Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-24
INSPECTORS HELD
IN BUILDING CRASH
Jury Holds Mans Death Was
Due to Inadequate Check
on Work.

Two employees of the District Build
ing Inspectors Office. Ansel T. Rogers
and John ]. Widmayer, were held for
action of the grand jury today by
coroner's jury investigating the death
of Henry Roberts. colored workman,
who was crushed to death under fall
ing concrete last Tuesday in an apart
ment house under construction at Con-
necticut avenue and Porter streets.
Rogers, who lives at 161 Mount Vernon
boulevard. Alexandria, Va, is an as
assistant building inspector in charge of
the territory where the apartment was
being built.
Widmayer, who lives at 1910 Vermont
avenue. was employed as a special in
engineer who drew up the plans for the
structural work In the building.
The jury verdicts read as follows:
I'VE. the coroner's jury, believe that the
death of Henry Roberts was the result
of inadequate inspection on the part of
John j. Widmayer and AnSel T. Rogers
We order them held for actio of the
grand jury"
Widmayer and Rogers said they are
N no way to blame for the death. Rogers
said there are l5 buildings under con-
Struction which he must visit daily and
that it is consequently impossible for
him to inspect every minute detail of
the construction work.
Widmayer said that it is his opinion
that he was employed by the District
merely to see that the material put into
the building conformed with the specifi-
cations, which he drew up, and that he
was in no way responsible for the
strength or durability of any of this
material. He pointed out that his speci-
fications had been approved by the
building inspectors office.
The jury deliberated for nearly an
hour before returning its verdict. AL
though 1t was brought out during the
inquest that the building regulations
OF Washington do not specify and
charge any particular person with the
duty OF examining supports for con-
crete flooring, no comment was made
on this phase of the accident.
Joseph William Downing, deputy in
spector of buildings, told the Jury that
in his opinion the logical person to
examine the supports would be either
Rogers or Widmayer. He also said that
he thought. it quite possible that blow
AiOLt d uedFlly idQen WneelDarr0W
might have weakened the support, but
that an empty wheelbarrow should not
have had this effect. The theory had
been advanced that the support which
gave way was weakened by glancing
blows from wheelbarrows with which
workmen were transporting brick to a
retaining wall being built on the far
side OF the apartment.
Mr.. Widmayer was recalled to the
stand today and testified that after ex-
amining the supports of the flooring
he instructed the workmen to go ahead"
He explained that he meant for them
to proceed with the laying of concrete.
He also advanced the theory that the
supports may have given way as a re-
suit of a trench having been dug near
its base. He also testified on the stand
that 1t was part of his duty to de-
termine the strength of the supports
bracing the concrete form.
The only other witness called was
j. l.. Peed. foreman of concrete work.
who testified that he laid the concrete
floor after Widmayer had told him,
according to his understanding. that
1t would be all right for him to do so.
Roberts. who had come to work on
the morning Of the day when he was
killed. lived in the 1900 block of Marion
street, He was 38 years old.