Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-07-16
AL ExANDRIA AFFAIRS
James Cliff Struck by Freight Train in the
Tunnel and Killed.
The COrOner's Jury Exoncrates the
hnilway-Sailte- Lawson Dfer
From Her Injuries.


Gift, man about thirty-eieht years of
sge. who has borne a rather unsavory repu-
tation for some years. passed down Wilkes
street In an intoxicated condition and start
ed into the Southern railway tunnel which
runs under Fairfax street An acquaint-
ance called TO him not to go through the
tunnel, but his reply was a short one. and
he continued his journey, which resulted in
his death. He evidently sat on the track
when about half way through and went to
sleep. for about half an hour later ne was
struck by heavy freight train and literal
ly cut to pieces. The accident occurred on
the very spot where. in 1852, b. tried to
kill his wife by shooting
Gifts body was removed to the undertake
Ing establishment of Il. Wheatley a Son
and last night Coroner Purvis summoned
the following jury: Frank Evans. r. F.
Knox. a. a. Warfield. Edgar Warfield ir
Edward Mills and George A. Appich
Several witnesses were examined Con-
ductor Harry McLearen said that he was
sitting on the pilot of the switching en-
eihe, which was hauling the freight train
ana saw what he took to be the body of a
man lying on the track but IL WAS too 4arl,
,1i nun 10 signal the engineer TO stop He
also said he did not know where th,. tlar-
man. whose duty IL was to run ahead Of m.
uralfl. was at the time. McI.caren said he
ulioush' the train was running about twelve
miles an hour.
Engineer John Coleman testified as ia tho
rate OF speed at which the train was rum
nlng. William Mayhem and John Clark
the brakemen did not see Cliff until after
the train was stopped. and knew but little
ABOUT the accident. Oliver Simpson the
tlasman, stated that he was asleep on ton
OF boN car when the train started from
Union street and when ne awok. IL was
ahead. '
other witnesses testified as to Clift's
condition when he entered the tunnel This
Ia Fis.r
jury: w >, the jury, lind that James Gift
came TO his death by the unlawful tres
passing upon TIE property Of the Sout hcru
iallfoad IL being proven that was In
toNlcated at the time, ard having been
warned not to go into the tunnel: and fur
thermore, that the railroad company 10y
not having fagman out. as they are re-
CURED TO do by ordinances also by rum
hlng at greater rate of speed through the
city than the city ordinances allow. are CO.
responsible for the death OF said Chft.''
emit was released from Jail on Monday
night last, having been held by the au-
thoriues on suspicion of knowing some
thlng about the death OF r. H. RayliSs
whose body was found floating in tn. doc k
June -. Cliff was one of the last l,ersans
seen In company with Bayliss. the night
Died From Her Injuries.
Sallie Lawson, the cofored woman who
was burned 10y the explosion of a gasoline
sN"''i'ds oiiI!iiE, al account OF
which was given in The Star Yesterday.
died late in the afternoon at th. Iniirrnarv
Her suffering was intense until ,ieath came
to her relief
Police Court.
Mayor Thompson disposed Of the follow
lrg cases in the police court this morning:
John Nalley, Albert Mason and Luther
Flnks, charged with disorl@rly conduct
and fighting. were fined s. each Benz. NJ
Morse and Edward Jones two whit. toys
from Washington, were hel / until an officer
nom that city is sent for hem.
Misses Ella Lawler and Cora Webster are
at Virginia Beach
Mr.. Francis McCarty is spending a few
days at Colonial Beach.
Miss Rebecca Daingerfield and Nessrs.
Eegerode, Clarence Howard and Henry
Daingerfield of this city attended a ger
man at Fairfax Court House last night
Mss Hortense Parnam, who has been Wis
iting her brother in this city, has returned
TO her home at Waverley, Va.
Mrs. Baker is seriously i'll al her home on
Washington street between Cameron and
Queen.
A marriage license was issued in Wash
lrSton yesterday TO Mr. Thomas Burroughs
jr., popular young railroad clerk of this
city, and Miss May Rischell a daughter
of Mr.. Thomas l.. Rlscheill.
The police commissioners and force were
entertained last night 10y Mr.. r. T. Knight,
the occasion being the twenty-sixth ami
vel Sary of the organization of the police
force in this city.