Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-07-08
EUGENE LAWS TRAGIC END
Ooroners Jury Returns Verdict Generating
the Railroad Company.
Particulars of the Sad Occurrence as
Told by Witnesses - Engine
Was Running Slowly.

Coroner Carr held an inquest yester-
day afternoon at ]. w. Lees under
taking establishment in the case of
the small boy, Eugene Law, who was
killed on the grade crossing of the
Baltimore and Potomac railroad. at Mary
land avenue and 18th streets southwest
Wednesday night, as published in yester-
days Star. Mrs. Law, mother of the I'M
fortunate boy, was too i'll to be present,
but several friends were there to Lear the
testimony. Mr.. Howe Totten attended as
attorney for the railroad.
The evidence showed that the gates were
down. and one witness said the child, in
getting under them, struck his head and
then stumbled under ore of the cars that
was being drawn by the engine. The jury
returned verdict which attached no
blame to the employees of the road, and re-
peated 4 recommendation made some tima
ago that picket gates provided at the
crossings.
The Testimony.
Deputy Coroner Glazebrook testified that
the boys body was cut in twain. The up
per part was in good condition, but the
lower part was badly mashed Death re-
suited from hamorrhage following the in
jury.
Luther D. Whit 312 B street southwest,
testified that he was walking on the rail-
read tracks, near the scene. when the accl-
dent occurred. Witness said he saw
moving freight train and when he heard Il
noise behind him he saw the shifting en-
gIne coming very fast. He saw the BOY
with a flag in his hand. The boy, he
thought, was trying to get cut OF the way
of the engine, and it was not until the en-
CINE had passed that he knew an accident
had happened. Witness said the engine
ran almost to 14th street before it stopped;
lady whom witness thought was related
to the boy ran out and attempted to pick
him up. Had it not been for witness the
lady would probably have been run over by
d freight train. Witness said the gates
were down. He did not see the boy go I'M
der them.
W. A. Hoff, gateman at the 11th street
crossing, told the jury that there was a
freight train on the north track, while the
skifter was going south toward the K ana
ID. yard. He could not see the shifter on
account of the elevation of the freight
train. The crossing was clear when wit
ness lowered the gates. He did not see the
boy until after the accident happened. 1t
witness opinion that the engine was
not going fast.
Milton Jasper, colored, testified that We'd
nesday evening he was standing on the
corner when the accident occurred. The
little boy came running across the street,
said witness and under the gate that
was down. He saw him when he got on
the track. The boy had to stoop TO get
under the gate. Jasper said he thought the
engine was going fast
Mrs. Edith Brown testified that she saw
the engine when it stopped. She did rot
witness the accident.
Mrs. Rosa Brown, mother of the preced-
ing witness, testified that she saw from her
window that the gates were down when
the affair happened.
Il saw the engine come along" she said,
and ] saw little parcel thrown against
the fence
The Engineers Story.
Engineer c. w. Werden told the jury that
he knew nothing of the accident except
what he had heard. The crossing was clear
as his engine approached II and he knew
nothing of what had occurred until he
reached the railroad yard.
How fast was your engine going?" the
witness was asked.
Not more than seven or eight miles an
hour. was his response.
Were the gates DOWN.
They were.
Witness said his engine was running tank
first. Running in this way he could not
see anything within ten fifteen feet of
the tender, but had a good view of the
track ahead.
Conductor j. S. Taylor gave similar testi-
mony. The first he knew of the affair was
when Il man came in the railroad yar1 and
asked If he knew engine H. had killed
child at the 18th street crossing. The en-
CINE passed the crossing going 1T the rate
of seven Or eight miles an hoIr
Benjamin Hail. \ small boy, testified that
Eugene Law struck his head against the
gate when he passed beneath it. Then he
stumbled and fell under the second car,
back of the engine. Witness said the gates
were Gown and the engine was not going
very fast. Witness was seated in a Belt
line car at the time. This closed the test-
mony and the jury returned the verdict