Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-01-09
THE ELEVATOR TRAGEDY.
The Coroner's UNDERSTANDABLE OF Aecilen-
tai Death by the Jury.


The Coroner's Inqnest-ver,Iict OF Aocilen-
tai Death by the Jury.
After The Stars report closed at the inquest
held yesterday afternoon over the remains of
Albert S. Sakers. the young man who was
killed at the Center Market the day before
William Cunningham was called. but he did
not witness the accident. He said that he bad
been about the market for about three years
and he always found the elevator boy at his
post He never noticed any danger signs
about the elevator until after the accident.
P. c. Ford testified that he in the mar
ket when the accident happened and his atten-
ti0n attracted by cries Of help When
he reached the elevator ne found several per-
sons attempting to get the door open. When
blood begun TO run down several of them left.
but two mer remained until Mr.. Capner
reached there With a crowbar. Witness said he
had experience in the elevator on one occa-
sion himself. The rope broke and the heavy
door isH down IL it had been a second or two
later witness would have been killed. He ex-
sInined the fastening and explained how the
rope tied in an eve hook. On the occasion
of this fatal accident witness did not know what
.he cause Vas. He had heard several state
ments yesterday about the elevator. but he
knew nothing about it of his own knowledge.
HE TRIED TO RAISE THE DOOR.
hr. henDy one OF lnc nrst 70 respond 10
a call for assistance. lie tried to raise the door
and others assisted him. until the sight of the
blood made them sick and they left Witness
said that the injured man damned in be-
tween the elevator and the door The injured
mans hat was In the well below Witness
thought the accident caused by the door
slipping. a. he had seen it hang and fall with
crash several times The elevator boy. he
said. told him several DAYS ago that the door
would kill somebody yet"
In answer to a Juror. as to whether the rope
WAS exposed 10 the weather. Gov. Ordway said
that there was always more or less moisture
below the elevator.
Riley, the elevator boy recalled and he
said he had been in charge of the elevator
about month He said, when questioned by
rbe coroner, that the door fell on one occasion
and he reported II to the superintendent.
Wednesday morning. some time before the ac-
eident. he said. the rope slipped md a colored
man helped him to fix it.
James Lee gave evidence as to what occurred
after the accident.
SAW THE ACCIDENT.
John Williams. colored. testified hat he wit
messed the accident. He said he saw Sakers
attempt to get of the elevator and get caught
under the door. The elevator he said. was
going slow and the door came down faster than
usual
Engineer Rush recalled and he again de-
scribcd the hooks and rope used in working the
door. At night the rope is disconnected be-
cause the elevator IL kept on the ground floor.
and the door Is also down and locked Witness
examines the elevators every day to see that
they are in good condition. He has not re-
Ceivcd any complaints recently about the eie-
vStDr door being out of order He ALWAYS sees
that the boys put in charge of the elevators are
AZ least eighteen wears old. The danger notices.
he said. were posted about all the elevators
The Inspector of elevators examined the eleva-
tor yesterday and found il in proper condition
The rope attached to the door was still secure
after the accident.
Riley. the elevator boy. was again called and
he said he remembered the falling of the eleya-
tar when Mr.. Ford, a former witness was a
Passenger.
Andrew Clarke. colored. testified that he
helped the elevator boy to tie the rope yester-
day morning.
THE DANGER NOTICES.
George Fl. McRay Of the market company
TESTIFIED that be had no recollection of the ele-
vator boy ever having reported any trouble
with the elevator. He thought there was a
danger notice up before the accident happened
-Four DAYS ago he had notice put up. The
weight of the door. he said. very light for
It's size Witness said that ne had spoken to
the deceased about running the elevator and
pulling the rope. and he replied. Il was only
fooling with the boy" Witness told the ele-
VaIor boys to report persons who interfered
with the elevators
A eoiOred man named Williams and supt
wilkins also gave testimony. The latter said
that Sakers head Was wedged in between the
elevator and the door
Coroner Patterson remarked that whatever
accidents may have happened before to the
rope connected with the door it was evident
that this accident was not caused in that man
ner.
THE VERDICT.
The testimony WAS closed and the jury after
short elaboration, returned a verdict as
follows:
That the death Of the said Albert s. Sakers
resulted from fracture OF the base of the
skull received while running the elevator at the
Center Market We believe from the evidence
adduced that the accident WAS the result of
violation of the rules of the market company
and that the company is not to blame. We
recommend. however that the company en-
ploy competent men instead OF boys TO run the
elevator.