Evening star., 1898-11-05
DEATH CAUSED BY ACCIDENT
Verdict of Coroner's Jury in the Case of
Mrs. Emma Gill.
Testimony Taken Today Detailing Re-
Attending the Casualty.

the death of Mrs Emma GILL; who was IA
tally injured Thursday afternoon in BIZ
cycle collision between John Sperry a
young white boy, and Roger O'Hanon, a
man about thirty-two years of age, at the
corner of 9th and p streets, returned a
verdict at l o'clock this afternoon holding
the young men blameless and finding hat
the deceased came to her death as a re-
suit of an unavoidable accident.
The jury, composed of John +. Kelly,
George o. Miller, Alfred S. Wilson Joseph
M. Burlew and George Holmes was i'm
paneled at the sixth precinct station, on
New Jersey avenue, this morning shortly
after II clock
Deputy Coroner Glazebrook testified to
having performed autopsy on Mrs Gilrs
body at the Emergency Hospital where
she died yesterday afternoon. Her skull
was cracked across the base the fracture
extending from two inches above the right
ear downward, being six inches In length.
Death was due to the resultant henor-
rhage. There We're no other bruises on her
BODY, with the exception of blue spot on
t tne MP, whlch was too old in appearance to
have been caused in Thursdays accident
John A. Bowers of 18th and Florida ave
nue. motofman of the Metropolitan Rail-
road Company testified to having seen Mrs
Gill leave the west side of Gth street and
start across the thoroughfare. A young
boy came riding down 9th street in !,
northerly direction, and he reached r
street he swerved onto the Metropolitan
tracks TO avoid the rough paving In the p
street car tracks. AS he did so he struck
the lady and knocked her down. Bowers
could not identify the wheelman who
Knocked Mrs: Gill down, but thought it
vas young Sperry. The older wheelman
came up later, the witness thought and ne
saw no collision. The young man was
riding at moderate rate of speed and was
on the right side of the street until he
he ri ircl en- hc
southbound car track, the left side of the
street.
William Taylor, colored, of 517 I'd street
southwest, said young Sperry and O. Hanlon
Collided at Z street, the former riding
down the right side of 9th street and the
after riding westward on the left side of
2 street. AS the boy Sperry was knocked
off his wheel he struck Mrs. Gill and
Knocked her down. The accident would
reVer have happened, he declared but for
the bicycle collision. Taylor contradicted
the form er witnesses, and said Mrs Gill
walked from the east to west side of the
street.
Witnessed the Collision
Maurice Fitzgerald saw the wheelmen
come together, but could not say which
man struck the woman. The wheeImen
picked her up and carried her into the drug
store on the corner. Mrs. Gilfs head must
have struck one of the cobblestones of the
= street car track
Howard Bayly, a school boy of 1893 11th
street northwest, declared Young SDorrv
tried TO avoid a collision with O'Hanlon
by sWerving on to the Metropolitan tracks
The riders collided in the center of 9th and
+ streets, both striking Mrs. Gill. Witness
did not notice whether the Wheelmen rang
any bells or not
Howard Maher of 1435 9th street north
west, corner of street said O'Hanlon
passed down street toward 9th street
riding on the left side of the street He
lying on the car tracks al the corner. and
the two wheelmen standing near by. There
We're number of school children near the
scene, but all were on the sidewalk and not
in the way of bicycliSts
Richard Gilleland of 1908 9th street said
Mrs. Gill was standing on the car track
with her back to the wheelmen when
struck. The riders were not moving fast.
Neither man seemed to be hurt as a result
of the collision.
Ellen Proctor little colored girl, of 1121
lst street northwest, saw the bicycle riders
try to avoid colliding. Both wheelmen and
the lady fell at the same time
Defendants Testify.
Roger O. O'Hanlon of 1919 7th street one of
the defendants, said he was riding down
street. picking his way through a crowd
OF children. In doing SO he turned on TO
the left side of the car track. He saw
young Sperry too late to avoid collision
He did not see Mrs Gill until he got up.
He couldn't say how the wheels came to-
gether. but from bruises on his left side he
Judged the boy struck him. He was riding
slowly and did not ring the bell
John Sperry of 1463 kenesaw avenue the
second defendant, said he did not see the
lady until after he collided with O'Hanlon
Neither wheel was hurt in the accident
ran meeting of the Washington Jockey
Siub begins at the Bennng track Nov IL.
Five races daily. First race at 2:15.-Adyt.
~