Empanels Jury and Inspects Opera House, Later Viewing Long Rows of Dead in the Morgues -- Will Ascertain if Laws Were Complied with
Coroner James T. Heffran arrived in town this morning from his home in Speers and at once took up the work of empanelling a jury. He named the following:
T. M. Reesem foreman.
W. A. McBurney.
James T. Espey.
P. C. Hoffman.
R. T. Kirk.
W. H. Dunlap, Sr.
After the jury had been sworn by the coroner the body went to the Opera House, where inspection was made of the interior and the hallway leading to the playhouse.
In the Opera House the coroner and his jury heard statements by John C. Morgan, owner of the Opera House building, and C. F. Ferguson, manager of the Opera House. Ferguson took the coroner and the jury all through the building and explained everything. He attributed the initial cause of the panic to a breaking film in the moving picture apparatus. The operator opened that machine, smoke escaped, and someone in the gallery shouted "fire" and panic ensued.
Mr. Morgan made no statement.
Leaving the Opera House the coroner and the jury went to the morgues and viewed the bodies.
Coroner Heffran promised a most thorough inquiry into the disaster. He will ascertain whether the state requirements concerning places of public amusement had been complied with, and will probably call an inspector from Harrisburg to help him in his effort to determine this important point. He believes that if Ferguson was in any way responsible it was on this point.
The formal inquest will be held in Canonsburg next Thursday or Friday. Mr. Ferguson’s statement Sunday was not made under oath, but he will be examined at the inquest.