The morning times., 1896-04-26

Six citizens comprising coroner's jury
OF inquest, held an examination yesterday
afternoon on the death OF Dir. Samuel S.
Morfatt OF No. Tie Eleventh street north
west who was run over and crushed to death
beneath the wheels OF a Columbia cable car
early yesterday morning. Their verdict was
that the physicians death was accidental
and the Railroad employees were exonerated
from all blame.
Coroner Hammett commenced the inquest
at $50 O'Clock at Lees undertaking estab-
lishment. Sergt.- Acton, who represented
The police department, had summoned the
witnesses and tie following jurymeB:
Fred j. Miller, John Dalton, ex-Detectiye
George o. Miller, George Biggs, Benjamin
Kurtz and Columbus Denham.
Deputy Coroner Glazebrook described the
mutilation of Dr. Moffatt S body. He found
two wound, either of which would have
resulted fatally. Tie entire crown of the
skull was shattered and a large artery OF the
leg severed. From his examination the
deputy coroner judged that deceased was
in the pink of health just before the
accident.
Joseph II. Atwell, gripman of car 27,
which ran over Dr.. Moffatt, testified that
he resides at No. 1895 Florida avenue north
east. AT 1:3O yesterday morning lie was
running what is known as 'the last car, y
and was east bound. The car was bowling
along at 1.-THE full speed OF the rope which
Is about nine and one-half miles an hour.
SAW THE PHOSPHATE MAN.
When near the crossing OF New York
avenue and Tenth street he discovered q
dark object lying across the track about
five feet ahead. The car tracks at that point
are flanked on either side by a roadway
parking, and the shade or two large trees
make it one of the darkest spots along
the line.
Atwell says he applied the brakes as
quickly as possible, but not in time to
prevent the car frsm running over the
PROSTATE form. When within two feet of
the dark object on the track he saw by tne
glare OF the headlight that it was d man
lying stretched out on his back in such Il
position that he thought he might have
been placed there. The rails were wet
aud slippery, but the car was brought TO
standstill within twenty fcet of where
The man was struck.
Coroner Hammctt raised the question as
TO how far the cable car Headlights cast
their glare. Gripman Atwell at first said
by The aid of the headlight objects On the
track could only be seen five feet ahead.
Dr.. Hammctt suggested that they are said
to throw their rays from fifty TO 100 feet.
He added that Tenders, such as that on
car 27, were not in his opinion adequate
for the proper protection OF life and limb.
There was conSide rable discussion as 10
headlights, but little as to Tenders.
Louis Klotz OF No. 201S Ninth street
northwest and John A Ryan OF No 50
X street northeast, both night telegraph
operators, were walking home ward along
New York avenue and heard DR.. Moffatt
groan after the car struck him. II was
sho wn rather Conclusively that deceased
was lying across the track when he was
run over, aud after n few minutes de-
liberation the jury returned this verdict:
1--WE, the jury, believe that Samuel
s. Moffatt came to his death on the morning
of the 25th day Of April, 1895, by being
run over by car No. %, of the Columbia
Street Railway Company; and we further
believe it was entirely accidental: there
fore we eXonerate the gripman and con-,
ductOr from all blame"
The street car company was represented
at the inquest by Theodore J. King and
the superintendent. DR.. Moffatts family
by Attorney Percy MetZger. Judge Scott,
and DR.. Gilbert. The friends of the
deceased do not believe he was intoxf-
Gated at the time OF his death. They say
he was subject to attacks OF heart trouble
and may have fallen on the track during
one of these.
Funeral services will he held this after
noon, at $50 O'Clock, a Foundry NJ. E.
Church, and the remains will be sent
tn Osgoode. Ontario, for interment.