Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-02-17
THE CoRoNER's INQUEST.
Testimony In Regard to the Death of Lieut..
Reynolds.

Acsttuhony IN Hs<kNtN " ttfe heatn Oh Lieut..
Reynolds.
Coroner Patterson today held an inquest over
the body Of Lieut. Lowell X Reynolds. L. s.
N, who died at the Emergency Hospital early
Yesterday morning from injuries received from
being struck and run over by grip car No. OF
the l4th street cable line about O'Clock
Wednesday evening in front ofthe Riggs House.
The inquest was helS at Scottish Rite Hall. on
between 10th and 18th streets. Messrs. Esau
L. Johnson. G. ". Sto dard, Henry C Burch,
Conrad Becker. Harry W. Kenner and VIM F.
Turner composed the jury.
HENRY C. BRowSrNa.
The first witness sworn Henry c.
Browning, who said he was on the grip car
and noticed the deceased standing near the
track He stopped to pick up a newspaper
just as the car got near him. He then
stepped on the track in front OF the
grip car. and although the bell ringing.
and although witness and the gripman cried
out TO him. the too close and he was
Knocked down and under the car. Witness
was unable to discover whether the deceased
intended to get the car or cross the track.
The accident occurred just in front OF the
Riggs House. The car was stopped almost
Immediately. The deceased did not attempt to
get on the car. After he had STEPPED on the
track the gripman could not have stopped the
Sai Al AiIle f1Su ne not stepped on the track
inc deceased would not have been hurt.
MISS FLORENCE HENSON.
Miss Florence Henson stated that the was
sitting on the front seat of the grip cur She
noticed Lieut.. Reynolds step across the track.
and when the people in the car cried out TO him
he hesitated and turned. when the car struck
him in the face. He seemed TO be in deep
thought and apparently unconscious Of the
cars approach. He was within two O: three
feet OF the track when she first saw him.
J. 7. HARPER.
]. I. Harper said he saw Lieut.. REYNOLDS 4
just as be was rising from a stooping position
within foot or two of the track. The car
was then within four feet of thu man
As he rose Lieut. REYNOLDS stepped |
on the track. The gripman was ringing
the bell applying the brakes and doiag ali he
could TO stop the car. The witness aid thar I
he believed the accident TO be an unfyoidable
one and that the gripman was not to blame in 4
any manner whatever.
John Lyon ssid his attention was Attracted bv |
a woman screaming. He turned and saw Lieut. |
Reynolds attempting to grasp the front OF the /
grip car. He fell and was over by the >ar |
The gripman appeared to be doing all he could |
TO stop the car
James Gowan testified that he saw Lieut..
Reynolds come out of the Riggs House cafe and
cross 10Th street until within foot or two of
the track He stopped down to pick up some
thing and then stepped on the track. Before
that the bell had been ringing and the gripman
dropped the grip and put on both brakes hard |
The car was stopped in ten twelve feet Ii |
was ten or fifteen minutes before they took him
In the hospital.
swIrCHNAN KEELING. |
Charles KEELING said he was the switchmnn of
the Washington and Georgetown railroad and |
his attention attracted to the car bv its |
-n1 S-n
feet. He saw Lieut. Reynolds fall after being |
struck. He heard the bell ringing. There was |
nothing TO prevent tue deceased hearing the /
bell or seeing the car. The track was very 1
slippery, and the car would side four or five |
feet even after the brakes had been put down |
hard. Cars ordered to be stopped on the |
opposite side of a crossing.
TREATMENT IN THE HOSPITAL
Bradley Green stated that he saw Lieut..
Reynolds knocked down and run over The
injured man placed in witness cab. and
witness drove as fast as he could to the Elmer
gency Hospital When they got there
II was twenty minutes before the doctors
came out and took the injured man in.
When he was taken in they cut bis clothing
on, and one Of the doctors said il he did not
keep still he would strike him. The doctor
said: Your legs are broken and We are going to
cut them Off" Lieut.. Reynolds saida''No, YOU
won't.' They did not do anything for the injured
man until they had telepLoned for Or. Kerr
When they got to the hospital the Waterman
came out and looked at the injured man and
then went in and whistled up a tube for the
doctors, but it was twenty minutes before they
came out and took him in.
Edward c. Barnard said be saw Lieut.. Rev.
nolds step on the track just as he w<s struck
Some one shouted out to the deceased before he
was struck.
E W. LIGHTNER.
Z. W. Lightner stated that he was sitting in
the second seat Of the grip car and saw Lieut..
Reynolds rising from a STOPPING position foot
from the car and step across the track. Wit
ness, the gripman and others in the Gar shou led
out warning. but it was too late
The deceased seemed to be absent minded and
apparently did not realize his danger until he
was struck. In the opinion OF witr}ess the grip
man exercised due care and did all be possibly
could to avoid the accident.
GRIPMAN GooDE
Jas. s. Goode, the gripmap OF the car which
struck the deceased, said he was ringing the |
gong, but did not see Lieut.. Reynolds until the
car struck him. He then did all he could TO |
stop the car as quickly he possibly could |
Witness had been a gripman eight wears and |
never stopped a car as quickly he did then /
Two or three other witnesses were examined |
but their testimony was merely corroboratiye
of what had previously been given. = |
CONTEMPLATING MR.. PARKER. Il