Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-19
SCHOOL BUILDERS
BLAMED FOR CRASH
FATAL TO LABORER

Continued From First Page)
presence of Mr. Hart to have the scat
fold fixed"
What did Rouse say to that2" asked
Schwartz.
He said: Wen take care of it, Mr..
Pleat'."
to make the scaffold Safer?" asked the
assistant district attorney.
Made Suggestions.
81 said he ought to get better boards, .
said the witness.
Would there have been plenty OF
time in which to repair the boards
before the accident happened?" asked
Schwartz.
The job would not have taken longer
than an hour"
Asked by the assistant district attor-
ney If he knew anything about the
resignation OF Orbia Bordeaux, con-
struction foreman at the Stuart Junior
High School job. Pleat replied: Il dent
know whether he resigned or was fired"
Had you had any difficulty with Mr.
Bordeaux on the job concerning work."
the witness was asked.
Pleat said he would frequently in
struct Bordeaux to do certain work, but
that frequently it would not be done be-
cause the foreman did not feel 1t was
necessary.
Believed ScaffoId Safe.
Bordeaux, who said he worked with
the Rose Co. for IL months, until Sat-
urday, was questioned by the jury. He
said he was in charge Of the job during
Mr.. Rouse's absence. Preceding the
building inspectors to the stand, Bor-
deaux had testified he believed the scat
folding was in a safe condition.
What was the cause Of the acct
dent?" he was asked.
That I cannot say. It may have
been caused through a board slipping
or a board breaking"
Didn't you make an inspection after
the miShap?"
II was in my Office when the crash
occurred. When I went outside, I saw
them carrying a man from the building
1t was not until after the ambulance
had taken him away that went TO the
scene of the accident"
Weren't you able to tell then what
had caused the accident?"
ScaffoId Replaced.
by that time the scaffold had been
replaced"
questioned by the assistant dis
trict attorney, Bordeaux had stated he
did not know where Rouse was when
the accident happened. Later examina-
ton, however developed that he had
telephoned Rouse at another construc-
ton job of the Rose Co. Immediately
after the accident.
Mozon died in Casualty Hospital Sun
day night of injuries sustained when
he, with two other workmen, fell from
the collapsing scafold. A large stone
weighing approximately half a ton fell
on Moron. The two other laborers, both
colored, who were injured with Mozon
are Raymond Harris and Joseph Dun
can. Both were to be questioned by
the coroner's jury today.
After hearing testimony by Harris
that Mozon had remarked just prior TO
the accident that the scaffold was un-
safe" the coroner's jury continued its
inquest until Thursday, when more wit
nesses will be summoned
In addition to Bordeaux, Rouse and
the two building inspectors. the only
other witness heard this morning was
Detective Sergt. Charles Mansfield OF
the homicide squad, who conducted an
investigation into the fatal accident yes
terday afternoon Immediately after the
FIRST session Of the inquest.
Carried Heavy Load.
1t was testified also by Pleat that
George Warren, chief building inspec-
tor of the District. gave orders Sat-
urday that all 1-inch planking on the
scaholds be substituted with 2-inch
planking, securely nailed. and equipped
with toe-boards. Warren, according to
Pleat, forbade laborers working on the
job until these achievements were
made and passed upon by the inspec-
tor in charge OF the Job.
1t was explained that heavy stone
sometimes weighing more than half
ton, was being carried on these scat
folds. Since the accident the wheel.
oarrows with single wheels which had
been in use had been substituted IN
favor OF four wheeled trucks, by the
contractors.