New Britain herald., 1926-02-08
COMPENSATION FOR VICTIMS FAMILIES
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on the pilasters, and tho walls through | term Of years would have weakened, taking Into consideration heights and thickness of the pilas- ters, Undoubtedly tho breaking point was reached last Thursday Tho collapse came at the center O, the south wall when either one Of two pilasters gave way"
 At the masses in St. Mary's church yesterday tho prayers Of the con. grtgation were requested for the repose of the souls of the eight vic- hmS who lost their lives in the dis as'er, for their dependents and for the injured men, The request was made during the prayers for the dead, and later tho parishoners were asked 70 keep the victims and their families In mind throughout the services
 sympathy From Plninyillc
 Rev Arthur A, Ball, president of the Plainyille Ministers association, today transmitted the following message 10 Mayor A, NJ. Paonessa;
 The Plainville Ministers asso- citation learned with deep sorrow of the unhappy misfortune which has befallen so many families in your city.
 As near neighbors We desire to express our sincere sympathy for all the afflicted families"
 Gypsum Block Weighs 25212 Lbs.
 Yesterday a section of the gypsum block roofing placed on the doomed building was taken to police head. quarters to be weighed. examined and held as evidence for the prose- cution.
 The section, six feet long and IS Inches wide, weighed 252Is pounds Officials Of the North & Judd Co. and some city officials maintained at first that this gypsum block did not create a strain on the building since 1t was only slightly heavier than glass, for which 1t was sub stitutcd.
 Several pounds of mortar was also taken from the collapsed wall and placed in 'ho police station. Today part of this was taken to com mercial chemist for an analyais calculated to determinc it's quality.
 Inspector Rutherford who was present when it was brought in examined it and pronounced it to be very inferior grade Of mortar, apparently made up Of lime with no cement. By slight pressure of the thumb and forefnger it is pos siblo to crumble it into fine dust, he demonstrated.
 Prosecutor Woods the building Inspectors and the city engineer spent the greater part of Saturday and Sunday in and about the plant photographing tho wreckage from every angle. These phot ographs, Prosecute" Woods says. arc intended as q part Of the evidence in the prosecution of whoever Is responsi- blo for the building law violation and the moro serious charge which is possible.
 HcnncsSy Denies Statement
 Inspector 1Iennessy denies ! statement attributed to him in which lA is quoted as declaring there was
 ground for prosecution; he also
 nies adherence 10 the theory Of l explosion. saying he considered his as possibility ct first but soon found the wall failure had caused the disaster.
 Nothing but q complete investi- gation, arrests and prosecution can be regarded as fair and just to the widows and children of the victims of the North X Judd catastrophe last Thursday, in which eight men were killed and many others injured, and to the public in general" May or PaonCssa has Stuted.
 "Thcrc is no question tn my minl now" the mayor said but that an inspection of that building, which wo1d have been made had applica- tioN bo"n mad9 for a permit 10 alter the roof. would have revealed inc unsafe condition that caused this tcrYihln catastrophe. The law vas vic atcd when work was done with oui the issuance of permit. There is go course open to the prosecutins attorney but 10 have punishment deul. out 10 the guilty party or par ties. Eight men are dead for no reason other than that the walls oT the building where they worked were not strong enough 10 support { : roof that crashed down upon ism.
 =E'fIad an inspection been made Ehrn the alterations 10 the roof Trrc about to be done, believe crders would have been issued to double thc strength Of the walls, '',io walls arc 1G feet wide and the distance httwccn them was too GYr;,! to allow tucm 10 carry thn r'o.rrs Of the T1cr. They should law lou al leGs: twice their ta:r -np#.
 Frankly. I did not know what the cause Of the collapse was when J first viewed the ruins. discount. ed the theory that the weight of the snow on the roof caused 1t, because tl- wind was sweeping it off and preventing 1t from piling up. There is merit in the theory that the wind, roaring through the yentilators and tf'. open doors from the northeast l,7.-'.,,cd tllc final strain that forced t.." south wall onto the sidewalk, but the weakness was in the walls and it should not have been there, "I lo not consider that it is for me 10 say who is 10 blame. believe ! did my duty in summonmg the eN-