Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-02-24
NO ONE RESPONSIBLE
Death of Mrs. Holderman Due to
Unavoidable Accident.
TESTIMONY HEAD HEAD BY BY 4 RAE gQgGsiEER
Eye Witnesses Relate the Crcum-
STAGES of the Affair.
VERDICT OF THE JURY

--o-
At IL o'clock this morning Coroner Carr
and jury began the investigation at the
sixth precinct station OF The circumstances
attending the tragic death of Mrs. Jessie
F. Holderman, aged thirty-two years. which
occurred after 4 O'Clock yesterday after
noon. Mrs. Hoderman was the wife OF
Marion F. Hoderman, clerk in the Post
Office Department, and their home is at the
corner of sth and A streets northeast.
The story of the sad occurrence, as told
by witnesses and relatives of the deceased,
was that Mrs. Holderman was returning
from visit TO the city hall. She had gone
there to have recorded release of a mort
gage on the home of the couple, the last
payment on which was made a few days
ago. She was passionately fond of riding
a bicycle, using ii whenever it was possible
for her to do After leaving the city hall
she rode through the Capitol grounds and
thence on East Capitol street, which was to
have been her route as far as SIN street
northeast.
Mrs. Hoidcrmaff proceeded along the
south side OF the street, but very close to
an electric train, of which e w Menden-
hall was motorman and X. A. Bonner con-
ductor Although there u long line of
piles of snow between the track and the
curb, Mrs. Holderman had no difficulty in
keeping far enough away from the train TO
avoid being struck by it until alley
| about half way between 9Th and 1th streets
was reached. Here there was a pile of
snow somewhat higher than the others and
| it is believed the lady felt that she could
not pass safely that point and made squirt
10 go in front of the train. which was mov-
| ing very slowly at the time having stopped
at what Is known among railroad men as
| 6la street. Mrs. Holdermau had in one
hand package of meat which she had
| bought at a store on her way down. and
| this fact also, it is believed. hampered her
| greatly.
| The Fatal Move.
| Immediately in front of No. C37 East
| Capitol street Mrs. Holderman turned her
| bicycle to the left, and as she did SO the
| front wheel of the machine struck the side
OF the motor car, and she fell with great
violence against the iron step of the car,
striking the back of her head as She did
The train was stopped within a few feet
and Mrs Holderman was picked up AS
she struck the car she gave scream, but
| when taken from the ground a moment
| later was unconscious Conductor Bonner,
| aided by a number of persons who had
| witnessed the accident. carried her into the
| home of the Misses Gelston. No. $50 East
| Capitol street. and Drs. p. w. Roberts and
| G. l.. Demorest were sent for. The ply
| sicians responded promptly. but they found
| the victim was beyond human aid, and
she died a few minutes after their arrival.
| The doctors found that the back of Mrs.
| Hodermans head was terribly injured a
| space about three inches long and a half
| inch deep. where the bone was broken
| and crushed, revealing the cause Of sudden
| death.
| Coroner Notified.
! Coroner Carr was promptly notified. and
| he at once gave permission for the removal
! of the body to the late home of the de-
| ceased where the news of the sad affair
had already been carried. Mr.. and Mrs.
| Clark he of HaIIarr1on bo
| lived in the same house, We're FRUSTRATED by
| the sad affair. Mr.. Holderman did not
| know of his bereavement until several
hours after it had happened. He is great
lover of rare books, and had remained up
| town, after the closing of the department.
| as he had done many times before, looking
| for works of that kind, and friends who
| tried to communicate the news were unable
| to reach him.
The motorman and conductor were ar
| rested by Policemen Mason and Austin, but
| were released shortly afterward by order
| OF Coroner Carr.
| The Jury Impanelled.
The jury was composed Of William H.
Harrison, Walter A. Butler, Albert B.
| Schlotterbeck, Thomas J. Crawford, George
| Gill and Frank j. Donneliy. The Metro
| politan Railroad Company was represented
| by Mr. George P. Hoover, assistant counsel.
The first witness was Colonel o. c. Sa-
! bin Of 225 9th street northeast. He said
he was on the train with which Mrs. Hol-
| derman collided. At 9Th and East Capitol
| streets he noticed the now deceased woman
| riding on her bicycle alongside of the train,
| between the track and the piles of snow to
| the right. She rode very beautifully, and
| at 9Th street the train stopped. 1t started
| presently, with Mrs. Holderman a little
ahead. She was riding slowly and the car
| was likewise going very slowly. He noticed
| the bicycle strike something, which he
| since learned was piece of ice and which
| threw the rider against the car. Nothing,
| the witness said, could have prevented the
accident. AS soon as the motorman saw
| the danger of Mrs. Holderman he threw
| off the electricity and put down the brakes.
| The witness said the motorman was almost
| frightened to death. Mrs. Holderman was
riding with one hand on her bicycle handle
| and in the other carried package The
| motorman was ringing his gong for a dis
| lance of some squares a warning to Mrs
| Holderman.
| Deputy COrOner's Testimony.
| DR.. L. w. Glazebrook, deputy coroner,
| testified that he this morning viewed the
remains of Mrs. Holderman and was salts
fled that she died from cerebral hemor-
rhage
Miss Mae Thompson of No. Ii nth street
southeast said she saw the accident from
| the trailer car. She corroborated the evil
| dence of Col Sabtn. and added that it was
impossible for the motorman to have avoid
1 ed the accident.
DR.. c. L. Demarest of No. GA East Cap
ftol street testified. He did not see the acct
dent he said. He was called to attend
| Mrs. Holderman and found that she had
| died from fracture of the skull
| Miss Bessie Durfee of No. 639 East Cap-
| ftol street witnessed the accident from the
! thlrd-story window of her home Mrs
| Holderman was riding in the narrow space
between the track and the pile of snow
| Witness saw the bicycle WAIVER and Instant
| iy Mrs Holderman fell against either the
4 nf1 III,
! moving very slowly at the time
| Mr. r. A. Bonner, conductor saw Mrs
! Holdernan riding alongside of his train
| but did not witness the accident His at
| tentiOn was attracted by the ringing of the