IRON GATES, DEATH'S ALLY. That two iron gates, securely padlocked, across stairways in the Randolph street entrance, held scores of women and children as prisoners of death at the Iroquois theater fire horror, was the startling evidence secured on Saturday, Jan. 9, ten days after the holocaust by Fire Department Attorney Monroe Fulkerson. In a statement under oath George M. Dusenberry, superintendent of the auditorium of the playhouse, admitted that these gates had remained locked against the frantic crowds through all the terrible rush to escape. Against these, bodies were piled high in death of those who might have gained the open air had they not been penned in by the immovable bars. Not until the sworn statement had been secured from Dusenberry were the investigators brought to a full realization of the horrors of the imprisoned victims. These deadly iron gates, four to five feet high, according to Dusenberry's testimony, were quietly removed after the fire. One of the gates was at the landing of the dress circle. The other was on the stairway which led from the dress circle entrance to the landing above. At the Randolph street entrance were two grand staircases. Passage down one of these staircases was shut off completely by the iron gates. According to Dusenberry, the gates were locked with a padlock, requiring a key to open them. It was the custom to open these gates after the intermission at the close of the second act, so as to give the people an unobstructed passageway for leaving the house at the close of the play. The exact condition made by the locked gates and the extent to which they contributed to the immense loss of life may be realized by Dusenberry's sworn testimony in detail on this point. DUSENBERRY'S TESTIMONY. It was as follows: Q. Do you recall an inspection which I made of the stairway of the second floor of that theater the next day after the fire? A. Yes, sir. Q. And showed you two iron gates that folded up like an accordion? A. Yes, sir. Q. Please state whether or not these two gates were locked at the time of the fire. A. Yes, sir. Q. State where the lower one was located. A. At the landing of the dress circle. Q. And do I understand that one side of it was solidly hinged with an iron rod and that the other side of the gate was fastened by a chain locked by a padlock? A. A small lock. Q. The lock required a key to open it? A. Yes, sir; a small key. Q. How high was this gate? A. I should think four or five feet. Q. And was I correct in saying it folded up like an accordion when not in use? A. Yes, sir. Q. Where was the other one located? A. On the stairway which led from the dress circle entrance up to the landing above. Q. And was it secured and locked in the same manner as the other gate? A. Yes, sir. PURPOSE OF THE TWO GATES. Q. Consider the first one; what was its function? A. In order that we could have system in handling the house.