Evening star., 1940-04-07
Coroner Calls
Inquest tuesday
In Fire Deaths
Investigation. Boord
Delays Publication
Of Report

An inquest into the deaths Of
three occupants Of the White Court
Apartments, which was destroyed
by fire last Monday, was ordered
late yesterday by Coroner A. Ma
gruder Macdonald after a special
District government investigation
board. assigned to fix responsibility
for the disaster, refused to publish
its findings in advance of the cor
oner's action.
Belief that the findings of the in
vestigation board were too hot to
handle" outside of the scope of
some legally constituted body pre-
vailed at the District Building,
although members of the board de-
clined to give any indication of
what was in its report.
After reading a confidential copy
of the report of the investigation
board, which was headed by Capt.
John L. Person, an assistant En-
gineer Commissioner of the Dis
trict, and after taking legal advice,
DR.. Macdonald advised against pre-
mature publication of the docu-
ment and set Tuesday at II am. as
the time for the inquest.
Jury Already Sworn In.
The inquest will be held into the
death of three victims of the dis
astrous fire, who have been identi-
fed as Michael Jones, so: Mrs. Doro-
thy Haislip. 80, and Miss Carrie
Dunahue, So. A coroner's jury
already has been sworn in over the
bodies of the victims and this was
one reason given by DR.. Macdonald
as to why the investigation report
should not be published in advance
OF the inquest.
otherwise" he said, "the publ
cation of this report might inf1u-
ence the jury and therefore it is
deemed advisable that the report
should be given to the jurors di-
rectly."
Coroner Macdonald consulted
yesterday afternoon with Capt. Per-
son, Col. John w. Oehmann, build
ing inspector; Herbert A. Friede,
superintendent of fire alarms, and
Calvin G. LAUDER, fire marshal.
The investigation board, as well
as Acting Engineer Commissioner
Patrick H. Tansey, were advised
that the findings of the board should
not be made public at this time
by James w. Lauderdale, an assist
ant corporation counsel, who de-
clined to discuss any phase of the
question.
Col. Oehmann, it was reported, is
completing compilation Of list Of
properties which are not In comph-
ance with building or fire regula-
tions of the District on which no
tices have been served for correc-
tive measures, but he said he still
had received no request for the list
from Chairman Schultz of the Fire
and Police Subcommittee of the
House District Committee.
Schultz Still Wants List.
Mr.. Schultz earlier had told re-
porters he wanted list of the more
than 100 fire traps" which some
officials indicated they believed ex-
listed in the District, but he has
agreed that Col. Oehmann could not
so designate such list without run
ming the hazard of damage suits
Mr.. Schultz, however, said he still
wanted list of buildings found not
to be in compliance with the present
building and fire regulations.
The probe of the disaster and
the study of need of stronger laws
or increased personnel is scheduled
to be resumed by the Schultz SUBJ
, committee, when Fire Chief Stephen
T. Porter may be called as a prin-
cipal witness.
Maj. Tansey yesterday received
from David B. Karrick, president OF
the Building Owners and Man.
ayers Association of the District, a
written promise to cooperate with
the investigation group in a move
to eliminate as far as practical all
fire hazards. Mr.. Karrick told Maj
Tansey that his group represented
owners of properties assessed al
some $50,0O0,0O0 comprising about
5000 apartment units.
Every owner of rental property
should be willing to cooperate with
you and your committee in its ef-
fort to eliminate fire traps" he
said.