Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-03-31
A Fatal Street Accident.

AN OLD LADY KNOCKED DOWN AND KILLED-A DRIVER
OF BEER WAGON HELD TO ANSWER FOR HER DEATH.
Saturday evening, about half-past five O'Clock,
Mrs. Ann w. Steele, old lady, 90 years OF
age. residing at $50 street northwest, left her
house to go to the market, corner OF 9TH and o
streets. When crossing street. at the corner OF
7th. going towards the market. she was Knocked
down by passing vehicle and was instantly killed
by wheel passing over her head, crushing the
skull and scattering the brains on the street. Her
body was taken TO the sixth precinct station-house
where 1t was viewed by the coroner. and afterwards
turned over to her children. Peter Fischer, the
driver OF the beer wagon, was arrested.
THE INQUEST.
The coroner held inquest yesterday at the
sixth precinct station. The following Jury were
empanneled: John Z. Little, f. NJ. McDonough,
Daily and AlonzO Cochran. Mr.. Leon Tobrner
appeared In Fischer'S interest. The first witness
the driver OF the coal cart, Edward Davis testified
that when near the OF 9TH street. In front Of
the market. he saw the deceased pass In front OF
his Cart. going south. Just then the beer wagon
came along o street, goine west. Witness saw Mrs
steele fall, but did not see what struck her. She
fell with her head about two feet In front OF the
cart wheel. The beer wagon did not stop until it
got TO the restaurant the other side OF the
market
TillmaB Sprigg. coored, testified that he saw the
beer wagon strike Mrs Steele and threw her under
the cart horse. but the wheel OF the cart did not
pass over her, or the horse step her. The horses
attached to the beer wagon were in a fast trot at
the time, and did not stop until they got to the
next restaurant.
Henry Spencer. Robert Carter. Margaret Jenkins
ChaS. w. Perkins. and William Lewis gave teSti-
mOny corrObOrative OF that OF tile former witnesses
Henry NARROW. cOlOred. testified that he saw the
tongue OF the beer wagon knock her down and one
OF the horses step on her head. Witness called to
the driver to stop, but he kept on.
Mary Fischer, wife OF the driver. testified that
she saw the woman fall after the wagon had
Nina Ehrhardt, an old white lady, gave similar
testimony.
THE DRIVERS STATEMENT.
Peter Fischer, the driver of the beer wagon
stated that he was driving along street. and
when he got to the of 9TH street his horses
became a littO unmanageable and broke into
trOt There were no cars in his way. He saw MrS
Steele crossing the street and she fell In front OF
the coal cart without being touched by anything
He did not see any wheel pass over her Witness
put on the brakes and tried to STOP but could not
do iG
DR.. Hartigan described the nature of her wounds,
after which the case was given TO the jury.
THE VERDICT.
The jury returned verdict that the deceased
came to her death from injuries resulting from
being Knocked down by a beer wagon belonging TO
Christian HeuricI, which we believe to have been
carelessly driven by Peter Fischer"
Fischer has been employed by Mr.. Ueurich for
the past six years, and resides at No. 1S41 1th
street northwest. Coroner Patterson made out a
commitment upon which Fischer was sent to Jail
to await the action OF the grand jury
THE TRIAL OF THE Ex-DErEcTIvEs-The detec-
tive cases set for trial next Monday are those
growing out OF the robbery OF bonds &C. at the
National Metropolitan bank, July 90 1882 for which
two indictments were found against c. E. Finder.
James A. McDevitt. George W. McElfreSh and
George o. Miller, and the cases. ss the two first
named will be tr1ed-a nolle pros having been en-
tered as TO McElfresh and Miller on Saturday.