Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-10-25

But ths Rsilresd Employes Not Rsspsnsibls
for Bells Death.

But ths Raj1resd Employes Not Rsspsnsibls
for Bells Death.
Yesterday afternoon six citizens and Deputy
Coroner Schae6sr visited the morgue and
viewed the remains of SiuGleton Bell, the col.
ored man who was killed on the grade crossing
at Virginia avenue, and 9th street Sunday
morning, as described in yesterdays STAR, and
afterward the jury heard the evidence of wit
nesses to determine who, IL any one, was re-
sponsible for the mans death. The principal
witness was . cclored man named George Webb,
who was suffering from injuries received by
being struck by the same engine that killed
Singleton Bell, his companion. According to
his testimony both Bell and himself were per-
fsctly sober, Bell being on his way to attend
the funeral Of his sister out in the country.
Webb WAS leading dog and when they reached
9Th street. where there 10 Q sharp curve, there
was train moving over the west track and the
gate on that side, next to the Adams ex-
press warehouse, was down. The gate on
the east side was up. Witness and the deceased
were on the east side. They stopped to let that
train pass. and while standing there the engine
came around the curve on Its way to the yard.
The whistle was not blown, nor was the bell
sounded. Presently the engine struck him and
knocked him against the fence. He did not let
90 his dog. Witness thought he was uncon-
scious for several minutes When he regained
consciousness he asked for his companion, and
looking down the track he saw his horribly mu-
tlated body beside the fence. Witness did not
see the gateman at the time Of the accident.
Witness said il there had been any signal given
by the moving locomotive the accident would
not have happened.
SARAH PARKER's TESTIMONY.
Sarah Parker, colored woman, who Wit
messed the throwing of Webb against the fence.
said she thought he was intoxicated because he
talked funny when she went over to where he
was lying.
Ibid you smell liquor on his breathe" in
quired Or. Schaeffer.
mo, sir" she replied, "but he talked so
funny"
Did Won ever see a man struck by loco
motive before?''
''No. sir
We'll, it sometimes makes them talk funny"
II suppose if a man was intoxicated added
witness. lit would sober him up
She snw the gates on the west side down.
but those on the other side we're up. She heard
no signal given by the engine.
X. +. Ward, colored. gave similar testimony.
TIE ENGINEERS STATEMENT.
James Davis. engineer Of engine 16l, that
caused the death Of Bell, testified that he was
backing into the depot to take out the 7;45
train. When he entered the curve he was
positive that both gates were down. Soon after
getting on the curve the fireman rang the bell
and told him that some one had been struck.
He reversed his engine and found Bell beneath
the wheels The colored witness Webb was
wing near the fence and witness afraid to
60 near him because there was q vicious Shocking
bulldog with him. Witness spoke to him and
he muttered something though he had been
drinking. Witness thought be was under the
influence OF liquor.
Deputy Coroner Schaeffer remarked that
muttering was pretty apt to follow the striking
by an engine if there was any life left i'll tue
man.
W. H. Englehart. fireman on the engine, cor
roborated the testimony given by the engineer.
THE VERDICT.
Gatekeeper Lynch and engineer named
T. d. Beckett gave evidence corroboratng what
was said BY the engineer and fireman. and the
jury returned verdict THAT the said Single
ton Bell came to his death a. Providence Hos
pital about 9:l5 am. October %, 1892. from
fracture of both thighs. the result of being
struck by locomotive of the Baltimore and
Potomac railroad. We find from the evidence
that his death was not due to any negligence
on the rart of the railroad employees. We re-
gard this crossing a very dangerous one,
which should be more fully protected"