National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-01-02
THE CITY YESTERDAY.
TIE RECORD OF ONE DAYS OCCUR-
FENCES.

FATAL STREET CAR ACCIDENT-wAsH-
RGTON MARKET-IMPROYEMEN AT
MOUNT VERNON-FIRE.
A most shocking accident occurred about 1880
o'clock yesterday morning, on Eighth street
southeast, between and K streets, opposite Jos.
Oranges barber-shop, by which Mr.. Abraham
BTeslaur lost his life and which had the effect Of
throwing the entire neighborhood into state Of
excitement for some hours. The deceased was o
4ative Of Germany, aged about ffty-one years,
and leaves family, nearly all Of whom are grown
and married. From the testimony Of those pres
ent at the time Of the sad occurrence It seems
that Mr. Breslaur was on car No. 9, going towards
the Navy Yard at its usual rate Of speed. When
nearly opposite the residence of hfs sopin-laE,
mr.. Joseph Moser, No. 81 Eighth street south
east, be attempted to jump Of without notifying
The driver Q stop and Jumping In an OPPOSITE an
tS Sis Sssd and Ssit ann seroSs the track Be-
fore the car could be stopped both OF the wheels
passed over him, crushing his head, hanging MS
arm in frightful manner, and causing almost
06ioer Howe who wasfn the vicinity at tina time,
sent PssSsngsrs after mSoSAl 81 M5Rm a rs
sPonded, but their services were Of no avail as
life was extinct. Ohcer Howe then placed the
conveyed them to the Eighth precinct station
hOuss,Where they were detained until the inquest
Vas hsld. The body in the meantime was carried
into Mr.. MOseT'S and laid on q sofa and the coro-
ner notified.
THE INQUEST.
Upon The arrival Of Coroner Patterson, Ser
geant Bostler summoned the foll9Wtng-named
Jury, who were sworn: James Talbert, A. G.
Humphrey, Hudson Petit, John T. Every, r. J.
Cook, r. T. Patterson, William b. Dobbins,
Edwin Edwin stsWaft and James Boswell. The jury
viewed the body, and the first witness sworn was
Mr.. Joseph Moser gil Eighth street southeast,
he and his father-in-laW got on car No. OF the
Washington and Georgetown railroad at the
later latter got on the front and the witness on the
rear platform. When the car was nearly oppo-
site mis- residence the deceased jumped on, slipped
and fell under the car, and before witness could
render any aid both wheels had passed over the
head anG arm Of the deceased.
Alexander Mcdonald, los K street northwest
was the next witness. He testified that he was
driver Of car No. 9, and that the deceased got on
the car at the point stated BY the last witness;
on he did NOT tell witness to stop the car; did not
know that the deceased resided at or near the
point where he got of. The first intimation he
had that the man was of the car was the jar as
the wheels went over his head. He stopped his
ear as soon as possible but Il was too late. The
cars Of the " Washington and Georgetown railroad |
are provided with gratings to prevent passengers
from getting or of the front platform As the
ear was rounding the turn at Eighth street and
Pennsylvania avenue east some OF the harness
became disarrRnged, and the witness unlocked
one Of the gratings to NJ ~ before ne could again
replace the grating the deceased got on the plat
form, and he did not like to tell him to move in
so that he could again arrange the grating.
william H. Kidwell, 1107 Ninth street south |
east sWorn-He testified that he was conductor of |
ear No. when the accident occurred; was on the |
back platform when the deceased got on, and was |
the centre Of the car going toward the front;
when he got of he jumped in an opposite drec- |
tion to that in which the car was going, and was
thrown under it. No one asked him to stop the |
car.
John Reardon, 81 Eighth street southeast, was |
the last witness examined. He testified that he |
was sitting in Joseph Oranges bar 5er-shop when |
the accident occurred, and cOrrObOrated the testi
mony Of the other witnesses about the position in
which the deceased fell; also, that the car was |
stopped as soon as It possibly could be.
THE VERDICT.
After the close of the testimony the room in
which the body lay was cleared Of all except the
Jury and coroner, and in q few minutes the fol-
LOWING verdict WAS announced:
THAT the deceased. Abraham Breslaur, came
to his death about 1880 a. m. on the LIST Of jan
usTy. 1875, on Eighth street southeast, between
and streets, by reason Of injuries received by
being over by car No. 6, Washington and
Georgetown railroad; and we further md that
the affair was purely accidental, and that neither
the driver nor conductor of the car were to
blame"
After the rendition of the verdict the conductor
and driver were released from custody. Mr.. Kid
well is said to be one OF the most careful and best
conductors on the road, and the same opinion is
expressed regarding the driVsr. This said acct
dent should serve as . warning to people who
make practice Of getting on or of the front plat
form Of cars when the gratings are not up and the
Aar in motion. One Of the published rules OF the
WASHING tan and Georgetown railroad distinctly
forbids such q pracc.iee. and declares that those
who follow It do 50 at their own risk.