Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-02-18

A Fright Fall OF Cne Hundred
and seventy Feet.
The Cerone@'s Inquest.

found i'm one of the rockets of the victims
clothes. were briefly mentioned in yester-
days STAB The man was seen n short time
previous TO the fatal fall on the roof OF the
main building. IL Seems that he ascended
fIom there tn the upper outside gallery OF the
dome at the base OF the Goddess OF Liberty
ard took n stand on the east side over the
main entrance. where he was seen by several
below him. They saw him mount the rail-
ing 81 the balcony and assume an upright
POSITION. when he leaped or fell therefrOm.
In dee cerding he struck first against the
come and rebOunded, striking the iron cor
nice OF the lower gallery, from which he
again n bounded on the iron braces beneath.
landing head foremost on the copper roof OF
the IT ain building, distance Of 40 feet be-
low the balcony from which he jumped.
Persons on the ground far below who saw the
terrible Hight, supposed il 10 be the coat of
some ole blowing away, but the fact of the
suicide soon became known, AMI Captain -.
y BlackfOrd, chief OF the Capitol police,
with some OF his officers repaired To the
place, where they found the body rolled up,
SHAPELESS MASS
Of flesh. broken bones and clothing. The re-
mains were at once removed 70 a space
near the room OF the electrician, and left To
await the arrival of the coroner who was
sent for. The head was completely crushed
one side of the face being perfectly flat. and
the entire body so mangled aS 10 be u1recOg-
nizable, until the different parts were ad-
iusted by some physicians who were present.
The front of the skull was crushed over the
rear portion and the lower jawbOne jlmmPd
mp into the brain, leaving the gums with the
splitting the skull, traverSet across the head
about the right eye, through which portions
Of the brain were prOtTuding. One eye had
sprung from the socket, and appeared ready
To drop out. The lose was crushed fiat, all
the teeth gone but one. some loose in the
mouth. and the tongue cut and bleeding.
The right shoulder was broken, also the arm.
The neck had been driven into the body and
the head appeared resting between the two
shoulders. The victim was about twenty-five
years old. with light blueish gray eyes. brown
hair. ard was about five feet six inches in
height. He Wore pair of buckSkin gloves on
his hands, the ends of the fingers OF which
had been worn out. As stated yesterday. q
pawn ticket was found in one OF his pockets
given him by Hedcnheimer Il Co. corner OF
Pennsylvania avenue and 18th street, for a
vest. on which il appeared - cents had been
advanced.
The Inquest.
The coroner arrived about 80 O'Clock p.
m. aTG at once empanneled jury of inquest
as fellows: =. =. SmOot (fOremanj. l.. A Co.
bright. James +. DOOley. r. y. AthertOn. e.
NJ. Ford, Charles :. Draper, Howard French.
+. \. Ward. C. VI. Levy. l.. II. A llebach j.
w. WestfalI. and +. j. Parker. After view
ing the mangsed mass of flesh and the scene
OF the fatality, the coroner proceeded 10 take
THE TESTIMONY,
which was very meagre.
Mrs. WallingfOrl testified to seeing The
man walking on the roof Of the dome on the
outside OF the upper gallery, holding on To
attracted elsewhere. and on again looking at
The man She saw him falling. Beyond this
she was unable tO give any information.
At this point, Mr.. Edward Mem lhOn,
TIE FATHER OF THE DECEASED
appeared, man about sixty years ofage.
ard ut once recognized the body as that of
James McMahon. twenty-five years old. He
sta Ted that James had been studying for the
catholic ministry in Baltimore up to last
August, when he returned here on account
Of bad health. and has since been working at
the carpenters trade. He went To work yes
terday morning as usual. returned home at
: o clock, and shortly afterwards left with Il
bundle, since when nothing was heard OF
nm until The fatal occurrence. He stated
that the deceased was born in Ireland, but had
been in this country about fifteen Years and
This city six years. The reverend father in
charge of the institution in Baltimore thought
hlm studying too assiduOusly and over
taSklng the brain, and suggested that he re-
Turn ECme. take q TEMPORARY relaxation
from his studies and seek rest and quiet. He
the advice, and came home some
Three months ago, but could not remain con-
tented while idle. and finally resumed his
studies with the Christian Brothers, in this
C!ty. but again feeling unable Ia progress. he
them n few weeks since. To
have thorough change he went to his
trade and assisted in building house for his
parents and himself on 4th street. near
boundary, which is now in the course of
completion. He was not addicted to drink
ing, and no cause could be assi--.ed for the
act, unless he was Temporarily insane His
sanity had never been discr -ScI or doubted
by The family, but at tim lls talk was
rather incOherent.
deeply affected, and all sent fel. great
sympathy for him. No further testimony
being given, the jury rendered
A VERDICT
UIat deceased "came To- his death by iumpinm
]. ON the railing surrounding the thOluS of the
dome OF the Capitol while laboring under
temporary alteration Of mind"
The boiy was then turned over to the rela-
lives of the family, and the funeral will take
place tomorrow from the residence of The
senior sen Mr. Mcmahon, on y, between 4th and
nnrf prn
WHAT A BROTHER or THE VICTIH SAYS
MI Edward Mcmahon, brother of the un-
fortunate man, says the latter was eccentric
in his way, and had recently had CONVEX
safiOn with "A Mr.. Lewis ON Blondin's ex-
PLOTS, in which his (the Tarrator's) brother
James Mcmahon, asserted that IL was lust
as easy To walk on a rope or any other mar
row footing al great elevation as near the
grOund-all That was wanted was nerve. Mr.
McMaLcn therefore thinks his brother was
experimenting on his theory and while
walking on the balustradc lost his balance
and fell. He thinks his brothers. pawning of
ms vest was the result OF his eccentricity as
there 70 necessity for his doing So He says
the published statements that the unfortunate
man hal been iOunging around the Capitol
for some days were incorrect as he had been
at woik az his trade every day and did not
go TO the Capitol until yesterday. The
deceased was not shabby dressed" as pub
lNf Ell. although he had on his working
clothes"
An ARMY OF sIGHT-sEEHs MOUNT THE
hundreds of persons visited the Clpitol
and assembled 10 the high test point accessible
ON the dome to-day, for the purpose of in
specting the place from which McMahOn
made his fearful leap yesterday. -Four Capt.
tol policemen were stationed at different
points around the dome to-day. To warn
strangers of dangerous points and prevent ii
possible, the recurrence Of n tragedy SINH
lar 10 that of yesterday. should any be found
rash enough to attempt to initiate - ov
ample OF Mcmahon. PrQbablv 20 nnn,hH,
Of fe9r.9 visiting the dome today was much
lalger IMAM on any other day since its COM
THF CELEBRATED Lake George diamond
setter, OF Brooklyn, y. Y, has shown sound
judgment in selecting Mr.. John r.. Prigg, the
OF the Old-establishcd iewclry en-
pOrium at 45I Pennsylvania avenue as the
exclusive agent for the sale of his diamonds
in the District. Mr.. Prigg has always made
ii point 10 keep the best Of goods in his line
and he has secured an extensive patronage
and numbers among his patrons the best citi-
Zcns OF Washington and sojounerS here. and
by his fair dealing has gained the entire con-
hdencc OF his customers, all OF whom have
reliance III such goods as he recommends
We were shown by Mr.. Prgg several beauti-
ful rings for ladies' or gentlemen's wear, with
The Lake George diamond solitaire in plain
gold setting, special atsentiOn having been
paid 10 the setting of them in order 10 imi-
tate the real diamond, and SO skiilfully has