Evening star., 1896-12-29
Coroner's Inquest Over Louis La
Peux, Killed by a Car.
TIE SPEED OF The TRAIN
Witnesses Who Saw the Fatal
Collision Heard Today.
FELL IN THE FEN Err

The death of the late Louis LIE Preux,
| who died at the Emergency Hospital early
Saturday morning from injuries received
by being struck by a Metropolitan electric
car near Sd and d streets northwest, as
heretofore published In The Star, was in
vestigated by Coroner Hammett today
The jury view ed the body at Barker's un-
dertaking establishment Saturday night
| and assembled at Lieut.. Kelly's police sta
| tion at neon. Thomas Benton, motorman
on car 812 Monday night, December q.
| the night of the accident, testified to the
circumstances of the affair. On that night
shortly before o'clock he was on his car
going west near Sd and D streets when the
accident happened. As his car approach
ed the 3d-street crossing he noticed a man
standing on the curbstOne. Just before the
motor car reached the corner this man
started across the street Witness pro-
ceeded to ring the bell fast as he could
and applied the brake. But the man, who
seemed to pay no attention to the car.
walked against the fender. The corner of
the fender struck him and knocked him in
the net.
WAS he an old MANI" the coroner asked
the witness.
IT couldn't tell from my car
Coroner Hammett said he was very much
surprised to hear that the man had fallen
IN the net. He said he had thought the car
had struck Mr. LIE Preux, for two of his
ribs had been broken and they had pene-
trated the lungs.
IF this man fell in the net" said DIR.
Hammett, ''then the fender is no good"
His injuries were Of such a character.
the coroner said, that his living so long
after his injuries were received was m'rac-
ulous. Mr.. LIE Preux's death. he said, was
due to hemorrhage and shock.
Witness said that his car was running al
the rate of about five miles an hour at the
time Of the accident His car was on time,
and there was 80 occasion for him to make
faster time than usual.
The Speed.
Mr.. Alexander Gait, who was present in
the interests of the family, questioned the
witness. He asked the witness how fast
his car was run ct other points along the
line.
Mr.. Baker, who represented the company,
interposed an objection, which the coroner
overruled He said he would admit the
question for the reason that the car might
have killed somebody else at another point
On the road.
Witness said that he ran from three to
ten miles an hour. The car could not make
ten ten miles an hour except on down grade.
Mr.. LIE Preux. he said. seemed to be look
ing straight ahead of him and paid no at
fentioH to the car. He did not see that
there was dent in the dashboard after the
accident happened. Witness heard the noise
made by the mans head striking against
the sheet iron dashboard.
When picked up was the man con-
scious?
mo, sir: but 1 understand that he re-
gained consciousness after he was taken
into the drug store"
A son of the deceased said that his father
had good eyesight and there was no defect
In his hearing. Neither was he man who
INDUCED in liquor.
Thomas I. Hartford, who was conductor
on the car at the time of the accident, tes-
tilted to finding the man in the fender after
the car was stopped.
How fast was the car going?"
think about five miles an hour
How last do you usually So?'
Mr.. Coleman, superintendent of the road,
interrupted to make an explanation, say
ing the witness could not answer the ques-
ton.
IF he can't" said the coroner, hes not
the proper man for the place"
Il can't answer that question:" said wit
ness.
Mr.. Coleman then explained that the
motorman was the man who had charge Of
the time made, and the coroner said he
was under the impression that the con-
ductor was responsible for the rate of
speed.
Witness said that the injured man was
not conscious while in his sight. He did
not hear him make any statement. At the
corner Of Sd and D streets the cars always
make slow tme because that is regarded
as a dangerous place.
Different Opinions.
Miss Minnie L. Benton, daughter of the
motorman. was called, but sne knew moth
ing Of the affair. Her father told her
about the accident, and she wen: to the
hospital to see the injured man.
Charles H. Paige. who witnessed the ac-
cident, testified that he was on the side
walk Of ID street near Sd, when his atten-
ton was attracted to the car. At the same
time he noticed Mr.. LIE Preux walking
north on Sd street. The pedestrian took
no notice of the ringing of the bell, but
continued across the street until the car
struck him.
THE car" said witness, was going at a
terrific rate Of speed, a rate of speed rarely
seen After striking Mr.. LIE Preux the car
stopped within eight or ten feet
Witness rushed to the car and rendered
what assistance he could. The striking of
Mr.. LIE Preux's head against the dash
board made as much noise as would have
been made had the car struck a stationary
jcist.
When q, eshoned he said that If the
brake was applied the appliance failed to
work. The car was coming the down
grade as fast as toboggan slide. He re-
peated that the car was going very fast.
Mr.. LIE Preux seemed to pay no attention
to the ringing Of the bell. When he stepped
from the curbstone he seemed to hasten
his footsteps.
Mr.. Coleman explained that If the car had
been going at the rate Of speed stated by
witness stop could not have been made
within from 100 to $50 feet, If the brake
had been aDniied Althou1h he Mr. To