The Triangle Fire Trial

04/18/24 • 67 min

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In 1911, a devastating fire raged through the Triangle Waist Company, killing 146. It was one of the worst workplace disasters in American history. Many people blamed the factory's owners, Max Blanck and Isaac Harris, and wanted them to pay. But at Blanck and Harris's manslaughter trial, a shrewd defense attorney and weak worker protection laws ensured that the prosecutors were in for the fight of their life...

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History on Trial - The Triangle Fire Trial

Transcript

Speaker 100:00:01.040

You're listening to History on Trial, a production of iHeart Podcasts. Listener Discretion advised. Lena Yawler was getting ready to leave work when she heard a girl yell fire. Lena whipped around and rolled her eyes. The girl who had shouted was the factory's prankster. She was always telling her fellow sewing machine operators that the boss was coming, making them jump in their seats, only for no boss to appear. Lena paid the girl no attention.