Copyright (c) 2007 Cornell University All rights reserved. http://digitalcommons.ilr.cornell.edu/triangletrans Recent documents in Transcripts of Criminal Trial Against Triangle Owners en-us Tue, 18 Dec 2007 14:09:19 PST 3600 http://digitalcommons.ilr.cornell.edu/triangletrans/18 http://digitalcommons.ilr.cornell.edu/triangletrans/18 Thu, 01 Sep 2005 12:25:07 PDT This is a complete copy of the Triangle Fire Transcript. For ease of viewing and downloading, we have also divided the transcript into volumes and sections. Please note: Full transcript is unavailable for pages 674-1210, but is contained substantially in Vol. 2. http://digitalcommons.ilr.cornell.edu/triangletrans/17 http://digitalcommons.ilr.cornell.edu/triangletrans/17 Wed, 24 Aug 2005 12:16:50 PDT Vol. 3, sec. 4 (pp. 1508-1600)SIGMUND FUCKS, painter (defendants' witness, p. 1508), escribes refurbishing floors of premises SAMUEL BERNSTEIN, superintendent (defendants' witness, p. 1516), related by marriage to Harris & Blanck, lost brother and other relatives in fire; describes actions of self and others on the day of the fire, notes key in lock; distances and dimensions of tables and other objects on premises Adjourned, resumed December 21, 1911 (p. 1551)BERNSTEIN continues, questioned about previous testimony to Coroner EMILY L. PERRETT, department store buyer (defendants' witness, p. 1576), describes entering and leaving the premisesISAAC SEGAL, Singer sewing machine salesman (defendants' witness, p. 1583) TONY SURAMALLI, paper remover (defendants' witness, p. 1584)GUSSIE RAPP, forelady (defendants' witness, p. 1587), describes whether doors were locked http://digitalcommons.ilr.cornell.edu/triangletrans/16 http://digitalcommons.ilr.cornell.edu/triangletrans/16 Wed, 24 Aug 2005 11:56:47 PDT Vol. 4, sec. 3 (pp. 2178-2204)The Court's charge to the jury: defines possible criminal verdicts; the jury's verdict, p. 2204: not guilty http://digitalcommons.ilr.cornell.edu/triangletrans/15 http://digitalcommons.ilr.cornell.edu/triangletrans/15 Wed, 24 Aug 2005 11:54:58 PDT Vol. 4, sec. 2 (pp. 2141-2178) The People's summation (Mr. Bostwick): describes witness testimony, reliability, physical evidence, outlines unified theory of case http://digitalcommons.ilr.cornell.edu/triangletrans/14 http://digitalcommons.ilr.cornell.edu/triangletrans/14 Wed, 24 Aug 2005 11:53:36 PDT Vol. 4, sec. 1 (pp. 2053-2204) SummationsThe defendants' summation (Mr. Steuer): describes testimony of selected witnesses, raising questions of likelihood of perjury http://digitalcommons.ilr.cornell.edu/triangletrans/13 http://digitalcommons.ilr.cornell.edu/triangletrans/13 Wed, 24 Aug 2005 11:51:13 PDT Vol. 3, sec. 7 (pp. 1803-1901)ROSE COHEN, machine operator (defendants' witness, p 1803), through interpreter, describes going through the Washington Place door, seeing others go through itDINAH LIPSCHITZ, time keeper, operated telautograph (intercom/telephone device) (defendants' witness, p 1805), still employed by firm, related to Harris & Blanck; says door was never locked; questioned about previous testimony about whether the door was kept openEMILE W. TESCHNER, salesman employed by Harris & Blanck (defendants' witness, p 1816), says he never had to use a key to get in or out of the Washington Place stairway doorEVA HARRIS, Harris's sister (defendants' witness, p 1821), worked at machine, described what happened day of the fireSAM ORANSTEIN, sleeve maker (defendants' witness, p 1824), assisted by interpreter, says he saw people coming in and out of the Washington Place door DAVE PUSER, carpenter (defendants' witness, p 1827), assisted by interpreter, describes partition he builtABRAHAM BERNSTEIN, machine operator (defendants' witness, p 1839), assisted by interpreter, testifies about the Washington Place door; questioned about previous testimonyISAAC HARRIS, one of the defendants, testifies on his own behalf, p. 1846, describes hours he kept, how he spent his timeABRAHAM BERNSTEIN resumes stand, p. 1848, asked to identify interpreter of his testimony at District Attorney's office, Joseph PellISAAC HARRIS resumes stand, p. 1849, describes how he went from floor to floor, testifies that he never carried a key, describes actions on the day of the fire; questioned about earlier fires in the building, less than $25 worth of thefts by employees, reason for inspecting pocket books; questioned about age of operators; describes physical layout, location of bins of cuttings http://digitalcommons.ilr.cornell.edu/triangletrans/12 http://digitalcommons.ilr.cornell.edu/triangletrans/12 Wed, 24 Aug 2005 11:49:52 PDT Vol. 3, sec. 6 (pp. 1663-1802)WILLIAM GREENSPAN, employee (defendants' witness, p. 1663), received raise after fire, no longer employed by Harris & Blanck; describes actions of self and others on day of fire; questioned at great length about previous testimonyHARRY KESTENBAUM, court clerk (People's witness, p. 1695), questioned about witnesses at the Coroner's inquestWILLIAM GREENSPAN resumes the stand, asked to identify James Sheridan; does not recognize himROSE ROSENFELD, operator (defendants' witness, p. 1704), describes actions on day of fireNATHAN SALUB, night watchman (defendants' witness, p. 1707), assisted by interpreter, testifies that he routinely locked all the doors; unlocked all of them the day of the fire; describes how he escaped; describes string on key; questioned about previous testimonyAdjourned, resumed December 22, 1911SALUB continuesFRANK PASTERNECK, machine operator (defendants' witness, p 1723), assisted by interpreter, describes layout of premises, actions on day of fireEVA KAPLAN, forelady/operator (defendants' witness, p 1731), testifies Washington Place door was always open in summer, closed in winter; describes routine way she and others left buildingMARY ALTER, stenographer for Harris & Blanck, related to both (defendants' witness, p 1737), describes messages sent on switchboard and other devices between floors on day of fire, appearance of reflection of flamesLOUIS ALTER, inspected bags of female workers as they left each day, (defendants' witness, p 1750), described process; related to Harris & BlanckEDWARD N. MARKOWITZ, in charge of shipping department (defendants' witness, p 1755), describes attempts to evacuated others; appearance of flamesDORA TIGER, operator (defendants' witness, p 1768), describes routine way of passing between floorsTHERESA ELBAUM, forelady (defendants' witness, p 1786), describes routine way of passing between floorsPETER WORTMAN, in charge of stock department (embroideries and laces) (defendants' witness, p 1789), had girlfriend on another floor; describes routine way of passing between floorsIDA OKAN, button marker (defendants' witness, p 1792), describes routine way she and others passed between floors; notes Washington Place door was open in summer, closed in winterMICHAEL IACOVELLA, buttonhole maker (defendants' witness, p 1799), describes routine way of passing between floors; notes employees were able to dance during strike when phonograph was provided; noted seeing Blanck try the door several times http://digitalcommons.ilr.cornell.edu/triangletrans/11 http://digitalcommons.ilr.cornell.edu/triangletrans/11 Wed, 24 Aug 2005 11:47:35 PDT Vol. 3, sec. 5, (pp. 1601-1662)IDA WILLINSKI/Cohen, operator (defendants' witness, p. 1601), describes actions of self and others on day of fireLOUIS A. SILK, embroidery seller (defendants' witness, p. 1608), describes usual way of entering and leaving the premises; what happened on the day of the fireBERNARD C. ENSER, embroidery manufacturer (defendants' witness, p. 1619), describes usual way of entering and leaving the premises YETTA KREITZBERG, worked in shipping department (defendants' witness, p. 1625), testifies about turning the knob of the doorLENA HANDSCHUH, forelady (defendants' witness, p. 1628), questioned about key in door; received a raise after fireLOUIS SEDERMAN, assistant shipping clerk (defendants' witness, p. 1635) testifies that hose was rotten; never saw door locked; key was always hanging from it by a string; always open in summer, closed in winter, people always went in and out; Washington Place stairs were always darkLOUIS BROWN, machinist (defendants' witness, p. 1645), describes actions of self and others on day of fire; questioned about previous testimony http://digitalcommons.ilr.cornell.edu/triangletrans/10 http://digitalcommons.ilr.cornell.edu/triangletrans/10 Wed, 24 Aug 2005 11:07:24 PDT Vol. 3, sec. 3 (pp. 1408-1507)HENRY C. JACOBS, traveling theater owner (defendants' witness, p. 1408), describes one visit to the premisesSIM HERMAN, lace salesman (defendants' witness, p. 1412), testifies about the routine whereabouts of Mr. Harris, which stairs or elevators were takenWILLIAM HARRIS, porter (defendants' witness, p. 1418), testifies about string on keyANNA MITTLEMAN, sewing machine operator (defendants' witness, p. 1438)SAMUEL RUBIN pattern maker, discharged before the day of the fire (defendants' witness, p. 1443), asked about how he came and went between floors, physical layout of premisesHYMAN SILVERMAN, machine operator, now cigar store owner (defendants' witness, p. 1458), asked about key in door, watchman examining workers' pocketbooks as they left, Mr. Blanck routinely trying the door; came to testify after reading about the case (no subpoena)EDWIN E. WOLF, salesman (defendants' witness, p. 1477), discusses whether he found door locked on visitsJOHN CASEY, engineer/mechanic, worked under superintendent Mr. Stern (defendants' witness, p. 1487), questioned about length of key in door; questioned about previous statements, argument between attorneys over seeing written testimonyABRAHAM BACHARACH, embroidery manufacturer, sells to Harris & Blanck (defendants' witness, p. 1498), describes customary way he entered and left premises; describes usual whereabouts of Harris, whether he had ever locked a door http://digitalcommons.ilr.cornell.edu/triangletrans/9 http://digitalcommons.ilr.cornell.edu/triangletrans/9 Wed, 24 Aug 2005 11:05:08 PDT Vol. 3, sec. 2 (pp. 1291-1407)MAY CALIANDRO LEVANTINI, machine operator (defendants' witness, p. 1291); describes actions the day of the fire; describes flames; questioned about lawsuit against Harris & Blanck; questioned about appearance of string on key in door; describes turning key and passing through door; questioned about previous testimonyLong argument between attorneys about access to written testimonyTHOMAS HORTON, porter (defendants' witness, p. 1325); questioned about previous testimony re lock and door; extensive arguing between attorneys and judge re admissibility of statementsREGINALD J. WILLIAMSON, porter, now working for another firm (defendants' witness, p. 1350); testifies that he took lunch orders from sewing machine operators; describes string on key tied to door-knob, which he himself tied on; testifies about workers dancing to phonograph brought in during strike; about physical layoutIDA MITTLEMAN, machine operator (defendants' witness, p. 1371), testifies about where she and her sister satAdjourned; resumed December 20, 1911IDA MITTLEMAN continues, describes actions the day of the fire, actions of others; still an employee of Harris & Blanck; describes key hanging by string from door-knob; questioned about previous testimony about trying to open the door; long argument between attorneys about access to written testimony