Coroner's Jury Clears Elevator Operator in City Hall Fatality
A janitor's death in the elevator shaft was ruled an accident, as the operator testified he believed the path was clear.
The death of Robert Spaulding, janitor at the city hall, Monday, was an accident, according to the coroner's jury which heard the case yesterday. No blame was attached to anyone. Elevator Man Charles Johnson testified he thought the elevator was clear when he started it up. He had stopped as soon as he heard the cries, but it was too late.
“Elevator Man Charles Johnson testified he thought the elevator was clear when he started it up. He had stopped as soon as he heard the cries, but it was too late.”
This tragic incident at the old city hall serves as a reminder of the industrial hazards faced by workers during Tacoma's early growth. Workplace safety regulations and modern engineering have drastically reduced such accidents, though the loss of a city employee remains a sobering footnote in the building's history.
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