Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-09-04
Coroner's Jury Investigates the Kill
ing Of Mr.. Geo. Mcintyre.
STRUCK BY LIGHTNING EXPRESS
His Death Was instantaneous, Say
the Physicians.
THE CORONER CRITICISED

were highly incensed last night at the
action of the authorities in the case of Mr..
George Mcintyre, an aged resident OF the
latter place. who was struck and almost in
stantly killed by Royal Blue line train
about 4:45 o'clock in the afternoon. Al
though the killing occurred SO early in the
afternoon, and SO far from the city, it was
nearly o'clock before the body was re-
moved from the railroad platform, and
then it was brought to the city and taken
t. J. w. Lees undertaking establishment
on Pennsylvania avenue. Mr. Mcintyre
lived some distance from the railroad
track, not far from the Bladensburg road,
and he had beea to the store and pur-
chased five pounds Of sugar, and was re-
turning home when the fatal accident oc-
Cured. When he reached the platform at
the station he looked down the track to-
ward the city, which was clear of trains,
and then he stepped from the platform be-
fore looking the other way. But as he got
his foot on the track he heard the incom-
ing train moving along, and made an enort
to get cut of its way. But the train was
going at the rate Of a mile minute, and
persons standing at the station say that
when the unfortunate man made the dis
covery tie train was not more than TWEEN
to the platform, but the fast-moving train
struck him in the right chest, and threw
him in the air short distance.
He fell against Mr.. J. w. Swanson, who
was standing on the platform at The time,
and some of the sugar went down his back
1t was evident that the unfortunate mans
death was instantaneous, and the affair
proved a terrible shock to the ladies and
otf ers Oil the platform, and those who wit
EesSed the affair were anxious to have tbs
ody removed to the home of deceased.
But policeman arrived later On, and he
said that the coroner would have to give
a n q
In the near while the Royal Blue train
had been stopped and backed, and the
trainmen were willing to do everything
they could, but they were powerless in the
the platform. Coroner Hammett was tele-
phoned for, but as he could not go out in
the county and determine what to do in the
case, he directed that the body be brought
to the city. Undertaken Lees wagon and
the patrol wagon reached the scene at the
same time, but the body was not removed
until the citizens had loudly denounced the
action of Coroner Hammett
Much Indignation.
For a short time the citizens appeared so
indignant that the undertaker's assistants
feared there would be trouble, and it was
not until the police threatened to remove
the body in the patrol wagon that the citi-
zens consented to let the undertaker's men
act in the matter
.
reached the undertaker's rooms, and then
1t was evident that this was probably the
best thing that could have been done on
account Of the manner in which the body
had been injured. There had been no ex-
ternal hemorrhage to amount to anything,
but when the work of preparing the body
for burial was commenced blood gushed
from the cut in the chest and gave the men
some little trouble.
Coroner Hammett explained that the
trouble about the body was the result of
misunderstood telephone message.
The Engineers Statement.
At noon the coroner's jury assembled at
Lees undertaking rooms and heard evil
dence as to the depiorable accident.
The first witness examined was John
Middleton Hanson, engineer Of the train
that did the killing. He testified that he
was approaching Langdon station yester-
day when he saw the man step on the
track Witness thought he was thirty
yards from the man when he saw him
train soon possible and went back,
but he could reader no assistance he
left the body there.
Did you ring the bell?" the coroner
asked him.
THE fireman did,"
DO you always ring the bell at this
station?"
Yes sir"
across the track from the other side just
before the train reached the station. He
did not know whether there was a regular
road crossing at the alton or not.
Are there any gates there?' he was
asked.
mo, SIR
How fast was your train going?"
Sixty miles an hour"
Witness produced the dead mans watch,
which he said he found on the pilot of the
engine, and turned it over to the coroner.
Died Almost Inctantly.
Walter Berry, a young man who lives
at Winthrop Heights, a short distance
from Langdon, was standing at the station
door yesterday when the accident happen
ed. He had carried the mail to Langdon.
Did you hear the bell?'
mo, SIR"
Was the train going fast?"
Yes, sir"
and heard the engineer blow in answer to
the target. He took hold of Mr.. Mcintyre
and pointed up the track toward the train,
and then started in. Witness thought that
Mr.. Mcintyre understood him, but when
he turned he saw the train strike him.
did you see him step on the track?"
No, sir; when l turned the train was
rpon him."
Witness thought that Mr.. McIntyres
death was almost instantaneous, for he
only gave one groan. There is only a foot
path across the track at the station. and
there are no gates there.
Death Accidental.
Witness said that Mr.. Mcintyre was very
deaf and he thought he could not have
heard the ringing of the bell The train
was so near upon him that he could not
have stepped from the track quick enough
to save himself.
J. w. Swanson also gave evidence. He
said that Mr.. Mcintyre stepped on the
track after looking toward the city. When
he looked the other way it was too late,
and he could not get off the track i'll time.
He said that Mr. McIntyre's feet had
cleared the track, and if he had thrown
his body six inches farther he would have
saved himself. Further testimony was
given in the same line, and the jury, after
consulting, rendered a verdict Of acciden-
tai death, and exonerated the employees of
the road.
Brutality Charged.
Christopher Terrell, a colorcd boy, who