Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-08-31
TOO MUCH TO Dol
Testimony 't'.1ti in I the ] Jnauest Over Mrs.
flahertty's Remains.
YESTERDAYS RAILROAD TRAGEDY
The Gateman Had to Care for Two
D
Gates.
THE OFFICIAL INQUIRY

Yesterday afternoon the dead body Of
Mary Flaherty. the victim Of the grade
crossing accident, was taken from Provi-
dence Hospital to the morgue. where many
Of her friends called to see the remains.
{, Coronel Hammett after viewing the re-
MAINS decided that, an autopsy was un-
necessary. and today held an inquest at
the sixth precinct station.
Engineer L. NJ. Steese, who was on duty
on the engine at the time of the accident
was the first witness examined. He testi-
fed that about $50 yesterday morning he
was backing his engine from 9th street, and
was moving at the rate Of about four miles
an hour when 9th street was reached. The
deceased. who had an umbrella over her
head at the time, was standing outside the
gate which had been lowered He saw the
woman pass through between the fence
he heard the fireman say. That viii do.
and he reversed his engine. Witness said
he was on the crossing when he first saw
ner. She came from the flreman's side OF
the engine Witness had no idea that she
would attempt to cross in front OF the en-
CINE when he saw her pass In rear OF the
gate.
''She had two warnings" said witness;
1.-The gates were down and the bell was
ringing"
How far did she have to walk from the
gate before getting in the way OF the en-
".About six or eight feet"
did you see her when the engine came
in contact with herr
mo. sir; she was not on my side OF the
When the engine was stopped witness
said he found the injured woman between
the car track and the fence. He thought
the tender did the damage. for there was
no blood on the engine wheels.
Michael Curtin. gateman at the Virginia
avenue and 9th street crossing. testified
that when he saw the engine coming he
the outside Of the gates. He was on the
opposite side Of the street. and could not
possibly have seen her when she walked
around the gate. yard engine was shift
"And another thing" he said. II have two
sets of gates to attend to-"
Witness was examined by q Juror con-
corning his duties and he said he looks
The castings are together. but the gates fall
in different directions.
- do You think YOU, are capable of looking
after both sets Of Eatssr the coroner asked.
p, mo. STR" replied the gateman. Il am
II don't think So q, either." the coroner re-
marked. and he ALSO remarked that he
thought the crossing, where the accident
"This matter" ,said Coroner Hammett,
looking at the turH.l rs very important. In
,v vo,y,ne as it dosssthe protection of the
Two Things mt Once.
SIS this the first accident that has ever
happened at youn: crossing so far as you
can remember" inquired the coroner.
Yes, SIR" replied the witness.
Does 1t ever occur to you that when you
are shutting downthe Virginia avenue gate
that it is necessary, to close the 9Th street
n q
Eyes, SIR" was his. reply.
How do you do tt2c
well, / do the best can"
"A man can't do two things at once" re-
marked the coroner. '.and do them very
WELL"
Joseph W. Sorrell. switchman on the Bal
timore and Potomac railroad, who does
duty at Virginia avenue and 9th street,
said he was on duty yesterday morning
when he heard a conductor making an out
Il looked up" said witness. .and saw tho
woman standing on the track"
How fast was the engine backingr"
About eight miles an hour
isn't that rather fast for an engine to
back?"
"well, can't say about that ... 8
''What did the conductor say to herr"
g. He was telling her to get off the track"
Witness said that the gates were down. but
he did not notice whether or not the bells
were ringing. The woman seemed be-
wildereA. He thought the engine ran $50
feet after the woman was struck. -.
Orange McNeal. foreman IN charge Of
gang of track repairers. testified that he
saw the woman when she passed either be-
hind or under the gate. The engine was
some distance up the track When she had
crossed the track on which this engine was
moving she saw a train coming on another
track. Then she turned and started back.
He thought the engine was running at the
rate of five or six miles an hour when with
In ten feet of the woman.
1r- Railroad Employees ExOnerated.
The jury returned verdict generating
the railroad employees, and recommended
that the company employ two gatemen at
the crossing where the woman was killed.