
building. Inc COrrlOOES were CTO"Qcu
for several hours after this by spec
tators, attorneys for the various prin-
cipals and newspapermen, awaiting
the verdict.
\ furry went through the crowd
about o'clock, when a knock came
from the inside. Mr.. Schoneberger
opened the door. The jury wanted
water.
The first indication that the jury
was preparing to hold any one came
when. shortly after o'clock, it sent
out for information as to whether
Wallace was living. They were in
formed that he was. j. H. Ford and
John L. Mcdonald remained in the
corridors for several hours after the
people were excluded from the jury
room. Ford left about o'clock and
Mcdonald left about 6 o'clock, and
returned shortly before the verdict
was handed down. He was the only
one of the principals present when
the verdict was announced.
Maj. Gordon Outside.
Coroner hewitt and Maj. Peyton
Gordon and Ringgold Hart, assistant
corporation counsel, remained out
side throughout the deliberations of
the jury. Inspector Pratt and Detec-
tive Sergt. Mullen, who have been
SPECIAL NOTICES.
MUM DCCTrI An HfrrorTyC m cor I-WpT.