Evening star., 1923-01-28
tors ofiice. which is an increase Of

tors ONCE. which is an increase Of
$500. .
These increases were not made sole
ly and entirely to correct the condi-
tion OF an inadequate force empha-
sized at the time of the Knicker-
booker disaster. but to meet the ins
creasing demands upon the bu ldihU
Inspectors office due TO the bunding
activity throughout the District. II
was emphasized when these appropri-
ations were being made.
Grand Jury Acts.
The grand jury began an exhaustive
inquiry into the cause of the collapse OF
the roof of the theater following the re-
turn of the coroners jury February "A.
Engineers of the Army and Navy CO.
operated with Maj. Gordon, United
States attorney, and furnished paper
model OF the building, which was used
during the investigation. The grand
jury, April 3, reported an indictment
for manslaughter against Reginald w.
Geare, architect John III. Ford, fabriea-
tor of the ironwork: Julian X. Down
man, inspector of the building inspec-
tors office: Don NJ. Wallace, foreman
for the building contractor. and Richard
G. Fletcher, in charge of the cement and
tile work on the building. The grand
jury ignored the charge against the
other four men held by the coroner.
mediately. They gave bail and were
given time to prepare an attack against
the validity of the indictment. Motions
to quash the indictment were filed in
which it was claimed that there existed
no joint responsibility on the five men.
as predicated in the indictment, to see
that 1.-The building was so constructed
that II would not fall. 1t was also con-
tended that the law does not require
subcontractor to see that the work OF
Al - n fTN.y ~
portion Of the construction has been
properly performed.
After lengthy arguments occupying
several days for and against the indict-
ment Justice Siddons July "a quashed
the charge against the five men and
ordered the dismissal of the indictment.
United States Attorney Gordon has
noted an appeal to the Court of Appeals
and the matter is there awaiting argu-
ment. The hearing on the appeal will
probably be reached in April.
Fifty-eight deat tn suits and four suits
for personal injuries, aggregating $780,
600, have been filed on the law side of
the court as the result of the disaster.
Mrs Sadie Breslau places her injuries
at 100000, and her husband. Bernard
Breslau, wants $4,000 for the loss of
her services and the expense incident
to her injuries. Mary Young has fixed
the sum to reimburse her for her in
juries at $4,000. The other suits have
persons who were killed. Each asks for
$4,000. the limit placed by the law on
an injury resulting in death. William ].
Forsyth sued for the death of his sister;
Josephine T. Lyman for the death of
her husband; William T. Martindale for
the death Of his wife.
One suit in equity is pending. Mary
Young, William j. Forsyth and Jose
phtne T. Lyman asked the court to in
quire into and enjoin the consummation
q Of o for
the knickerbocker Theater Company to
Harry NJ. Crandall personally. The sale
was made at auction last June and Mr..
Crandal borrowed $150,000 and is ar
ranging to rebuild.
Following organized requests by
business men in the vicinity of 18th
street and Columbia road that Mr.
Crandall rebuild "at once" on the site
of the Inflated knickerbocker, the
Crandall interests anpounced that, "in
view or popular demands" they would
begin the erection of new motion pic
ture house, to be known as the Am
bassador. This announcement brought
forth protests and condemnation from
various civic sources, especially from
am organization formed primarily for
preventing the construction of an
other playhouse on what 1t empha-
sized had become hallowed ground.
The outburst of opposition, appar-
entity. had its temporary effect, for no
visible action further in this connec-
tion was taken for some weeks by the
theater interests. Eventually, how
ever, additional urging by business
men of the locality resulted in a
definite public announcement that the
Ambassador would start mediately
Stress was laid in the announce
ment, which was issued quite recent
~. that the theater structurally would
be without paw, and that its exterior
would differ In appearance from it's
unfortunate predecessor. Plans, it
was pointed out, were being carefully
checked over by the municipal build
Ing inspector. and the point was en-
phasized that the building would be
of the steel frame type, this frame
forming the support for the roof,
which will not be of a heavy type
Special attention was being paid by
strains. due to foreign causes. such
as vibration, etc, 1t was explained
The announcement permanently dis
PEELED hope on the part of many who
had relatives or friends in the disas-
ter that the site would be turned into
with, perhaps, a bronze tablet erected
there, on which would be inscribed
names of the ninety-seven victims
whose lives were snuffed out by the
thsater collapse. The memorial project
fell through, 1T appears, for lack of
concerted action by those interested.
and also, 1t is understood, because of
lack of funds with which to carry
1t out.
Work of Red Cr9ss.
An organization which played a
prominent part a year ago today and
tomorrow in looking to the welfare
both of the victims and of the res
cuers who were putting in hour after
hour of toll in the cold and darkness
was the Red Cross.
The Red Cross specializes in dis
aster relief work, and the District
chapter, in all its branches and
corps, covered itself with glory. Its
quota in the recent annual member
ship drive styled roll CALI was
$4,000 new or renewed members, not
an exorbitant number here in the
National Capital. This means, at the
normal rate of dollar per member
ship, $4,000 members. 1t has how
ever, In hand as the result of this
roll call. but q little over $4,000.
Officials of the District chapter also
point out that many of the reserve
supplies kept on hand for such catas-
trophies and used so freely on that
terrible occasion have not been again
raised to normal and in some cases
are depleted. The chapter is actually
less ready to cope with a similar
situation here than it was a year ago.
Furthermore, it has not as many vol
unteer workers as 1t needs to make
surgical dressings and other supplies
and comforts SO invaluable at such a.
time.
The blizzard that tied up traffic,
stopped street car service and caused
all Washington to walk, a year ago
today, left one good result in its wake
it taught the District government
the need for we'll defined system of
snow removal.
Without sufficient funds or equip
ment, the street cleaning department
was unable to open up traffic lanes
through the deep snow. When the