Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-09-07
WAS ON THE TRACK
Inquest Today Over Body Of Louis Gun
ningham.
Struck by an Electric Car-Died Mt
the Hospital of His
Injuries.

The body of Louis Cunningham, who was
injured on the electric railroad near Sligo
Sunday night and who died in Garfield
Hospital yesterday. was removed to Sligo,
the late home of the deceased.
Coroner Carr called at the hospital and
inquired about the case, but as the acci-
dent happened in Montgomery county Md.
he decided to let the Maryland authorities
make the investigation.
The inquest over the body of Louis Gun
ningham was held this afternoon at $50
o'clock in the feed store near the railroad
station at Silver Springs.
Was on the Track.
Young Cunningham was, according to re-
port, intoxicated Sunday night. He chose
for his resting place the railroad track
just opposite the feed store, lying with his
back against a small embankment and one
leg across the rail. He was in this position
when struck by the car.
A coloreG man, who was on the car in
question, is authority for the statement
that the car was going at more than the
usual rate of speed, and that this, in his
opinion, and in the opinion of all who have
discussed the matter at Silver Springs, was
responsible for the tragedy. The moon was
shining brightly at the time, but the mo-
torman could not see Cunningham in time
10 bring his car to a stop. Had he been
could, in all probability. have stopped his
car in time to have at least saved the
young mans life. 1t is stated at Silver
Springs that, although the railroad COM
pany IS hound by law to stop the cars be-
fore crossing the Sligo Creek road late
at night the cars 90 not stop, but go
across the road at full speed.
Young Cunningham was very much liked
IN Silver Springs, and was not generally
known as "a drinking man. He was held
to be Industrious and faithful in the per-
formance of whatever work he had to do
IT is not known positively that Cunning
nam was intoxicated, but that Is the opin-
ION OF the colored man who supported the
young man in his arms until the ambulance
arrived and conveyed him to medical as
SiStance.
Although the hour for the inquest was
fixed at 2:3O O'clock, it was nearly an hour
later when all the witnesses and Jurors
had appeared and business began. The
jury was first sworn over the body of Cum
bingham, which had been taken to Silver
Springs by Undertaken Geier 1t consist
ed of Messrs. B. F. Peters, foreman; Will
bur Cissell, Thomas G. Hardesty, Resin
Hardesty, George Coburn, Clarence Ben
nett. Howard Hardesty. Herbert Har-
desty, Hugh ODonnell. George Bur-
dette. F. Beck and George Hardesty The
jury then VISITED the scene of the accident
and after that repaired to the large room
in the railroad station at Silver Springs
Where the inquest proper was conducted.
The physician who attended Cunning
ham is of the opinion that the railroad
company was not to blame in the slight
est for the accident; that Cunningham was
lying with his body in slight depression
and that all the motorman could see was
his foot and part of his right leg lying
across the rail. He said the motorman
would not know it was even human be-
ing until so close upon it that to stop the
car was matter of impoSSiblity.
Several witnesses were summoned all Of
whom, however had not appeared when
the inquest began. The motorman in
charge of the car which did the killing
was on hand, AMI he will be questioned at
some time today.