The Indianapolis journal., 1897-05-30
FELL DOWN STEEP STAIRS
HENRY CARTER KILLED LAST NIGHT
ON WEST WASHINGTON STREET.
A Number of Men Have Fallen Down
the Dangerous Passageyvay at
the Same Place.

Henry Carter, thirty years old, was killed
al II o'clock last night by falling down the
stairs leading up to the rooms over Emil
ManteIs barrel house at 2231a West Wash
ington street. Carter and Moses Everhardt
went to the place about fifteen minutes be-
fore the fatality. The upper rooms are oc-
cupied by Mrs. Anna Reece, who keeps a
resort. When the two men entered the
rooms they found already there two other
men, one of whom was Will H. Blanchard
and the other a molder whose name they
did not know The four men started away
at about the same time. The man whose
name is not known seems to have gone
down the stairs first. Carter followed and
Everhardt came behind him. The stairs
are very steep and narrow. Carter's first
step downward was the fatal one. His heel
must have struck the edge of the first step
and threw him off his balance. He fell
headlong to the bottom and into the street.
The stairway starts up right at the en-
trance from the sidewalk and a fall from
the top of the stairs is almost equivalent
to a fall from the window 1t is almost a
perpendicular fall.
The two men coming behind Carter picked
him up and he was carried to the office of
DR.. Eisenbeiss, at the corner of Washington
and West streets. He was alive when
picked up, but he breathed his last in a
half hour after he reached the office. Death
was produced by a severe conclusion at the
base Of the brain.
Mrs. Reece has occupied the rooms above
the barrel house little over a year. She
says that in that time at least half dozen
men have fallen down the stairs. None has
been killed or seriously injured before. The
stairs are old and worn and so narrow that
it is necessary to turn the foot SideWlSe IN
coming down to prevent falling. Almost
any person who did not look closely would
fall There is no balustrade, and the stairs
start right off abruptly from the corridor
floor.
in this country He has sister, Mrs. Hen
Carty street, and with her and her nus
band he had been making his home He
came here from Ireland about year ago.
He was employed in the Sinker-Davis
Company's foundry in the molding depart
ment. He was about thirty years old and
unmarried.
The policemen patrolling the district in
which the accident occurred and several
others from headquarters investigated the
case and came to the conclusion that 1t
was purely accidental death. Coroner
Brayton was notified as soon as the man
died and he arrived shortly afterwards and
made thorough investigation. he TOO was
Those who were with Carter say that ne
was not drunk and had not been drink
ing His brother-in-laW arrived shortly
after Carter's death. He said that Carter
was a sober and industrious man.
A later investigation by Captain Dawson
led to the arrest of Blanchard, EVerhardt
and the Reece woman. The inmates of the
house, hearing they were likely to be ar
rested, were spirited away by fr1end Inc
investigation by Captain Dawson dld not
disclose any suspicious circumstances, but
he thought to be on the safe side and hold
the people who were with Carter until
thorough investigation could be made TO-