Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-10-17
HADLIYED LONG ENOUGH
CORONER,S INVESTIGATION OF
JAMES LAWS DEATH.

The Conductor and Driver of Gar 20
Exonerated-POssibi that Law In
tended to Commit Suicide-Whst lie
Said the Morning of His Death-state-
ments of Those who Saw Him-Result
of the Inquest.
Early yesterday forenoon Coroner w.
D. Dixon summoned jury and inyesti-
gated the death OF James b. Law, who
was killed Friday night by street car.
Jack TAYLOR, who drove car No. p, te s.
titled that he was driving south on Yves t
Broad street about 1850 O'clock. 1t was
his last trip for the night, and there was
one passenger on board. AS be came
near Duffy street he heard some one
across the street call three times to him
to stop. ~ put on the brakes" Taylor
said. "as hard as | could. One OF the
mules SHE'D TO one side, and | saw man
right under the car. Jumped down and
helped pull him out. There was seat
on the east side Of the car and l was sit
ting down.
LAY ACROSS THE TRACK.
THE man was " ing across the west rail,
but 1t was dark there because of the shade
from the trees" The witness said that 1t
was his duty TO drive, watch for pAssen-
gers and lOoE out for any obstruction on
the track. He thought that the mau who
called TO MIN wanted to get on the car.
Mr. A. L. R0oider stated that about
i0:45 FRIDAY night, while he was stand
ing on West Broad street, near Duffy, he
saw man lying across the track 100 feet
distant from him. A car was ap-
preaching and the witness hurried
toward it and called to the
driver to stop, and he thought that Iay-
lOr did stop the car Immediately. Mr..
Robider did not notice whether there was
any shade on the track or nos at that
spot, but 1t was a bright mo onlight night.
THE CONDUCTORS STATEMENT.
Mr.. X. W. Porter was the conductor on
Car No. %. About New Houston street
Jane he started 10 ring the bell for the
ariver to stop, as there was Que pdssen-
ger to let off. Just then Taylor
made quick stop. The conductor as6ed
what the matter was, aud on looking
along the side OF the car saw mans
feet sticking out from beneath it. The wit
ness helped take the body out. Law was
not then dead. The car waited ten min
utes, aud then the witness stated that ne
left the body in charge OF some parties
ard went on to report the case at the Of
nee. The moon was shining brightly, hut
the man was lying in the shadow OF
tree, and the lights were not burning at
the time, although they had been in the
early part of the night.
SAVED FROM THE WHEELS.
Neither of the wheels passed over the
body, which was taken out from in front.
II saw Law three or tour times during
the night, !" continued the conductor, "anG
Inc seemed to be drinking. At 10 o'clock
BE WAS standing by the track watching
us put a car on the track"
Mr.. }. Il. " ilsOn, another conductor on
the road, said that he saw Law three or
four times on Friday. the last time at 7:15
.. N. Law was passenger on the car
then and was noisy, and was let OF at the
Central depot.
WANTED TO DIE.
In the morning he bad aid that he had
lived long enough and wanted to die.
DR.. L. &. Chisholm stated that he held
post morton examination on Law. and
found a rupture of The heart aad It's blood
vessels on the lett side. Internal hemOr-
fhage resulted from the rupture. A large
blue mark was found on the breast over
the heart, but the skin was not broken.
The verdict was that james Law came
TO his de attn from injuries received by
beIag struck by street car No. %, and we
consider ii accidental, and eEonerate the
conductor and driver from blame" The
verdict was signed by W. l.. Falngant, J.
K. Campos, }. Il. NJ. Grifiu. J. W.
SHOCKS, q. G. Misoally, James j. Dupree
and L. j. Kelly.
Conductor Porter and Taylor. who had
been arrested by Sergt. Klllourhy at 80
a. m, were discharged.