Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-11-25
Group Under Maj. Dawson
Will Not Fix Criminal
Responsibility.
REVISION OF INSPECTION
CODE is HELD PROBABLE
Results of Probe Will Not Be Made
Public Until After Coro-
ner's Inquest.

Meeting behind closed doors, District
officials today began q technical in
quiry into the cause of the explosion
last week at McCrory's Five and Ten
Cent Store which snuffed out the lives
OF four women, man and child. OF
the more than 20 other persons injured
in the blast, all but four have been
still confined have shown improve
ment.
The purpose of the inquiry, according
to Assistant Engineer Commissioner
Donald A. Dawson, in charge, is to de-
term1ne the exact cause of the boiler
explosion, and, If possible. to devise
means of preventing the recurrence of
any such disaster.
Hold Inquest December 2.
The only explanation for the secrecy
surrounding the probe was that
nothing could be done which might
jeopardize the coroner's inquest" The
inquest will be held December 2, when
criminal responsibility for the explosion
is expected to be fixed, providing such
responsibility is found to exist.
Our examination" Maj DAWSON
said, will not be directed toward the
determination Of any criminal RESPONSE
bility. That Is a matter for the coro-
delegated me to investigate and report
on the accident, and our meeting today
Is simply a gathering of technical men,
who will go into the technical phases
of the disaster. II We make public any
report, it will not be until after the
coroner'S inquest"
In addition to Maj Dawson, p. M.
Greenlaw, inspector of boilers; John w.
Oehmann, building inspector; Fire Mar
aI1 ~ oh A %
plumbing inspector, and Robert E.
Lynch OF the corporation counSels Of
fee attended the meeting.
The first witness was Maurice j. Col
bert, a plumber, who made the plumb
ing installations at the building nine
years ago. Mr.. Colbert supplied the
board with drawings of the inStalla-
tions, and they were compared with the
plans from the plumbing inspectors
office, which were presented by Mr..
McGonegal.
Woman Is Additional Victim.
The name of an additional victim,
Mrs. Bessie Sykes, AZ, of 1928 Seven
teenth street, was added yesterday to
the list of injured.
First precinct police learned that Mrs.
Sykes, in the store at the time of the
blast, made her way to the street, where
she was placed in a taxicab and sent
home, suffering from severe shock. DR..
Irving Brotman, who has been treating
her, told police yesterday her condition
is serious.
First Precinct Policeman w. r. Ellery,
who investigated, reported that Mrs.
Sykes was in the center of the McCrory
store, walking toward the rear, when
the explosion occurred. For a few min
uteS she started running around in
circles, trying to get out. Finally She
left the store through front door. She
fails to remember what happened until
she found herself in the doorway of
store across the street"
The low-pressure boiler, which ex-
ploded Thursday, was of the type not
deemed dangerous. 1t comes within the
classification of boilers not inspected
under the District code. The impress
sion was gained at the District Build
ing today that the investigation being
made under Mai. Dawson likely will
result in some amendment to the code
requiring periodic examination Of boil
ers Of this type.