Evening star., 1896-12-28
.AcclDEN tai DEATH
Ooronsrs Inquest Into the circumstances
Of NJ. Faulmsrs Fatal Accident,
Conductor and Driver Of the Horse
Car Tell Their stOries--Other Evi-
dence Heard The Verdict, =

/ ASA'' ouAAAcks- do HcEctO1OEc puOISnSO IN
The Star, was knocked down and run over
by an lexington and Soldiers Home street
car at tn and streets northeast Thursday
| night. He died Friday afternoon at Provi-
dence Hospital. Friends of the deceased
were present at the inquest, and Mr.. Rid
out was present In the interest of the rail-
road company.
Miss Fields Testimony.
Miss Helen Fields. a nurse, who spent
most Of her time at the hospital while Mr..
Faulkner was there, was the first witness
questioned. She testified that she went to
the hospital soon after the patient was sent
there, and. with the exception Of about
thirty minutes, she was with him all the
time. He was conscious most of the time
ard talked with her about the accident
lie told her that he did not know exactly
now the accident happened. Miss Fields
said when she suggested that his deafness
In one ear had probably caused the acci-
dent the patient said he thought his aff1ic-
1t. He said he thought one Of the horses
stumbled and knocked him down, and the
-FOUR wheels went over him. His foot, he
thought, caught in one Of the wheels, and
ne was dragged some distance.
Did he censure anybody?' the coroner
asked her.
mo. SIR" she answered.
Did he exonerate the driver?"
What His Landlady Said.
The next witness was Mrs. M. c. Flan-
nigan, at whose house. No. 227 New Jersey
avenue. the deceased ate his meals. She
testified that he ate supper at her house
Thursday night, and left there only q short
time before the sad affair happened. So
far as she knew. Mr.. Faulkner was not
deaf.
Passenger's Story.
Mr.. M. Smiley, resident of 718 C street
northeast, who was a passenger on the
car, testified that when the car struck Mr.
Faulkner he felt the JAR and thought that
the boys in the neighborhood had put an
obstruction on the track. When the con-
ductor called to him he went out and as
sisted in removing the injured man from
the track. A man whom he supposed was
the driver said he supposed the man must
have been drunk.
THAT was on the statement of a colored
woman, interrupted Robert Bruce, the
driver.
Did you get near Mr. Faulkner, the
witness was asked.
Yes. sir" he answered. II had hold of
his shoulders
And did you smell alcohol?''
Il did not
Witness was told that Mr.. Faulkner had
got run over in attempting to get out of
the way of a baker wagon.
AAS LNhuehCes
Robert Bruce, driver of the car testified
that Mr.. Faulkner's head struck against
the brass rod on the car and one foot was
caught in wheel. When he first saw Mr..
Faulkner the latter seemed to be falling.
There was baker wagon near the car at
the time, but witness could not tell from
just where tie aged man came.
Witness denied having said that Mr..
Faulkner was drunk. Some man in the
crowd advised him to see celored woman
who had said he was under the influence
of liquor. He saw the woman referred to,
but she refused to give her name. ~.
How fast were you going?" the driver
was asked. "a,
He first answered ten miles an hour and
then said he was driving at the rate of be-
tween five and ten miles. IA
Question as to Speed.
Coroner Hammett asked at what rate of
speed horse cars were allowed to CO. and
Mr. Ridout said the charter allowed a rate
of ten miles.
The coroner said he could hardly believe
that the law would allow such a dangerous
rate of speed.
Witness resuming, said he was able to
stop the ca" within distance of one car
length. He mad to drive slow near the
place where the accident happened in order
to get around the curve.
The Driver of the Bakers Wagon.
William Wregman, driver of the bakers
wagon, testified that his wagon was ten
feet from the car at the time Of the acci-
dent. His horse could not have touched
Mr.. Faulkner. At the time the affair hap
pened the car horses were not going very
fast, nor was he driving fast
One of the jurors wanted some informa-
ton concerning the statement about Mr.
Fauikner's having been under the influence
Of liquor, and Miss Fields who nursed him.
was recalled. She said she had known the
deceased for many years. and knew him to
have been very much opposed to LIQUOR. He
had saved many a boy from a drunkards
grave, she said.
What the Conductor Knew.
Conductor James E. Kennedy testified to
what he knew of the accident. He did not
see Mr.. Faulkner until after the accident
happened. He saw that one leg had been
broken, and he did all he could for the suf-
ferer. Mr.. Faulkner was able to give his
name before he became unconscious. The
car was going at the rate Of about six
miles an hour at the time Of the accident.
Witness was told that Mr.. Faulkner had
been seen walking from the Peabody
School, going east
Col. Brislit's Statement.
Col. Bright informed the jury that Mr.
Faulkner had been at his house a few
minutes before he was killed. He heard
Mr. Faulkner's statements and was con-
vinced that he CMr Faulkner thought the
accident was unavoidable and he at once
made inquiries about the arrest of the
driver, intending to get him released If ne
was still locked up. Mr.. Faulkner was
under the impression that one of the car
horses had knocked him down. He was
certain that.if Mr.. Faulkner was present he
would exonerate the driver. Col. Bright
said that Mr.. Faulkner had led a temperate
and exemplary life, and during his thirty
years acquaintance he had known him tn
have taken only three glasses of sometime
approaching to liquor, and that was for
medicinal purposes. ~
Charles Girouard testified that he ui+-
messed the accident He was playing in
the street at the time. and he saw Mr
Faulkner when he attempted to get out Of
the way of the bakers wagon In so doing
one or the car horses knocked him down
The conductor was ringing the bell
conductor Kennedy said that the bow was
mistaken about his ringing the bell.
Driver Bruce repeated his statement that
the brass rod came in contact with Mr
FauIkner's head, and that the horses did
not strike him. N
Leon Crutchett also gave evidence. He
did not see Mr.. Faulkner when he was
Knocked down. He did see the wagon and
car, but they were not going fast