Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-06-24
Fred Eslin's Death Results From
Fracture of Skull.
ARREST OF THOMAS COLLINS FOLLOWS
The Charge Made, That He In
fIicted the Injury.
TO INVESTIGATE

Frederick Martin Esln, school boy ten
years old, whose parents live at No. 1927
Florida avenue, northeast, died at the Ho-
meopathic Hospital yesterday afternoon.
A fracture of the skull caused his death,
and Thomas Collins, trainman on the
Baltimore and Ohio railroad is under ar
rest charged with having inflicted the in
jury He was arrested about o'clock this
morning by Sheriff Thompson of Mont
gomery county, Md, who found him asleep
on his engine at Boyds station.
The boy was struck on the head with a
piece of coal Wednesday morning about
$50 o'clock, near 18th and l streets north
east, and yesterday he was removed to the
hospital, where he died in the afternoon.
1t was o'clock last night before the po-
lice at headquarters were Informed OF the
affair and later in the night they tele-
graphed Sheriff Thompson to arrest Col
Inns. The message did not reach the sherlH
at Rockville until o'clock this morning.
AS soon as 1t was received, however, the
sheriff started in his buggy and drove
twelve miles to Boyds. Collins was much
surprised when taken into custody, ana
while the sheriff refrained from discussing
the case with the prisoner he got the i'm
preston that Collins regarded the affair as
an accident.
Sheriff Thompson remained with the pris-
He reached here at S:25 o'clock this morn
ing, and Policeman Tracy took charge OF
Collins. The young man was conveyed 10
the 9th precinct station to be held until
the case is passed upon by the coroner
jury.
The Eslin boy was son of George Nc
Clellan Eslin and attended school at the
Blair school building. He was on his way
to school Wednesday morning, 1t is SAID,
which was the last day of the school term,
he and several companions being near the
9TH street crossing when he received the
fatal injury. Hugh Bartlett, Albert Teeple
and others were near by at the time, ana
they will probably appear as witnesses IN
the case before the coroner.
E,slin it is alleged, was standing not 1ar
from the houses south OF the railroad
tracks and some distance from the tracks,
when he was struck by lump of coal He
fell to the ground and was unconscious
when picked up by his companions. They
took him 10 a neighboring house. where
the blood was washed from his head, and
he was then taken to his home. He had
partly recovered consciousness when he
reached home and was able to talk. He
told a somewhat disconnected story of the
affair.
Wednesday afternoon the injured boy
was seen by a physician, who dressed the
wound and advised his removal to the hos
pital Wednesday night there was an APP
parent change for the better in his condi-
ton, but yesterday morning he became
worse, and his father had him taken to the
Homeopathic Hospital. The doctors there
were satisfied, upon examination, that
there was nothing they could do for the
lad, and about 3 o'clock he died
Boys Make Charges.
1t is claimed that one of the boys saw
the trainman throw the piece of coal, and
lie says there was no reason for it. In
this connection some of the boys say 1t
has been the custom of tranmen to amuse
themselves throwing coal at boys. This
statement, however, is denied by the rail-
road men, who frequently complain to the
police of annoyances on the part of boys
in Northeast Washington, as well as in
other sections.
Mr.. Collins is a young man, and is en-
ployed on the road as a fireman. His
father, Thos. Collins, and his uncle. Pat
rick Collins, are engineers on the road
and he was on the engine with his uncle
Wednesday morning. When seen by a
Star repol ter this morning Collins said he
did not care to say anything about the
case until the inquest is held. Today the
investigation CT the case was continued by
the police, and it is stated a number of
witnesses have been found who will give
some information bearing on the boys
death.
Coroner Carr was notified, and he con-
morrow morning. 1t is likely it will be
held at the sixth precinct station. Deputy
Coroner Glazebrook will perform the
AUTOPSY.