Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-06-22

An accident happened on 25th street north
west, between X and L streets, under pecu-
harly distressing circumstances and darkened
a nome which only minute before was bright
and cheerful. A heavy beer wagon did the
damage, ending the life Of Alice O'Brien, q
bright little fve-year-old child and painfully
injuring her sister Perley, who is two years
younger. The unfortunate children, daughters
Of Mr.. James A. O'Bricn, painter, whose home
is at No. 1000 25th street, attended their
aunt's school, which is in their parents
home. The school year had about closed and
the little ones were looking forward to the
closing exercises in anticipation of q good time
Rehearsals were being held at st. Stevens
Church, which is across the street and only one
square from the home of the children's parents
and the school Of their amt.
The children were to have met at the church
shortly after 10 o'clock this morning and their
mother had put on their summer dresses, and
hand in hand they left the house in frame of
mind that none but happy children could pos
sess.
MOTHERS HORROR.
Their mother, proud Of her little ones and
anxious to see them get of in time; watched
their footsteps as they left the house and
started in the direction of the church. From
her front window she saw the heavy
beer wagon coming down the street and as the
vehicle neared the children she saw that they
were in danger, and as the animals struck her
dear ones che gave piercing cry of horror.
The driver OF the wagon shouted 'look out, y
but it vas too late.
The younger Of the children. Perley. WAS
knocked beneath the wagon and the vehicle
passed over her without serious injury, but her
older sister was knocked down by the horse and
the wagon passed over her body, killing her in
stantly
Joseph Mcdonnell, the driver. unable to stop
his horse, handed the lines over to his colored
helper and jumped from the wagon. He picked
up Alice and held her in his arms until her
mother reached the street, and then he handed
the hfeless body over to the almost frantic
parent.
Mrs. O'Brien hurried into the house with the
body Of her loved one in her arms wholly I'M
conscious that life was extinct. and when she
reached the house she then realized that the
worst had happened.
In the meanwhile the sister was picked up
and carried to the house Of q neighbor, where
she was cared for.
THE DEAD cHILD's INJURIES.
An examination Of the body Of the dead one
revealed terrible wound Of the head. through
which the brain protruded, and there was
scar across the neck, indicating
that the wagon wheel had passed
over 1t. 1t was thought by those who Witnessed
the accident that the horse stepped on the
child's head and that both wheels passed over
the body.
The wagon, which belongs to F. J. Nolte,
dealer in bottled beer and soft stuff, was laden
with that sort of merchandise and was drawn
by one horse. The wagon is very heavy and
the horse was going fast at the time, there be-
ing steep grade on 18th street, where the
affair happened.
After turning the child over to its mother
the driver got on his wagon and went home.
After changing his clothes he went to police
headquarters sand surrendered. He was then
taken to the third precinct station, where he
was locked up on q charge of murder.
THE DRIVERS STORY.
When seen by STAR reporter the prisoner
said he could not possibly have prevented the
accident. On account Of the steep grade there,
he said, his horse was making good
time. He saw children on either side of the
street. The little girls, he said, were walking
arm in arm, and as he drove down the street
they turned and got against the horse before
he could do anything
Being unable to stop his horse. he said he
jumped from the wagon and picked up the
child, holding it until Mrs. O'Brien came out,
when he handed the little one over to her.
Two carpenters who were working next to
the O'Brien house witnessed a part of the affair.
They said that the horse was going at a rapid
rate and one of them said that the driver did
not call to the child until the horse struck her.
he will probably hold an inquest tomorrow.
Until the inquest is held the driver will be
held at the station. He is twenty-one years