Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-01-15
Gates We're Not Lowered Before
Passing Of Train.
GRADE CROSSING TRAGEDY STUDIED
coroner's Jury Investigated Death
of Driver Graham.
THE NAN TO ME

0IdHdEl, TIE COlOreu driver VINO met the
sudden and violent death, had wife and
one child, and they live at No. So Defrees
street.
Widow Graham was unable to attend the
inquest held over the body of her husband
at the fourth precinct station at noon to-
day, but she had Lawyer Darlington to
look after her interests. The dead body of
her husband had been kept in the Emer-
gency hospital morgue until viewed by the
coroner's jury. Railroad men and other
witnesses were summoned by the police.
and the first one examined by the coroner
was DIR. Peralta of the Emergency Hos
pital, who told of the condition of the pa
tient when he reached the hospital He
died about ten minutes after reaching the
hospital, and witness attributed his death
to internal hemorrhage.
Engineer TestiGes.
Engineer John F. Mattingly, who was in
charge of the engine that caused Grahams
death, testified that he did not see the wa
gon until about the time of the collision.
Were the gates up or DOWN. the coroner
asked.
1.-The gate on the north side was up" an
swered witness. Il couldn't see the south
side from where l was sitting, and then,
too there was car standing on the sid
ing"
Witness concluded, when he saw the wa
gon on the crossing that the gates had not
teen lowered. He was positive that
wagon could not get through IL the gates
were down, without breaking the gate.
When witness first saw the vehicle about
two yards from the track the horse was
going very fast.
How fast was your engine going? wit
ness was asked.
mot very fast" was his response. mot
faster than the legal rate, ten miles an
hour, and stopped within eighty or ninety
foot Of hannQned
the horse was making faster time than
the engine
Then" remarked the coroner, che must
have been going at a break-neck speed"
That's what he was doing" added wit
ness
Policeman Henry was questioned about
the damage to the horse, and he said he
thought the horse was not injured.
1T was moon-eyed horse" the jury was
told. Eat times he's blind and at other
times he can see."
1.-The horse didn't seem to know which
way to turn said the engineer.
81 suppose the animal was frightened"
remarked the coroner.
Gates Not Down.
Name Rcssiter, the fireman on duty at the
time, testified that when he saw the wagon
he called to the engineer to stop, but it
was IL o lste.
Were the gates down. the coroner
asked.
mot on my side" he answered
(which side were you on?'
South side of Maryland avenue"
"Then," remarked the coroner, that's
pretty good evidence that the gates were
not down, for the engineer said that the
north gate was rot down on the other
side. II that was the case, did the driver
not have the right of way!"
Il suppose he did,
Should not the gates have been DOWN."
'They should"
"And isn't that the lawo'
YES SIR
Witness did not see the gateman, nor
could he say where he was at the time Of
the accident. Witness knew that there
were cars on the siding, and if they were
| near the crossing they would have obstruct-
ed the view of the crossing.
juror wanted to know il the gateman
was CONVEX SAINT with the time Of the ar
rival Of trains at the crossing. but witness
could not answer the question.
More Evidence.
William Southworth, operator at the 9th
street crossing, said in answer to the cor
oner's inquiries that the gateman in charge
of the crossing was in the box at the time
of the accident, but he thought there was
somebody at the gate because he heard
| voices. He also said that the "off gate"
| was lowered.
Deputy Coroner Glazebrook gave evidence
describing Graham's injuries. There was
GTanam
been drinking.
Should Have Been Down.
Dennis Cain, switchman at Sth street and
Maryland avenue, testified that about $50
| o'clock Monday night he was talking to
the operator at the 9th street crossing
When he became aware of the approach of
the train he left and went out to look after
his switches. When he saw that they We're
| all right he gave the train the signal to
keep along. Then ne discovered that the
gates were not lowered and he ran over
to lower them. He had the south gate
about half way down when he saw the
wagon coming at fast rate OF speed. Wit
ness called to him to stop, but he paid no
| attention to him. The gateman came out
of the box to the gate about the time wit
ness was lowering the gates.
Witness did not notice any cars on the
siding at the time of the accident, but he
was told that there were cars there.
How East was the horse moving at the
time of the accident?"
"In 4 fast trot.''
Should the gates have been down when
you tagged the tramp asked Juror.
They should" was his answer.
'Then If the gateman had attended to
| his duty the gates would have been DOWN."
'Thcy would"
Miss Kate Sullivan and Miss Katie Willis,
who witnessed the accident, testified that
the gates were not lowered.
GatemRn Tcstifes.
Mr.. B. E. Parish, gateman at the crossing
where the tragedy occurred, testified that
about $50 o'clock on Monday he was in the
box putting coal on the fire.
ibid you know there was q train due
there about that timer
Yes cir"
Did you lower the gates?"
mo. SIR answered the gateman, "but
Mr.. Cain started to lower them when the
man drove on the track"
Witness explained that he missed because
he was looking after his fire. He said the
rules allowed him to trust his duty to any
railroad man familiar with the work, but
not to persons not in the employ Of the
company.
Witness told the jury that there are more
than sixty trains passing the crossing a
day. and the schedule is changed so fire.
quently that he can't always keep posted.
Are you drinking man?'' the coroner
| asked.
Il don't drink to any EXTENT was his re-
Spouse.
Had you been drinking that day?'
mo, SIR"
Witness was asked If sny other trains had
passed that crossing when the gates were
not down, and he replied that they had on
one or two occasions. He said that fire.
quently there are cars on the sidings and
far