WEBVTT

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The inquest will please come to order.

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There's no smoking permitted at a coroner's inquest.

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There will be no demonstrations of any kind here today.

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There are deputy coroners in the room.

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They will remove from this room any violators of the coroner's order.

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This is the continued inquest.

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Hearing number six, numbers one to 93.

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Of December 1958, into the deaths of Joseph Matthew Oles, Wayne Frederick Wiz,

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Marilyn P. Reeb, and 90 others who came to their death as a result of a fire

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that took place at our Lady of Ainsfield School located at 909 North David's Avenue,

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Chicago, Illinois, on December 1, 18, 1958, after about 2 42 o'clock p.m.

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Are there any legal representatives present here today whose names are not now part of this record?

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I'll now read the cause of death in the case of Joseph Maffioli.

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That is that in my opinion Joseph Maffioli

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came to his death from excretion due to smoke inhalation.

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It was signed on December 8 by Dr. Victor Levine, the coroner's physician.

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And in the case of Wayne Frederick Wiz,

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who came to his death as a result of asphyxiation due to smoke inhalation,

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that was also signed on December 8, 1958 by Dr. Victor Levine, the coroner's physician.

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And in the case of Marilyn P. Reeb, she came to her death as a result of asphyxiation

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due to smoke inhalation. It was signed on December 8, 1958 by Dr. Victor Levine, the coroner's physician.

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And the cause of death in the 90 other cases are made a part of this record.

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They are mostly from smoke inhalation, fractures, second and third degree burns.

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Now, now a part of this record.

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You gentlemen.

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One minute. When the jury retires, I would like to have them have all of these

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coroner's reports and the cause of death so when they're deliberating they also

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have an opportunity to see this. This is quite lengthy

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and the jury naturally has to see everything and anything that we do.

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So.

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Get over on this side.

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You have to push that.

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As a citizen of the city of Chicago and not as a former of the jury,

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I was very much disturbed by the news items with reference to a meeting

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held in New York or in Boston rather,

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discrediting the city officials of the city of Chicago with reference to this fire.

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I think it was very indiscreet and in bad taste and obviously the timing was such

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that it would prejudice the thinking of this jury.

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I have handed the verdict of the jury to the coroner.

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I've been requested by the jurors to commend the coroner for the dignity

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with which he has handled this inquest.

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I hope that all public officials will handle it properly.

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Similarly, on this jury are many distinguished men.

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Men of professional standing in the United States such as architects,

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fire prevention men, fire detection men, and men who haven't been investigating fires for 25 years.

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They've worked diligently and sincerely, have visited the scene of fire many times

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and in my opinion, if I may say, with pardonable pride, I think they have done a wonderful job.

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On presenting this verdict to the Mr. McCarran, I want to say that the jury has

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accepted this assignment with great humility and sincerity and we have acted as servants of the people.

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Thank you, Mr. Tuckwriter.

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...determine whether this occurrence fire was accidental or otherwise.

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Further findings attached here too and made a part of...

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...reference to the death of Joseph M.A. FFIOLA. Died December 1st, year 58, Cook County Hospital from

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officiation due to smoke inhalation at a cost due to external violence causing the

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disease together with 92 others came to their deaths. Victim of a fire of undetermined origin

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that took place in R.A. D. Bangel School located upon the premises, commonly known described as

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909 North Avers Avenue in Chicago.

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Attached here too, findings of Connors Jury, R.A. D. Bangel School, Chicago, Illinois, fire

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Monday, December 1st, 58. We the Connors Jury have complete investigation of circumstances

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surrounding the December 1st, 58 fire in R.A. D. Bangel School at 909 North Avers Avenue, Chicago,

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Cook County, Illinois. The investigation includes an inspection of the fire scene,

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questioning of witnesses, and the study of the fire safety problems pertaining there too.

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We consider the purpose of the investigation by the jury to not only find the cause of death but

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also determine the possibility, possible culpability of person and agencies involved in the greatest

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importance to recommend measures for the prevention of similar catastrophes. Jetting from the evidence

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presented the fire originated in the stairwell area at the northwest corner of the school building

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and had been burning for some time before it was discovered. However, the exact point of origin

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cannot be established established and we therefore have reached the conclusion theories in the fire.