Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-10-11
Charles Cooper's Neck Broken by a
Metropolitan Motor Car.
THE FENDER WENT over Him
The Man Was intoxicated and
Fell on the Track.
THE CORONER'S DECISION

H Cooper colored, VINO was knocked down
and instantly killed Saturday night about
ESQ O'Clock by motor car No. 2oo of the
Metropolitan Railroad Company, which was
running west on street near 9th street
northwest, in the rear of Center market
His body was extricated from beneath the
forward part of the back of the fender.
His neck was broken. Cooper was a we'll
known character around the market where
he was employed by the commission men
ana produce dealers in doing odd jobs. He
was ABOUT thirty-five years old. and lived in
Limerick alley southwest. Cooper appears
TO have been drinking Saturday evening,
and was advised TO go home. Accordingly
ne started out to take car which would
carry him down AZ street southwest. 1t
is believed that he tried to board the train
drown by motor car No. IL. 10 which the
United States mail car attached, going
SOUTH and, missing the latter car fell on
the track in front of motor No. 2ei. the
FENDER OF which passed over him. allowing
the front part of the car 10 pin him TO the
track y jack had to he placed under the
car after the accident TO release the dead
body of Cooper.
Coroner Carr examined several witnesses
at the sixth precinct station house this
morning. No jury was summoned.
r. NJ. Thompson, motorman of car No
300, stated that his car was going toward
9Jh street when he Cooper walking
along the south-bound track about sixty
lttt III front OF MIN, and in the direction of
ith street He was walking between the
slot rail and the inner rail of the soIth-
bound track. and appeared TO be drunk as
he staggered. The witness stated that g
cooper got within about five feet Of car 800
he fell across the north bound track. Wit
ness Immediately reversed his lever and at
tempted to stop his train. which was going
between hVe and six miles an hour, but the
fender struck the man. Witness rang his
gong when he saw Cooper walking on the
other track.
Under the Fender.
Why didn't the wheel guard actg' in
quired Coroner Carr, when Thompson had
concluded his testimony.
The wheels didn't reach him" resnond
ed the witness He had got under the
lender and was lying across the track
Ihe car was stopped soon As possible
h D. Redmond. the motorrnan in charge
or motor car No. Il, stated that he did not
sec the car when it hit Cooper, as he was
streets curve Witness had seen Cooner he
ing occurred He judges that car .ley was
going between five and six miles an hour,
because speed IS always reduced before
reaching a curva, and that car was within
sixty or seventy feet from the 9th and Il
street curve. Witness had seen Cooper be-
fore he was struck. He hal nearly fallen
In front of car No. Il after 1t had turned
INTO Il street from 9Th street, and witness
had TO use the sand box to assist in stop
ping his train Cooper then staggered out
OF the way.
=. y. Dade's Testimony.
S. ]. Dade, colored. who lives ct Airing
ton and is a market gardener, witnessed
the occurrence. He said he was behind
Cooper on B street. and that the latter
was under the influence of liquor
He was pretty trunk wasn't her' in
quired Coroner Carr
Yes, sir, he was pretty full"
Continuing. Dade said shat a man had
told Cooper he bad enough and ought to go
hGr. and rhny
was pretty full. and had three barrels to
move and didn't know how he was going to
do it,
Head Struck Headlight.
Cooper tried to catch the train going
south" said Dade. "and made grab at
the rear end of the mail car He missed
1t and fell in front of the north-bou
car. His head struck the headlight. or he
would have been caught in the fender
Striking the headlight knocked him out of
the fender
Are you sure the headlight struck him."
asked Il representative of the Metropolitan
Railroad Company who was present.
Yes. sir; heard the glass shake"
DO you think it Cooper's fault that he
got killed." asked Coroner Carr.
Yes, sir, responded the witness.
THE car has a sign in II, you know that
passengers must not get on or off the car
while it is in motion. and Cooper tried
to get on that other car while it was go
ing
Cooper Was Drunk.
Dade upon further examination which
was conducted by Mr.. G. b. Coleman, sec
rotary and general manager Metropolitan
Railroad Company, said that Cooper was
In kennedys saloon on 9th street and
witness asked him how he felt to which
Cooper replied that he drunk as h.
Cooper asked Kennedy to let him have
cigar, saying he would pay for 1t Monday,
and Mr. Kennedy said Cooper had better
go home, and that when he came in Mon
day the treat would be on him (kennedy).
Edward Kennedy of 2U6 9Th street the
saloon keeper. stated that Cooper was in
his place fifteen or twenty minutes before
he was killed.
Was ne drunk?'' inquired Coroner Carr
Well" said Mr.. Kennedy. .he was un-
der the influence. l told him to go home
because | thought he had enough.
Albert Wilkinson of sic G. street south
east stated that he was on an Anacostia
car and he saw Cooper get off a car going
south at b and 9th street. Cooper started
to go across TO the market and then
crossed back toward the Smithsonian Park
He came back again and fell on the north
bound track in front of the motor. Wit
ness could only see his coat tail as the
man fell.
The Fender Went Over Him.
Rudolph Sin ms of 1925 Union street
southwest saw the occurrence. He was
positive that Cooper fell in front of the
fender and clear from ii. He did not
think the car struck him. but that the fen
ner went over him. Witness helped to extri-
cate the dead man from beneath the car.
Jack was procured from the market house
and the car was lifted up. The side fender
board was resting on Cooper's neck and
fhe brake bar and the irons that hold It in
place We're bracing him down on the con-
crete Witness reitera ted his positiveness
that the man fell in front of the car n few
feet frcm the fender. There was no time
to stop the car Cooper appeared To be un-
der the influence OF liquor. said the wit
ness. and the latter said to friend Just
before the affair occurred that he thought
Cooper was drunk.
This concluded the statements of the wit
Eesses. and Coroner Carr announced that
he would give a certificate of accidental
death
Motorman Edward NJ. Thompson and
Conductor Joseph b. Murray, who was in
charge of the train that killed Cooper.
were released from the personal bonds
they had given 20 appear.