Democratic Sentinel, Volume 3, Number 36, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 October 1879 — Verdict of Manslaughter. [ARTICLE]

Verdict of Manslaughter.

The Coroner'! jury on the Adrian fair-ground disaster has just been made public. Their deliberations resulted in finding that Architect Sizer was guilty of gross negligence in preparing the plans and specifications; that the Armstrongs were guilty of gross and criminal negligence in undertaking such a building, being incompetent mechanics, and that there was gross negligence shown in the work of constructing the same; that Lawrence exercised gross negligence in the employment of such incompetent parties, further negligence in not having suitable superintendence, and further negligence in not himself examining the method and principles on which the building was being constructed, said negligence criminally causing death. Immediately upon these findings being known, Prosecuting Attorney Underwood appeared before Justice R. B. Robbins, and swore out warrants for the arrest of Sizer, H. H. and E. R. Armstrong, and W. T. Lawrence on the charge of manslaughter under the findings, which are quite lengthy and prepared with minute care. The parties would be amenable to the charge of murder or manslaughter, at the option of the prosecuting officer.