Evening star., 1923-01-28

Denying allegations which have
been made in the past year with ref
erence to his connection with the
knickerbocker Theater, which ,col-
lapsed year ago today, Harry M.
Crandall last night issued the fol-
lowing statement:
"As a result of such a disaster as
that which occurred at the Knieker-
booker Theater on January 28, 1922, IL
is out natural that within the statu-
tory period the personal representa-
tives of those who died and many
who suffered injuries would feel 1t
their duty to institute legal proceed
ings for damages in the event that
the law should find II appropriate TO
Ak responsibility upon any person or
corporation connected with the enter
prise so unfortunately stricken.
These contests viii, of course. be
determined in court in accordance
with the law of the land and while /
personally feel not in the slightest
degree responsible for. the terrible
catastrophe. ] unhesitatingly declare
that if the sacrifice of anything / now
possess or may ever hope to acquire
would avail to restore those who
have been taken away, my sincerest
wish would have been accomplished.
/ cannot. however, pass unnoticed the
fact that in the complaints which
have been filed in court and publish
have been made and misrepI esenta-
tions indulged in; SO l believe it is
my duty to myself and to the public
TO set right the facts by this state
ment.
II. 1t has been alleged that the
Knickerbocker company has en-
deavored to evade financial liability
by the sale of it's property to me
for the sum OF SO. This is not true.
The sale of the property was made
a inr n NJ
paper anu verbal advertisement. The
bidding at the sale was spirited and
] purchased the property, after full
opportunity for, all bidders to be
and paid in full therefor. Revenue
stamps commensurate with this
amount of purchase were appended
to the deed. which was recorded.
Originally Cost $4,000.
This amount was much more than
j expected II to cost, especially SO
since the property had originally
thereto for the sum of $4,000. The
auction sale was not held until three
months after the disaster had oc-
CURED, and the dissolution of the
come effective after adequate adver-
tising until November L.. 1922, near
ly twelve months subsequent to the
accident. At the time of the dissolu
tion not single suit for damages
had been filed in the Supreme Court
of the District of Columbia; and be-
fore the dissolution both the coroner's
jury and the grand jury of the Dis
trict of Columbia had held exhaustive
hearings and made their findings, in
which neither of said tribunals in
any way held me or any one con-
nected with the Knickerbocker COM
pany responsible. Surely these facts
refute and should clear the public
i,,d nf he oh
fraudulent intent in the transfer of
the property.
Attended Often Himself.
"2. Further. l understand it is
charged that l operated this theator
with the knowledge of its weakness
This is far from the truth. / had in
my charge an investment Of $3.50. 900.
that tended to add to it's stability.
My family and that OF each of the
executives of the company, together
with myself and each of the execu-
tives were constant attendants at the
theater SO far were we from even
suspecting the slightest weakness in
the structure that many thousands
of dollars were spent to promote the
convenience of the public in the in
stallation of marble stairways and
other improvements but a few months
before the collapse. All of the exec
utives OF the company took pride
in the fact that much of the money
spent in the theater was turned back
to add convenience and comfort for
its patrons.
Chase Highest Bidder.
"3. / have also heard it asserted
that / was president and general man.
ager of the Knickerbocker Theater
when 1t was formed. This is also
! serious error, as | was not president
of the company, nor did / finance it or
have any money invested in it in it's
inception. The company was financed
by local interests. and I was retained
aS general manager solely because /
happened to be conversant with the
practical knowledge of the motion
picture business. l. know, however
that every effort was made to secure
the best talent and results in the
awarding of the contracts for the
construction of the house. The con-
tract itself was awarded to Frank l..
Wagner, who happened to be the
highest, and not the lowest, bidder,
and it was awarded to him because of
his reputation as a capable and prac-