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I Love American History

Central School 6th Grade History Blog: This is a spot for my history students to participate in history conversation relating to the current in-class topic.

The Triangle Shirtwaist Trial

Two weeks after the fire, a grand jury indicted Triangle Shirtwaist owners Isaac Harris and Max Blanck on charges of manslaughter.

You can find a transcript of the trial at one of my favorite sites on the web:

http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/triangle/triangleaccount.html

In his opening statement, Charles Bostwick told jurors that he would prove through witnesses that the ninth floor door that might have been an escape route for victims was locked at the time of the fire.  More particularly, he said he would prove that the locked door caused the death of Margaret Schwartz, one of the 146 workers killed on March 25.

On December 27, Judge Crain read to the jury the text of Article 6, Section 80, of New York's Labor Law: "All doors leading in or to any such factory shall be so constructed as to open outwardly where practicable, and shall not be locked, bolted, or fastened during working hours."  Crain told the jury that in order to return a verdict of guilty they must first find that door was locked during the fire--and that the defendants knew or should have known it was locked.  The judge also told the jury that they must find beyond a reasonable doubt that the locked door caused the death of Margaret Schwartz.

After deliberating for just under two hours, the jury returned a verdict of not guilty.  After the verdict, one juror, Victor Steinman declared, "I believed that the door was locked at the time of the fire, but we couldn't find them guilty unless we believed they knew the door was locked." 

What do you think?  Was justice served?  Why or why not?  To help with your answer go to the link above and read what the witnesses said about that day.
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Posted: Wednesday, November 18, 2009 5:00 PM by tmjones
Comments

Raymond Gee said:

I do not think it was right to say they were not guilty because the owners of the factory did not care for their emploies' saftey by not having a fire escape plan. Of course the door was locked, its looked all the time, plus if it wasnt more people would have survived, and they would have escaped though the door but they didnt

# November 18, 2009 6:35 PM

Dalton said:

I do not think that justice was served because the door was locked and practically impossible to bust down. Also, the owner either knew the door was locked but didn't think it would be a problem, or didn't know it was locked. But, he's still responsible no matter what because he's the owner and he should know whatever goes on in factory.

# November 19, 2009 3:24 PM

Kailey G said:

I think that thfe triangle shirtwaist fire was a very tragic event. I do not think that justice was served because they said that they didnt have proof that the door was locked, but it wass. So all of the women and girls died because of their bosses locking the door because they thought that they might steal something. The bosses shouldve stayed until every body in the building left to lock the door and leave and people wouldt of died like they did. The bosses shouldve been punished!

# November 19, 2009 3:50 PM

Robby Gustafson said:

The way I see it, there is good evidence for both sides. It all depends on what time the fire happened. If the people in there were working late, the door could have legaly been locked. If the fire happened before closing time, then it could not.

Until next post

Robby

# November 19, 2009 4:02 PM

Allen gee said:

No I do not think justice was served because he should of been quilty for keeping the door locked when he was not suppost to during working hours.

# November 20, 2009 2:26 PM

Brayden G said:

I think they should've arrested him. If he's the factory owner, it's his responsibility to keep everyone safe. If that door wasn't locked, some of them probably would've lived. I'm pretty sure they wouldn't lock the door without him saying it was okay.

# November 20, 2009 3:13 PM

elsie gee said:

i think he should be guilty, because he locked the escape door during working hours! Justice could have been served by putting the owner in jail!

# November 21, 2009 11:15 AM

Mikaila Gee said:

I think that that person should have been charged guilty because he and his company killed several people . NO. he should have been charged guilty because there is many witnesses

# November 21, 2009 10:54 PM

Ashton Gee said:

I personally think justice wasn't served. Several teenage girls could have lived if that door wasn't locked. I know that the defendants knew the door was locked. I understand that I can't prove that they knew the doors were locked, but I think you and I both know he knew that that door was locked. The only reason they kept the door locked because they were afraid the girls would run away or steal something from them. They were only afraid about them losing money. You know how those robber barons can be.

            P.S. I loved doing the debate!!! You did a really good job for a first-timer.

# November 22, 2009 1:55 PM

Alonzo gee said:

1. i believed he was guilty.

2. no justice was not served.

3. because they were being unfair of not getting real evidence

# November 22, 2009 2:36 PM

trinity gee said:

i think that if that door  wasnt locked there would ave only a few deaths.therefor the company should have been guilty.because they were stubborn millions of people died

# November 23, 2009 5:42 PM

justin gee said:

i dont think that justice was served.the reason is that the factory owners should have made more ways out.(more fire ecsapes or bigger ones etc.) I do believe that the door was locked.that was why the people either had to burn or jump out onto the sidewalks to their deaths,witch wouldve been terrible to watch from the streets below.

# November 23, 2009 5:48 PM

Anna G. said:

No, justice was not served because 146 people were killed because that door was locked.

# November 23, 2009 5:53 PM

Samantha G said:

I think justice was not served because the reason sh edied is because that door was locked, if it wa sunlocked she could have gotten out and lived.

                                   -Samantha!! :]

# November 24, 2009 4:10 PM

derek gee said:

I think that they knew the door was locked during working hours, he was probably just making sure that no one escaped and he locked the door on purpose. I do not think justice was served because the jury returned the verdict as not guilty and the door was locked in my opinion on purpose by the boss or manager to keep them from escaping, in my opinion.

# November 24, 2009 6:09 PM

SabrinaJ said:

I think justice was not served because I really believe they knew the door was locked.

# November 27, 2009 4:37 PM

Alexis Gee said:

I think the conditions that the women and teenage girls had to work in were very dirty, unsanitary and dangerous. They should not have been treated that way.

# December 9, 2009 4:09 PM
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