The morning times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1897, 1896-02-28
is IT An ILLEGAL WIRE
No Permit to String That Which
Killed MCKnee.
HOW He MET HIS DEATH
In the Absence of witnesses the
Coroner Says 1t Was an Accident.
Question Raised as to the Legal
Right for the Cable on Dents
Foundry.

Coroner Hammett instituted an inveSti-
cation yesterday afternoon into the circum-
stances attending the death of John Mic
Knee, the telephone lineman, who was
electrocuted Wednesday evening by coming
in contact with a live wire strung across
the roof of the Dent foundry building, COR
ner of Thirty-third and X or Water streets,
Georgetown.
Lieut.. SwintleNs, in charge of the Sew
enth precinct, 'had-heen requested TO notify
all persons who knew anything concerning
the ira gic occurrence to meet Coroner Ham
NETT Lees undertaking establishment at
4 O'Clock yesterday afternoon.
Promptly at that hour seven witnesses
were on hand ,iincH.ding the superintendent
| OF the Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone
Company, the employers of McKnee at the
time OF his sudden taking off. After hear
ngthe statements OF the witnesses DR.. Ham
NETT decided that an inquest by coroner's
jury would be unnecessary, as no person
was on the roof with McKnee at the time
of his death, and consequently, as the
coroner put it, no one but himself was re-
sponSible for his sudden demise.
DEATH WAS ACCIDENTAL.
"A
thereupon furnished Undertaken Lee, who
has the body in Charge.
supt. Crandall and several other officials
of the Chesapeaker and Potomac Telephone
Company as well as the three linemen
who were with McKnee at the time
time OF the occurrence, made statements
to DR.. Hammett. 500 s.
McKnee's presence on the building was
explained by the. superintendent. After
| the men had finished their days work for
the company they undertook private job
down stairs her husband followed her
for Louis Hoffmyer, who has a foundry just
across Water street from the Dent eS-
tablishment.
ARE THE WIRES ILLEGAL?
Another investigation OF the Hnenan's
death was made. This one by The Times
to determine whether McKnee was the
victim of an electric system being illegally
operated, so far as their overhead wires
were concerned
1t is contended that the wire which killed
McKnee is being Illegally operated by
| the Potomac Light and Power Company.
That even If the electric light wires in
question were strung across Thirty-third
| street by permit, that instrument is of no
force, as the District Commissioners have
norightunderthelaw wtograntsucha a permit
No permits so far as the records show,
have been issued to the Potomac Light and
Power Company, the Tenleyton Railway
or to any other person or corporation, since
December 10, 1895, which could by any
reasonable Interpretation allow the string
| ing of wires on the street at the old Dent
| Foundry property in Georgetown.
NO PERMIT ISSUED.
The modified decree for an injunction,
made by Chief Justice Bingham, in the case
of Anton Gloetzer and others against the
! District, made early this month, allows
the issue of permits anywhere except along
the proposed route of the Potomac Com
pany's line from Georgetown to lexington,
but no permits have been issued under il.
| The opinion of the chief justice in that
case, plainly held that the Commissioners
have no right to permit the construction of
electric lines anywhere on government prop
erty, except in accordance with specific
| act of Congress.
| Mr.. Crosby said recently that the Po-
| tonlac Company did not intend to ask for
a permit from the Commissioners. They
would go to Congress.
| 1t is cOGtended tllat unGer Judge BIng-
lam's decision the Commissioners have
no more rightto grant a permit for over
head or underground wires than they
have to grantpermission for the construc
| tion OF a street or steam railway through
this city. D u
| When askedlhow long the wires had been
! strung across Thirty third street, the super
| intendent OF the. company said be did not
know. He added that they had been there
] since the conlpanyato took possession OF the
building, some time during last December.
| How long previous to that time they had
| been there he did not know
| In the opinion OF well known law firm
| the electric light company may not be
| trespassers sofar as the wire on the foundry
F, building is concerned, because no doubt
permission Of the owners of the structure
was secured before the upfigbts and wires
were placed there.
Butthe company is liable so far as crossing
| the street with their wire is concerned.
Victim of the Baltimore Fire.