Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-11-16
Mr.. WAGNER'S DEATH.
INQUEST HELD OVER THE BODY YES
TERpAY AFTERNOON.
The Jury ssys Deceased Was Killed By an
Electric Car Of which Mr. Brans-
ford Was Notor-han.

under the wheels OF an electric car or some
weighty vehicle on Clay street.
Coroner Taylor empanelled the follow
ing gentlemen as Jury: f. ID. Eachs
noreman), Louis b. Schultz. J. J. Higgins.
George :. Shackellord, W. f.. johnson, and
James VI. Hill.
After viewing the body Of the deceased at
bis late place OF business, 3l3 Rro0k avenue,
the Jury went into the Office OF the station-
house, whore the witnesses were examined.
Mr. Wyndhsm Il. Meredith aud Judge Ed
muud Waddill were on band TO represent
the Richmond Union Passenger Railway
Company. and Nr. Y. J. Farrell, the general
manager Of toe company, was also present.
TnE OBSTRUCTION WAS MAN.
Mr. Il. L. Gordon was the first witness ex-
ahmed. lie testified that he lives at 2olo
o street aud was motor-man on Car No. 80 on
the night Of the 18th. lie lett Harrison and
Broad streets at 1885 O'Clock and reached
Brook ayenue in ABOUT ten minutes there
alter. when he reached the Msdison-street
crossing he discovered an object on the
west. bound track lust beyond Brook ave-
nue.. He checked the speed OF his car and
ran very slowly uutIl he came within few
wards of the object, aud discovered u 10 he
man, lie stopped hs car and rang the bell
for his conductor 10 come eut tolfthe con-
ductor man was lying on the track aud
asked bin 10 help remove him. hack was
driven up about this time and he hailed the
driver 10 stop, or he would have driven over
the man. lie thought the man WAS drunk,
as be had once before found one IN the
same predlcament lying alongside the track
at the corner OF Reservoir and Cary streets.
The conductor (Mr. TyleD took hoii
OF the man aud said be was
dead. witness refused 10 touch him
then. He went to Beverages drugstore,
at the corner OF CLAW street and Brook
avenue, and asked the clerk what he bad oet-
ter do. The latter told him he bad better go
for the police. Witness then went to the
Third staticn-bouse, aud found au ofDcer AZ
the door, NbO went with him down 10
where the man was. The dead hody was
then removed TO the sidewalk st the drug
store. Witness asked the policeman II ne
would be needed sny longer, ana the lat'er
replied In the negative. lie gave me onlcer
his name and the number OF his badge ana
left with his car.
On crosscXamiuatlon witness SAID wheh
first discovered the body was lying face
downward. with the head between the tracks
and toward the south. He passed some car
in coming from Hancock 10 Brook avenue,
but did not know the number or the MOTOR
man. He did not sec any people around
when he reached the man.
Witness did not thick the man was Killed
by an electric car, but by a heavy wagon.
In running over a small object even II Is
very perceptible to the motor-msn; and II
the headlight had been burning the man
could have been seen IN time TO stop the car.
II a car bad run over him he would not
have been so quickly killed as to preyenS MS
crying out.
THE CAR MADE JAR.
Lawson Smith (coored) was next sworn.
lie said he was standing with his lady on
thecofner OF Clay street and Brook avenue
At about twenty minutes 10 II O'Clock. watt
ing for a ear to come alouV. His companion
ren,rkcd that she did not tbnd another
ear would pass going esst that night
While they were debating whether
10 wait longer Tor an electric col
or go aud take the MarshalkStreet Line, ne
saw "A cor coming no Clay street. When
within a few yards u where be was stand
mg the ear made Jump as II II bad run Over
some object. Tue ear was running, b'
thought. faster than usual, and did not stop
He went oIt into The street and i0uno
that Il had run over man. lie pu
hi. hand on the httcr's forehead and found
IL 10 he warm. lie was not certain a. u
the number VI the Ger. He thought II ha(
on one or two passengers. A ear soon came
down aud one came up, and he stopped boil
oi them. lie .aw Mr.. Wagner OH Bakel
street about ) O'Clock ia the evening, lt
tie intoxicated. He had often seen deceased
he down in the street when drunk.
not LONG BeFORE.
Policeman c. W. saunders, the next VIII
ness, said He met Wagner near the ThHt
staiiOn-hOuse about Q O'Clock aud he (th'
deceased was walking perfectly straight, Du
witness knew he had been drinking from
the manner Of his talk. He saw hm later q
his place Of business working on lock. III
knew decreased to be ~ the habit OF drinking
but never saw him lying down IN the sueet
TIE CONDUCTOR.
A. L. Sharp vas next sworn. lie wa
conductor on Car No. y on The n'Rht OF tb
| nth and MIR. Braniord was the motof-maD
! lie did not know bis car ran over a man.
ran over some object al the corner OF Ga
street and Brook avenue at about Ten uln
| utcs 20 IL O'Clock. The jar was very slight
/ lie was inside at the time taking the stale
| heard t0e motor-man ring his bell. he looked
| out and saw wagon coming down broel
avenue. The car pissed By before the wogol
| crossed over Gay street. II was not pOssi
| BILE for tue wagon he saw tO have run Owe
the man. Mr.. Bransiord did not say any
| thing 10 him about having run over any
! thing on the track. They were running a
the rate Of four or I've miles an hour'
THE MOTOR-aAS SPEAKS.
Mr.. George A. Bransiord, the motor
man on Car No. ~, was next examined III
remembered running over some OBSTRUCTION
on the track. He had cut the current on en
| trely AZ be saw wagon coming down Cia
| street 20 his lett 50 near 10 the track toat u
thought IL would strike the car. He had hl
eyes raised watching the team when ms ca
ran over the object. He was so aecustome
| 10 running over rocks and Sticks lhat u
| paid no attention % the slight jar
his car lie did no, see wagon 0
Brook avenue or apy except tbe one comm
dOWn Clay street. Witness heard nothing
a man being killed until be reached hiu
cock and Broad aud the car following III
brought the news. II man hsd been sthn'
IDg up in the street he would certainly Da'
seen him. His car was not running MOI
than four mites an hour. Saw 20 car pa
him At this point.
cAREOLL TAYLOR.
Carroll TAYLOR, mOtor-man on Car NJ
! -. was the next witness. lie did not kno'
! wby he had been arrested, a. he did not ru
over Gnv obstruction last night. C0ron'
! Taylor told him some parties whom be ha
been unable 10 obtain the DaJnes Of had ssl
that bis car passed Brausford's al the poll
where Wsgner was kilied, and that one c'
had Knocked the man over on the opposi
track, where he was Immediately crushed
the other.
Witness said hi. car did not pass m
other al the point In question. lie did u
hear Of the accident until yesterday NOR
ing.
Conductor Moody, OF Car -, corrsbOrate
what Mr. Taylor had laid.
THE VERDICT.
This closed the testimony IN the case, ar
the iury after a few minutes consultation ?
turned verdict that the deceased came
hi. death bV being run over by Car No.
OF the Richmond Union Passenger khilwi
Company, Of which George A. Bransfol
was motOr-man.
BRANsFORD BanED.
Poliee-Juslice Crutcbhed then bail
Bransford 10 the sum Of $1,000, with Dr..
II. Scott as surety. Taylor was bailed in I
sum oi $500, with Mr. John t. Cbappeil
surety.
Both parties viii be before the Police Cou
this morning.
SIR. Wagner's body was turned over
! MFR IOsepli w Iatibe undertakes aud W