Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1891-01-04

Railroad Comp any. at heellng, W IA ui'
fan being due to the neg igence Of said com
pany in not having provided protection from
an opening in the lOor Of the said depot.
Such was the verdict decided upon by
the Coroner's jury in the inquest held over
the body of Thomas f. Lewis, after being
out but few minutes.
Coroner Schultz had considerable trouble
in securing jury, so that it was about
half-past two O'Clock before the taking OF
testimony commenced in the office Of the
Coroner. The jury was composed as fol-
lows: Justice George Ankle, Or. D. w.
Mccoy, Michael Roth, S. l.. Brice, Isaac
f. Wolf, G.. A Beuter, Phillip Nollinger'
George Lobenstein, ID. {. wills, Louis
Arm6recht, j. Alexander Bebout and
Jacob Braun. After viewing the BODY the
iurv returned TO the Office of the Coroner.
The examination was conducted by Prose
cutipg Attorney John a. Howard, and Local
Agent +. G. Stevenson and Accident Agent
Charles Howell were present, representing
the railroad company.
The first witness examined was George
Thompson He was on truck handing
mail sacks into the car, when he heard
some person crying that man has fallen
overheard. He drove 10 the p0stoffice, ana
when he returned Lewis was lying in the
baggage room on some cushions, ana SUN
breathing. There was no platform on the
east side of the tracks, where Lewis fell
over the opening extending the full length
of the depot, over the creek. The platform
has been in that condition since the tram
fell through some weeks ago. Previous 10
that il was customary for passengers 10
alight on the east side OF the trains, but
since the accident they have been getting
off on the west side, between the two tracks.
The iron girder is little higher than the
bottom of the steps of a passenger coach
when it is standing on the tracK-aoout on
plane with the second step.
Albert Klinkler is Il brakeman on No.
lOi. the train upon which Lewis was pas
senger He was cuttinga car on the train
saw Lewis step off the car; called out,
IMAM overheard \ piece of lighted waste
was thrown down, and looking over he
could distinguish basket and a dark OBJ
iect which looked like hole in the ice.
Securing a lantern he started down the
bank accompanied by Pat. Horn and Frank
Church: found Lewis in a sitting posture
with his legs drawn up and his face touch-
ing the ice, which was unbroken; assisted
in carrying him TO the baggage room where
he remained until his death, about ~ min
uteS later.
DR.. d. II. Taylor-Received telephone
call on the evening of the 3lst TO come
to the B. & o. depot. Responded immedi-
ately going down Twentieth street he en-
tered the station, and narrowly escaped
meeting the same fate as Lewis. Lewis
was still breathing when he reached the
baggage room, and his heart was acting
fairly well. The frontal bone and bones of
his nose were fractured, his skull was
crushed, his face disfgured and his eyes
protruding Night was foggy and the
lights were very dim.
Frank Church's testimony as to the con-
dition of the depot structure was substan-
TALLY the same as that OF other witnesses
Saw the brakeman assisting passengers OIL
on the west side of the train and heard him
say this side" three times. He heard
some person on the east side of the train
calling out, "HellO, down there, - anu ran
down to the creek. The rest of witness tes-
timony was a repetition of that OF klink-
Ter.
The testimony of Henry Bieberson and
George Saladc did not differ materially
from that of other witnesses.
ChaS Menkemiller was passenger on
train No l04, from GAINESVILLE 10 Wheel
ing. sitting in the seat behind that occupied
bv Lewis and his sister. He went out 10
the rear of the coach and was standing on
the step when it ran into the depot. When
the train stopped he jumped oil on the east
side and walked between the girder and
the car. up into the depot. He saw man
swinging lantern and calling out: Hello,
there. are YOU dead:' BY the dim light he
could discern a dark object lying on the ice
below. Passengers were not cautioned
q, boYf Tho onpnipu while the cars
Henry Frohme was on duty at Police
HEADQUARTERS when he received a tele-
phone message from the B. x o. ticket of
fee Procuring u lantern he ran down Six
teenth street, accompanied by Chief Del
brugge. At Main street the lantern was
lighted and they started down the creek
bank. The Chief and Frohme each went
through the ice Recognized Lewis in
baggage room, and took Miss Lewis home
in a carrige.
VIM Ricketts-Was passenger in smo-
ker on train No. 1914. When train arrived
at depot he came out on the platform and
saw Lewis and his sister start down the
steps When Lewis was on the last step,
heard brakeman call out, this side" Miss
Lcwis turned. but. her brother stepped
into the opening, and the brakeman eX
claimed MY God, has that man gone
over" Night was dark and foggy, and
coming off the well lighted cars, could not
tell whether the platform was there or not
could only see the girder.
At this point Mr.. Howell asked for the
privilege of making a few remarks. The
company had no defense to make ut this
time. but he desired TO introduce the testi-
monv of local agent f. G.. Stevenson. as to
the condition of the depot, with regard TO
the safety Of passengers, etc.
There being no objection, VIM. Steven
son was sworn, and proceeded TO give de-
scription of the present and former condi-
ton and arrangement of the depot. Some
time ago an engine went through the plat
form. taking the north span of the east
track. Sincethe accident the platforms on
either side have been torn up, and the
passengers now get off between the two
tracks Ratings have been put up at each
end of the openings, on both sides OF the
depot. The Orders are l6 inches wide and
about 81 feet above the level of the track
They were originally intended for the
bridge leading into the freight depot, and
were called into requisition at the time Of
the accident II would take step of at
least , feet inches to reach the top OF the
girder from the lower step of passenger
coach. The building is lighted by IA 25-
candle power incandescent lights, and
there is narrow platform between the
track and the girder Arailing has been put
up since the accidents of December 3lst,
which he said was the most foggy he had
known in a railroad experience OF twelve
or fifteen wears In regard to the building
of the railing since the accident he ex-
planned that it was done to satisfy pubic
sentiment, and not because they admitted
any danger TO human life in the arrange
ment Of the depot.
Miss Il. A. Lewis was next called. On
the night Of December lst she was return
ing from ST. Clairsville in company with
her brother, Thomas +. Lewis When the
train stopped in the depot her brother
started out of the north end of the coach,
and turning to the right stepped out upon
the cirder and through the opening She
was following after him when a gentle
man touched her on the shoulder. and she
turned around. When she looked for
Thomas he was gone She heard no per-