Evening star., 1897-05-28
Investigating the Cause Of tho F
Street Accident.
qHE sYIDENCE PROVES CONFLICTING
Trainmen Deny That the Train
Was Running Rapidly.
TESTIMONY SUBMITTED

An inquest to determine the cause Of
in The Stsr, died Wednesday evening at
the Emergency Hospital from the effect OF
injuries received at the F street sewer an
hour or 50 before, was held today at the
first precinct station by Coroner Hammett
and jury.
Mr. KnOtt's Testimony.
Mr.. Charles Knott one of the contractors
for the excavation on the sewer, testified
that he was standing near the engine house
of the railway upon which the excavating
machinery was run about 6:45 Pm, and
that he saw a train of the Metropolitan
Railway Company approaching rapidly.
Several Of his men were engaged at the
same time in wedging up the house IN
which the engine vas located, as is Gus
tomary each evening, ard being fearful
that the board which extended over the
track would strike some of the men II the
train was I OF stopped, he signaled to the
motcrman to do so.
The motorman. he claimed. paid no at
tention to the signal, and the train crash
Ell into the plank with such force as to
throw 1t around violently; Charles Sims
was knocked from the place where he was
sitting on the side of the engine house, and
injuries inflicted upon Addison from the
effects of which he died
Carelessness Charged.
Dan Wood David venable. Charles Dick
inson and Gus Templeton all testified that
the train was coming very rapidly and
that the motorman did not make any ef-
fort to stop nor was the train brought to
standstill until 1t was stopped by get
ting wedged against the side of the en-
gine house with the plank.
Leonard J. Hitchcock. an employe of the
Columbia Thea,ter. saw the accident. AMI
though the train was moving at a speed
of not more than seven or eight miles an
hour.
Charles E. Curry, mOtorman Of the train.
testified that just before the affair occurred
he noticed d man sitting alongside OF the
engine house and quite close to the track
and brought his train to a full stop The
man, who 1t was subsequently ascertained
was George Sims. signaled to him TO come
ahead. He then turned the controller one
point. he said. enough to give the train a
start. and drifted slowly down the street
with the brake in control until after he
passed just beyond the engine house, when
he heard some one call to him to stop.
trailer car had struck board which swung
around and knocked Sims from the place
where he had been sitting. He went and
inquired whether the man was much hur;
and was Informed that he was not, where
upon he again got on his car and little
later started for the east end.
Patrick McMullen, conductor of the train.
testified that he was on the rear platform
horated Currys testimony as to the speed
of the train.
Counter Statements.
There was great deal Of evidence
brought out in the course of the cross-ex-
animation of the witnesses by General
Manager Coleman and Attorney A. c..
Bradley, representing the company. going
to prove that the railway company, ever
since the construction of the sewer reached
| the corner of 14th and F streets. has taken
every precaution to guard against injury
to men working on the sewer. and also that
the contractors. as stated by Mr.. Knott,
did not undertake to protect the worknen
from injury by the cars any more than to
| give them permission to lcok out for them
selves.
At = o'clock Coroner Hammett Informed
| the jury that there were still a number of
witnesses that they could hear if they
, wished to, but in view of the fact that
their evidence would only be cumulative
he would. if they thought they had heard
enough, give the case to them for dclibera-
| ton.
General Manager Coleman and MT Brad
| ley intimated their wish to produce o.her
| testimony bearing on the statements of
| some Of the witnesses. with view of con-
| tradicting them, but DIR. Hammett said as
| the jury had decided not to hear any more
| on that line he would not undertake 10
| force them to do SO.
The jury was out until o'clock, when it
| returned a verdict to the effect that Addi-
son came to his death the result of be-
ing struck by piece of timber; that II
exonerated the officers of the railroad com.
i pany. but recommended that a fagman b.
stationed at the engine house to compel
| the cars to come to a stop until given the
signal to go ahead.