Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-02-05
THE BROWN INQUEST
OaroneFs Inquiry Into the Killing Of ths
Express Driver.
Witnesses Testify That Brown Was
Not Intsxicated-story Of the Gate
keepcf-Counsel Present.

Coroner Carr held an inquest this after
noon at the sixth police station In the case
OF John A. Brown, the Adams Express
Company's driver who was killed on the
Maryland avenue crossing Thursday night,
as published in yesterdays Star. Attorney
Edwin Forrest was present in behalf of
the dead mans relatives. The jury viewed
the mutilated body of the victim In the
morgue and then heard the testimony, the
first witness examined being a colored man
named Spencer Corbin. He lives at 332 B
street and was with Brown until a few
minutes before the accident happened
Witness said he left him In the park a
short distance from the railroad tracks
The weather was cold, and Brown ran
down through the park when they sepa-
rated.
What was his conditioE?" the coroner
asked.
cd Il saw him take one little drink. but
he was sober,
Witness said that Brown showed not the
slightest sign of intoxtcatfon. He was
wearing cap, and witness though. 1t
came down well over his ears.
John H. Keys, Waterman at the Mary
land avenue crossing. testified that he put
his gates do vn about S:45 o'clock Thurs
DAY night because engine 81 was coming
out Of the depot. The engine was backing
from the depot going toward the round
house. He noticed Mr. Brown 90 under
the gates and saw no more of him until
the engine stopped. Then he went with
his lantern and saw the man under the
wheels.
Qresttoned by Coroner.
DO people frequently go under the
gates?" the coroner asked
Yes. SIR he answered, land all We can
do is to call after them"
Have you any legal authority to keep
them out of the gates?'
"All we can do Is to call policeman
He said that people who are warned fire.
Quently curse him.
How fast was the engine going?'
1t wasn't going more than a mile min
ute," answered the gateman; lit was going
very slow. slow enough for a man to jump
on it."
Did you call to him?''
HE didn't give me a chance to call"
Witness said the engineer applied the
air brakes as soon as he saw the man on
the tracks.
Brown Was Warned.
The engine was backing out and the fire.
man had a lantern on the tender.
did the fireman make an outcry?"
Yes, sir"
What did he say?'
81 think he called: What are you doing
there?
The body, he said, was dragged about
twelve feet.
Mrs. Kate Reese, $50 MARYLAND avenue
testified that she was near Maryland ave-
nue. at the time Of the accident She saw
Mr. Brown pass under the lowered gate and
saw the train strike him.
Mr.. Brown, she said seemed as II he
were in hurry, and she thought he was
about the middle of the track when the
engine struck him. She heard several men
call to him. The voices she thought came
from the engine. Witness said the man
walked as if he staggered, but she could
not say he was drunk. The engine was
going at slow rate Of speed, and 1t was
only few feet from where the accident
occurred when Brown passed beneath the
gate.
Engineer e. B. Plummer, who lives in
Wilmington, Del, testified that the first
he saw of Brown was when he passed un-
der the gates. Brown hesitated, as II he
were going to wait for the engine to pass
and then he made another start Witness
applied the brakes, but did not succeed in
preventing an accident.
How fast was your engine going? asked
the coroner.
About six miles an hour" he answered.
And how fast does the law allow you
to go?"
Twelve miles an hour"
Witness said he could not account for
the mans conduct. He did not think he
was intoxicated. On the contrary, his
movements indicated that he was sober
The inquest had not been concluded when
this report closed.